I have often pndered this. It intruiged me further on my latest flights around the US and could not figure out why I have to turn off all electronic devices.
I mean I can sort ofunderstand turning off my cell phone but dont quite get what difference and iPOD, discman or one of those little battery operated games could do to a plane.
I know for years the excuse being pandered is that it interferes with the guidance systems of the plane. But this sounds like BS to me. I have had my phone on around very sophisticated guidance systems, down to your average navman and car based guidance systems and they have never had any detrimental effect on these.
It doesnt cause any issues sitting next to my computer either.
If the computerised systems of a plane are that weak, I question the safety of setting foot on one of the contraptions in the first place.
So, what is the point of turning them off during take of and landing?
I welcome slightly off topic answers as well as long as my question is answered, because i realise I may not have asked the most straight forward or pertenant question on the topic.
Cheers
Danny
It’s BS to a point, but at the same time, some devices may interfere. I guess it is a better-safe-than-sorry mentality. Instead of testing every and all devices and publishing a list, etc., it’s a blanket policy. On the last flight I took, the policy was “nothing with a visible antenna can be used for the duration of the trip.” The guy sitting next to me had a PDA with phone capability, and he and a flight attendant got into a heated argument about it. He tried to show her that he had it in “no phone/in-flight” mode, but she kept repeating the policy and kept apologizing to him. It got annoying after ten minutes of bickering. The passenger kept complaining that every laptop with wireless capability on the plane should be turned off, and the flight attendant kept saying, “if it has a visible antenna, it needs to be off.” I felt a little bad for the guy, as he was correct that his PDA wouldn’t be broadcasting while the wireless laptops would. Oh well. He stewed for the hour long flight.
-Tofer
It seems to me that this is the most relevant link:
http://www.house.gov/transportation/aviation/hearing/07-20-00/07-20-00memo.html
I only just skimmed the link, but it seems that the finding was:
“Neither the RTCA nor the CAA were able to duplicate under controlled conditions the interference from a PED that their studies indicate could theoretically occur.”
The RTCA is the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics; the CAA is the British Civilian Aviation Authority; and PEDs are Personal Electronic Devices.
So basically, there have been a very few number of incidents which the crew has blamed on PEDs, which testing under controlled conditions has not been able to verify.
My person theory as to why they don’t want iPods on during takeoff and landing is because they want you to be able to respond quickly and without distraction to crew member directions. I could see someone not listening to announcements about standing up, wearing seatbelts, or something like that because they were listening to music instead.
Krinthis
I dont want to get all conspiracyish but… There has to be a conspiracy going on here!
thanks for the info guys I am going to print that article and arm myself with it for the next flight, its a good intro to a long and lengthy chat with the hostess!
I would suggest reading the material in the link posted by Krinthis long before you take that flight. That’s because the House report cites the CFR for both the FAA and FCC. In other words, you can talk with the flight attendant until you are blue in the face but you won’t get anywhere. Use of PEDs other than stated in the CFR will get you in a world of hurt with your commercial flying life.
Duckster, I wont be arguing with anyone. I only need my laptop and iPOD and I am a happy lad, failing the ipod I will just fire up iTUNES at any rate.
What I said was that i would use it as an introduction to have a chat with a lovely oung hostess!
An easygoing chat with the flight attendant when the plane is in the air and she isn’t busy with other duties is fine.
But please don’t resist the rules or have an argument with her about them. The rules are not up to her, but she is required to enforce them.