The ban on passengers using electronic equipment on aircraft...?

Question

Is this a serious issue?

I mean if it was such a danger to normal ops then surely all electronic gadgets should be banned from being taken on board.

I have seen cockpit videos on Youtube made by pilots, taping T/Os and Ldgs. So how can airlines expect the public to believe that there is any danger?

Answer 1

On airliners, the pilots use instruments to get to their destination.  They also commune back and forth with other pilots or the traffic control center at the airport.  They say that electronic devices can mess up the transitions of pilots talking back and forth, so to be on the safe side, they want all electronic devices turned off.

Answer 2

In addition to what Jet Doc pointed out (above), another reason is so that passengers are alert and aware during take-off and landing (rather than plugged into loud music), as this is when more incidents (with a possible evacuation) happen.   Yes, we all agree that there is only a very slight chance of interference, and it would probably only be crucial to flight below 10,000 ft. , but the FAA is erring on the side of safety.   Then there is the question of the effect of one device being used versus potentially 200....

Answer 3

DRINK

Answer 4

Airlines use different types/brands of communications and navigational equipment.  As such, the FAA requires each individual airline/operator to determine what electronic equipment passengers can use during flight.  The only safety issue with regard to the equipment is that they must be properly stowed in the overhead compartment or under the seat during takeoff and landing.

With regard to cell phones, they are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and are only authorized for use on the ground.  While the FCC considered allowing certain cell phones to be used on aircraft, they are no longer doing so because of potential interference with wireless networks on the ground.

Despite regulations prohibiting cell phones during flight, some people have chosen to ignore the regulations and make calls.  They are quite surprised when they get a cell phone bill for thousands of dollars!  Calls from above the ground tap into numerous cell towers on the ground, and they can be billed for each one they use!

Answer 5

I agree it with the above, I was doing some work for an airline captain once, he phoned me from the flight deck to tell me when he would be in. So if its ok for the crew to use mobile phones why not every body.

Answer 6

Just because you see a pilot doing something, doesn't mean it's safe or legal.  Video cameras do not do anything to the aircraft, but they will distract you if there is a need to evacuate.  I once taped a flight in the cockpit jumpseat, which as far as I know, isn't illegal.  Also, the cell phone thing is illegal by FCC rules as well as FAA rules.  Even AM radios put out a small signal, and if it does that, it can't be used.

Answer 7

I THINK LAPTOPS AND ECT CANT BE USED BECAUSE IT CAN SPOIL THE RADAR SYSTEM AND CANT TELL PILOTS WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO BUT VIDEOS CAN BE ALLOW IN FLIGHT BECAUSE IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RADAR

Answer 8

The whole issue is farcical. Different countries or even airlines have different rules. Most of the restrictions are knee-jerk reactions to events that they could not explain.

It makes sense to stop any radio (including telephone) transmissions during critical phases of flight, but that is really about all that has any factual basis.

Answer 9

First, those pilots are currently being investigated by the FAA.  They take deliberate FAR violations very seriously.  There is currently an investigation going on at my company about a pilot who videotaped a landing and put it on him MySpace page.

That said, much of the danger could be controlled simply by turning off the device.  If I am in front and my cell phone causes a problem, I can turn it off rather quickly.  Someone in back will not know they are causing a problem and many people will refuse to admit it was them.

Also, there is no research that has been completed as to which devices cause problems and which do not.  It would be tough to say "Everyone with a Nokia phone is ok, but everyone with a Samsung needs to turn it off" or something like that.  Obviously not all electronic devices cause problems, its just tough to differentiate between them.  In addition, that would force the flight attendants to memorize a huge list.  Its just easier to simply say "Turn them all off"

Answer 10

I fly in a news helicopter everyday with laptops, cameras, non aviation radios, tv monitors, transmitters, cell phones, multi cameras, switchers and a bucket more electronic stuff all made to work in a truck not a helicopter. And yet the FAA approved it all. Haven't had any issues and we started in 2000. Want to see all the gear  www.cwair11.com

Answer 11

I work on avionics for a living, i repair communication systems, instruments and navigation systems including GPS.  a coworker of mine fixes autopilot systems, and my other coworker fixes radar systems, and many times we will be on our cell phones talking to the manufacturere at the bench with the sheilding covers off the radios, which makes the radio most prone to interference, and i have never seen a single issue.  I also have lots of test equipment running, we have intrnet and telephone lines all around our benches, plus i have a AM/FM stereo at my bench, and have never seen an issue.

now if i was a pilot flying a 777 id rather be safe than sorry and just have people shut the things off, no need to take the risk, however slight the risk is.

but no its not really an issue, if you wanted to use your cellphone on a plane, your not gonna crash the plane

Answer 12

The problem is that there ARE some hand-held electronic devices that CAN effect aircraft control and navigation instruments.  Granted, it's a very small percentage, but the possibility is there.  The FAA doesn't have the time or the money to test and certify every one of the hundreds of new small electronic devices that are entering the market every year to make sure they are safe, so they choose to err on the side of safety, they just ban the use of ALL small electronic devices during critical phases of the flight.

Banning the use of cell phones during flight has nothing to do with aircraft safety.  It is an FCC (Federal Communications Commission) rule that the airlines are asked to enforce.