Federal law prohibits tampering with the smoke detector in an aircraft lavatory and, when applicable, prohibits what?

• A. Smoking in passenger compartments
• B. Using cell phones during takeoff
• C. Eating in flight
• D. Wearing hats during service

Answer: (A)

Smoking in the passenger cabin is prohibited by federal law, which pairs with the rule that tampering with the lavatory smoke detector is illegal. The lavatory detector exists to prevent fires and to deter tampering, so the federal prohibition on in-cabin smoking directly supports overall aircraft safety. The other activities—using cell phones during takeoff, eating in flight, wearing hats during service—are not universal federal prohibitions in the same sense; they may be restricted by airline policy or standard operating procedures, but they aren’t the federally mandated rule that complements the lavatory detector tampering prohibition.