Why Can't I Use My iPod When A Plane Is Taking-Off?

Question

I understand that phones should never be used, but why can't iPods be used during ascent/descent but can be used mid-flight?

Answer 1

Simply because it is a loose object that can fly off and hit other people or crash into equipment if the aircraft experiences a violent vibration (which are more likely to occur during takeoff or landing than during cruise).

I was once in a Boeing 747 that landed so hard, it actually opened up nearly half of the overhead emergency oxygen mask trapdoor. If someone had a iPod in their hand at that time, it could have flown off and hit someone on the head.

When preparing for descent, don't they ask passengers to put the seat upright, to fold the little table, and to stow away everything?

That is it.

Answer 2

Because you should be paying attention.  Take-off is the most dangerous part of the entire flight.  That's the time the plane is most likely to stall or have some other emergency.  But, hey, if you don't want to pay attention and burn up in some fire ball because you weren't listening, then feel free.

Anyway, an iPod is an electrical device, and although it doesn't send signals the way a phone does, it still does have some impact due to it's electro-magnetic field.

Answer 3

The simplest answer is that the FAA says you can't. The more nuanced answer is that there are a variety of issues that it could create. The most obvious is that it if there's any violent movement of the cabin, it could become a missile and injure a passenger.

The more subtle is that a damaged, defective, or really poorly made device could potentially interfere with avionics, and there's no way to know that every single device on the plane is safe. There have been documented cases of improperly-made devices interfering with avionics. These were cheap, no-name products made without any testing or FCC approval at all. (The most famous case involved a cash register on the ground.)

The reasons for each phase of flight are different: For takeoff, it's primarily the missile issue. For landing, it's primarily the risk that it might interfere with avionics. In-flight, devices that don't intentionally transmit a signal are allowed, but transmitters are prohibited because the high altitude could allow the device to cause massive interference with terrestrial radio systems.

Answer 4

  First off, it has nothing to do with electrical interference.  If so, we would not allow passengers to turn them on at 10,000 ft.  The electrical interference days are pretty much over with Next Generation aircraft.  

   Secondly, the missle theory is a good one but also not the reason.  Trust me, an infant in the arms of its mother poses a bigger missle threat then an IPOD.

   Lastly, its all because you need to pay attention in the case of an emergency either on takeoff or landing.  You need to be able to listen to directive instructions and you simply can't do that with an IPOD in your ears.  It really is for your safety and the other passengers.

    That's it.  Pretty simple.  Just listen and comply with your flight crews instructions.  Now sit back relax and enjoy the flight.

Answer 5

Because as long as you're doing that, you're not paying attention to the instructions that the attendants are attempting to give.

More importantly, is there anything so important on your iPod that you can't wait a few minutes to listen to it? I highly doubt it, lol.

Answer 6

there is no proof that ipods and the likes of them cause interferance with the plane but that is as i believe still the reason why you cant use them during the most critical phase of flight

Answer 7

I think it is just the FAA covering their butts. They have not done enough testing to guarantee that ipods or cellphones don't interfere with aircraft operation, so rather than risk anything they simply don't allow them. Also if they did spend a million dollars to find out that an ipod doesn't cause any danger what happens when the next generation of ipods comes out and they have to run all of those tests again with the newer model.  

Answer 8

If all it takes were a few ipods to bring a plane down the terrorists could just use Fedex to ship ipods they leave turned on...  Seriously this is a retarded rule.  Projectile?  It's OK if it's loose on your lap as long as it's not turned on.  No projectile issue there...   Why is it OK to read a magazine on takeoff, but not use a gameboy with volume off?  I turned on my Garmin 496 once and the stewardess had a flip out, citing electromagnetic interference.  I told her it was an aviation GPS.  Didn't matter.  The FAA should be working on more pressing issues IMHO.  This is one of the reasons why I got my license & bought a plane.  I can pack shampoo AND conditioner in my carry on if I so desired, and bring a full bottle of water and a hot cup of coffee.  I also don't need to be at the airport 2 hours before departure. :)

Answer 9

The real answer is because the FAA says so.

The general theory is the most critical stages of flight are take-offs an landings.  By that, I really mean anytime the plane is operating below 10,000 feet and having to deal with extra air traffic departing and arriving the nearby airports.

The FAA has done some research that supports the notion that if enough passengers use electronic devices, the combined RF interference could interfere with the radios, making voice communication impossible and/or s***w with the navigation aids which also receive RF signals.

On the other hand, no airplane has ever been determined to have crashed because of too many iPods running at once.

Answer 10

The FCC also says that using cell phones in the air jams up the cell phone towers since your cell can lock onto more than one tower at the same time.