FAA Tells Airlines to Put Limits on Carry-On Bags

WASHINGTON — The government told airlines today to limit carry-on baggage and to ensure that all items are properly stowed before a plane leaves its boarding gate.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the new baggage requirements must be in place by the end of the year, including a ceiling on how much baggage a person may bring aboard the aircraft.

Federal regulations have stipulated that carry-on bags must be secured in a safe position before a plane takes off, but flight attendants have complained for years that passengers often take too many items on board, making proper stowing impossible in some cases.

The new requirements do not specifically say how many items may be carried aboard a jetliner, nor how large an item may be, except that it must be suitable for proper storage in the cabin.

But the FAA, beginning Jan. 1, 1988, will require that:

--Each airline establish its own limit on the size and number of items that may be brought aboard.

--Each passenger’s baggage be “scanned” before boarding by an airline employee to verify that it does not exceed the limits.

--The door of the jetliner remain open until flight attendants have confirmed that all baggage aboard the plane has been properly stowed.

“This rule’s going to make it much safer for passengers. In a crash, baggage often breaks loose and strikes the passengers and blocks exits. By reducing baggage, you make it much easier to evacuate,” said Matthew Finucane, safety director for the Assn. of Flight Attendants.