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FAA Advisory Committee Recommends Relaxation of Electronic Device Restrictions on Commercial Aircraft
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It's not different from today: how can flight attendants be sure you are not keeping your mobile ON in your bag silenced ?
Unless you're sitting in the cockpit and have your device out of Airplane mode, where you might get issues with communications (like you do with any radio), I don't see any opportunity for interference.
The one issue I do see is when there's a problem with the aircraft. You want everyone paying full attention to proceedings at that point - and not engrossed in their iDevices, or worse, engrossed and wearing headphones and not hearing the call to 'brace, brace, brace'. All pretty unlikely, admittedly.
The one issue I do see is when there's a problem with the aircraft. You want everyone paying full attention to proceedings at that point - and not engrossed in their iDevices, or worse, engrossed and wearing headphones and not hearing the call to 'brace, brace, brace'. All pretty unlikely, admittedly.
It's funny that some people think they need to shout into their phones even though the microphone is less than an inch from their mouth. I think it has to do with the lack of feedback of seeing the other person nodding and acknowledging what they are saying. Whatever it is it's highly annoying.
I don't know about what you see or not, but I can assure you that in the aircraft I fly almost every day, if people in the first rows have cellphones working (or just searching for the network) sometimes I have interferences in my headsets .... And there are moments (I.e. While copying clearances or departing instructions) in which it could be very dangerous.
Bigger aircraft with more meters between cockpit and cabin could have a better isolation from interferences, but I not sure about 80-100 phones working at ten meters from my headsets ...
That rumor is wrong. It is proven, by deliberately crashing a 727 on a Mexican desert full of crash test dummies, that the "crash position" is actually capable of saving lives - depending on the type of crash, of course.
All of it was documented by the Discovery Channel http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/curiosity/topics/plane-crash-pictures.htm
The future was back then
Earlier this week, I was boarding a plane that was built in 1939.
One of the first thing the pilot said, was "feel free to use any electronic devices but chances are your counterpart cannot hear you when calling [due to the loud noise onboard] so perhaps stick with SMS instead".
Earlier this week, I was boarding a plane that was built in 1939.
One of the first thing the pilot said, was "feel free to use any electronic devices but chances are your counterpart cannot hear you when calling [due to the loud noise onboard] so perhaps stick with SMS instead".
As a pilot I can tell you that each and every single one of you is overlooking one of the main reasons we do not want solid electronic equipment in use during takeoff and landing. During a crash these devices turn into heavy flying missiles.
I don't care what the FAA say on this matter, as it is only a recommendation, however there will be no devices used on my flights during takeoff and landing.
I don't care what the FAA say on this matter, as it is only a recommendation, however there will be no devices used on my flights during takeoff and landing.
This is what I worry about every day!
Seriously... this is good to see, because it seemed like an outdated rule. Being more productive is the furthest from my mind.
Did you read the article?
They are still going to require that cell phones turn off their data connection.
Science is okay, still world class, but your math is about 2 years behind other Asian countries.
I don't think that this will take effect. It will be difficult for the flight crew to monitor who has their device in airplane mode, and who has ignored that. Right now, it is pretty easy to monitor whether someone has at least put their device away, if not turned it off.
And why are they singling out iPhone for airplane mode? Don't other phones have a similar feature? They copy everything else that Apple does.
And why are they singling out iPhone for airplane mode? Don't other phones have a similar feature? They copy everything else that Apple does.
You say "It could be a nightmare on the pilot's radio." While I've seen some feedback from phones that are placed within one or two feet of phones or radios, I've never seen evidence of that interference extending beyond three feet. Do you have any evidence that this "could be a nightmare" could actually happen?
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Thanks. I was sort of being tongue in cheek with this rumor. The idea being it keeps your teeth closer to the body making you easier to identify.
But even though it actually works, I suspect it takes a very unlikely form of crash to make a difference.
An FM receiver has a local oscillator, at a frequency very close to the aircraft navigation and communication bands. So, it is transmitting -- albeit at a very low power level. But, that could be enough to interfere with aircraft navigation radios during certain phases of a flight.
I don't know what airports you fly to/from, but I find that the departure and landing phases of a flight are closer to 30 minutes, apiece.
It does not matter if its enforceable or not. People still drink & drive no matter how many laws are on the books.
People can live without their electronic devices for a few hours. Suck it up.
I remember that thread. And I don't think any of the posters that actually knew anything about the subject defended the band as absolutely necessary.
However, we did explain the physics behind the problem, and how interference was certainly possible, albeit unlikely.
I think the recommendation is reasonable. The only problem is how to enforce it, so that people actually turn on airplane mode. If that can be accomplished, I believe it will actually be an improvement. I've seen many passengers turn off their phone at the beginning of a flight, then turn it on in the middle of a flight to play a game, etc. But, they forget to put it in airplane mode.
How many stock photos of Pilots using iPads do you need?
So MacRumors sued one of its members for using one of MacRumors' photos as an avatar on MacRumors.com? Or someone outside of MR was suing MacRumors because one of the MR's members used a stock photo without permission?
You'll only have trouble in the cockpit if there is a problem with the antenna connections in the avionics bay (which is usually below the cockpit).
You are more likely to cause radio frequency interference in the passenger section of the airplane, because you'll be much closer to the communication and navigation radio antennas that are mounted on the bottom and top of the fuselage.
However, if the audio systems in the cockpit (headsets, etc.) aren't properly shielded, you may hear the buzzing sound that GSM phones generate. You've probably heard them in conference room phones: the Polycom seems to be really susceptible.
From what I have overheard...conversations are nonsense!
Given the choice of trapped next to a nonsense conversation that drones on, and on, and on - including while flight attendant serves chips and drinks, and the rules prohibiting it, it is an easy choice of which I prefer. Technically, the rules don't prohibit use of phone, they prohibit use of socially unacceptable or obnoxious behavior stated in a politically correct manner.
Oh dear! You'll have to go without your precious Angry Birds for 20 minutes of a 5 hour flight. I hope you survive.
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Well, heaven knows we wouldn't want to take away someone's right to play Plants vs. Zombies for a few minutes in order to minmize the risk of corkscrewing their fellow passengers into the ground at 300 mph.
I wouldn't get too excited just yet. When it comes to portable electronic devices, the real elephant in the room is not EM emissions, it is the proliferation of after-market batteries bought on line from questionable sources. If this isn't addressed in a serious manner, airlines may be forced to ban them all together. It's only a matter of time before a plane full of passengers is brought down by one of these things. It's already happening in the cargo industry - at a very scary rate.
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001s_K0...zYgv0ok_O7fW9CX9a0OL4W_xNifWSgNUqlR6NJE0mX00=
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001s_K0...zYgv0ok_O7fW9CX9a0OL4W_xNifWSgNUqlR6NJE0mX00=
All I have to say is that IF this is really an issue they should force you to check all electronic devices and then put them in a shielded cargo container for the duration of the flight. You could then claim your devices with a claim check at your destination. Failure to comply would have a fine attached and possibly jail time.
But you can't have it both ways. It's either a serious problem that must be addressed with the measures mentioned above, or it isn't. And with airlines offering phone, wireless network, and setback entertainment service in the aircraft today it is increasingly difficult for airlines to claim that this is really an issue. In fact some airlines are now handing out iPads as inflight entertainment centers today.
But you can't have it both ways. It's either a serious problem that must be addressed with the measures mentioned above, or it isn't. And with airlines offering phone, wireless network, and setback entertainment service in the aircraft today it is increasingly difficult for airlines to claim that this is really an issue. In fact some airlines are now handing out iPads as inflight entertainment centers today.