PAX REFUSED TO TURN OFF HIS COMPACT DISC PLAYER WHEN REQUESTED TO DO SO BY THE CREW.

Narrative

PAX ON MY COMMERCIAL SCHEDULED FLT REFUSED TO TURN OFF COMPACT DISC PLAYER WHEN REQUESTED BY THE FLT ATTENDANT. HE CLAIMED IT WAS JUST OUR COMPANY'S POLICY TO BAN THEM; NOT AN FAA OR FAR REQUIREMENT. HE SAID HE WAS AN INST FLT INSTRUCTOR AND KNEW THE REGS. HE SAID HE KNEW THE COMPACT DISC PLAYER WAS SHIELDED BECAUSE HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER AND A COMPUTER EXPERT. I SHOWED HIM FAR 91.21 WHICH LISTED SAFE ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND OTHER DEVICES THAT OUR AIRLINE COULD PROVE TO BE SAFE. SINCE OUR COMPANY DIDN'T PROVE HIS COMPACT DISC PLAYER SAFE; IT WAS BANNED ON OUR AIRLINE. I BELIEVE THE FAR IS QUITE AMBIGUOUS AND WAS THEREFORE HARD FOR HIM TO UNDERSTAND. I EXPLAINED THAT WAS A 'CHAMELEON' FAR. IF ANOTHER COMPANY HAD PROVEN IT SAFE; IT COULD BE USED; BUT IF IT WASN'T PROVEN SAFE; IT COULDN'T BE USED. EITHER WAY; THERE IS BACKING BY AN FAR; NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL COMPANY POLICY. HE CORRECTLY AND 'VERY IMPORTANTLY' POINTED OUT THAT LAPTOP COMPUTERS NOW HAVE POWERFUL COMPACT DISC PLAYERS FOR INFO STORAGE; BUT ARE ALLOWED INFLT. THIS HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED ANYWHERE BY THE FAA OR AIRLINE MGMNTS THAT I HAVE SEEN. I SUGGEST THAT INDIVIDUAL COMPACT DISC PLAYER AND COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS FUND RESEARCH OF THEIR PRODUCT'S SAFETY.