Anyone ever fight with airline personell over personal electronics?

[Perknose]

For anyone interested, here's a long, detailed and thoughtful article on the subject from a real-life airline pilot.

For the tl;dr crowd, I'll excerpt a few key points. Why? Because I care and I'm just that kind of guy, that's why!

Can a cellphone really interfere with a plane’s systems and avionics? The answer is that it’s highly unlikely, but possible. That’s not the answer you want, I know, but like almost everything in commercial aviation, it depends. For example, although a plane’s electronics are designed with interference in mind, if the shielding is old or faulty there’s a greater potential for trouble.

[...]

That being stated, phones may have had a role in at least two serious incidents. The key word being “may,” as interference is extraordinarily difficult to trace or prove.

[...]

The electronic architecture of a modern jetliner is vast, to say the least, and most irregularities aren’t exactly heart-stoppers – a warning flag that flickers for a moment and then goes away; a course line that briefly goes askew.

[...]

It’s possible that airlines are using the mere possibility of technical complications as a means of avoiding the social implications of allowing cellular conversations on planes. [...] The sensory bombardment inside airports is overwhelming enough. The airplane cabin is a last refuge of relative silence (so long as there isn’t a baby wailing). Let’s keep it that way.

[...]

...but the main reason laptops need to be put away is to prevent them from becoming high-speed projectiles in the event of an impact or sudden deceleration, and from hampering an evacuation.

[...]

In the case of iPods and the like, it’s about the headphones and the ability to hear instructions from the crew.

Yes, yes, still tl;dr, I know. No cliffs for the cliffs though, sport. Lets face it, the speed forced down your throat for your "ADHD" was just society's way of saying, "Shut up, we don't care." You never stood a chance of becoming a fully functioning adult.

For me, a lot of this is about our ever increasing sense of entitlement in every situation possible.

Waaaaaah! /firstworldproblems, indeed:

I don't see the issue with being asked to turn your phone off. If you can't go a few hours without texting or playing Angry Birds then there is something wrong with you.

 

[GundamW]

As long as I am not on that flight, people can test/turn-on their electronics all they want...

 

[coxmaster]

You think wrong then.

They have deemed that a particular type of table is safe for the pilots to use.

Tablets are allowed on all commercial flights.. There is no rule against them. Once again, after you're above 10,000 and they allow electronics basically everything is ok to use.

I sat next to an airline pilot on a commercial flight and he told me that he once left his cell phone in his shirt pocket and it caused something in the cockpit to act funky. I don't recall exactly what it was, though. He said they have all electronic devices shut off during takeoff and landing to eliminate arguments such as this (i.e. what is ok and what isn't).

I've heard some phones interfere with radio signal (GSM phones). It is similar to if you receive a text message and you hear a slight buzzing in your computer speakers. It isn't a huge deal but it can in fact make it difficult to hear. Though again, at altitude this wouldn't be an issue because you wouldn't have any signal.

 

[GrumpyMan]

No, be stubborn, don't turn off your cell phones at all, keep them on and take a picture of yourself screaming like a little girl when the plane is going down and please post on Facebook.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Most of it is outdated rules. My biggest gripe is the seatbacks being up that extra 1" that they make a big deal about. I mean really... I'm sleeping for gods sake. Leave me the *##% alone.

I used to enjoy flying. Now, I'd rather just stay home. That is sad.

Cell phones DO work in the air. Does no one remember 9/11? Those people were calling their families on cell phones.

As for electronics in general. Let's put it in terms no one wants to really hear. If someone WANTS to screw up an airplane using electronics, they will, and no one will be the wiser. As usual the "rules" only inconvenience the people who aren't causing issues. Government frequencies and commericial frequencies are not the same.

 

[zinfamous]

Best not to fight with them. They'll just think you're a terrorist. Everyone on a plane is a terrorist until proven otherwise, and it's pretty hard to prove otherwise 100%. If you start fighting with them, you are only making things worse.

That said, those rules are retarded. Same with the no cell phone at gas station rules. These are old rules based on myths that have been long gone.

wat?

 

[zinfamous]

Most of it is outdated rules. My biggest gripe is the seatbacks being up that extra 1" that they make a big deal about. I mean really... I'm sleeping for gods sake. Leave me the *##% alone.

It's not for you, it's for the passenger sitting behind you. In the event of a rough landing or emergency, the person behind you could nail their forehead on your seat back and actually cause some serious injury.

These rules weren't just pulled out of their asses. Read up on Virgin train lines, and all of the safety research and design that went into the cabins of their trains (all rounded edges).

Do you also think there is no good reason to wear a seatbelt while seated in the plane? If so, then you should ask Billy Mays about that one. Well, except that he's dead, now.

 

[zinfamous]

I've heard some phones interfere with radio signal (GSM phones). It is similar to if you receive a text message and you hear a slight buzzing in your computer speakers. It isn't a huge deal but it can in fact make it difficult to hear. Though again, at altitude this wouldn't be an issue because you wouldn't have any signal.

yeah, I always thought it had to do with GSM signals interfering with communication between flight crew and air-traffic control and the tower.

 

[Golgatha]

I do make my call before the flight but if it's a long flight sometimes you need to make one, they should stop you just so they can charge more.

I know it's not but they are representatives of the company.

I don't know what the TSA is but if it's some kind of customs thing he didn't deserve that.

The TSA are basically pedophiles and/or sexual offenders in suits who are given free reign over your body just before you board your airplane.

 

[Nintendesert]

I never believed it was about interference, it was about people paying attention during landing and takeoff in the case of an emergency and following instructions to get everyone off in a timely manner.

Idiots on phones and devices walk into fountains, into traffic etc. and I don't want those idiots plugging up the door or having their IPAD become a speeding bullet because they can't put it away.

It's just a few minutes. Get over yourself, you're not that important and nobody really gives a shit who you're talking to. You can update your twat and facebook later.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I never believed it was about interference, it was about people paying attention during landing and takeoff in the case of an emergency and following instructions to get everyone off in a timely manner.

Idiots on phones and devices walk into fountains, into traffic etc. and I don't want those idiots plugging up the door or having their IPAD become a speeding bullet because they can't put it away.

It's just a few minutes. Get over yourself, you're not that important and nobody really gives a shit who you're talking to. You can update your twat and facebook later.

This is the best reason yet.
/thread

 

[lord_emperor]

A cell phone won't interfere with the plane, regardless if it's transmitting or not BUT...

http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/duringFlight/onboardTechnology.jsp

All portable electronic devices must remain off and properly stowed during taxi, takeoff, approach and landing until the plane is at the gate and the seat belt sign is off.

He agreed to this when he signed something in the process of booking the flight.

 

[roguerower]

I never believed it was about interference, it was about people paying attention during landing and takeoff in the case of an emergency and following instructions to get everyone off in a timely manner.

Idiots on phones and devices walk into fountains, into traffic etc. and I don't want those idiots plugging up the door or having their IPAD become a speeding bullet because they can't put it away.

It's just a few minutes. Get over yourself, you're not that important and nobody really gives a shit who you're talking to. You can update your twat and facebook later.

Great response.

 

[sourceninja]

Reminds me of this: https://plus.google.com/108176814619778619437/posts/67GbHxjDTsn

Will has a much more valid complaint.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

 

[AstroManLuca]

A good point to raise is that Words With Friends is a multiplayer online game, so it's unplayable without some sort of data connection. If you set your phone to airplane mode, you won't be able to play it. Clearly, Baldwin was completely in the wrong.

Flight crews can't be expected to check everyone's device to see if it's in airplane mode or not, so I guess it makes sense to ask that they're all turned off during takeoff and landing. I don't suppose they expect their passengers to be intelligent enough to follow instructions as simple as "disable all wireless connections" when they can just say "turn everything off."

 

[Macamus Prime]

Turn them off when they tell you (IF you have it out and are playing), turn them on when they tell you. Nothing more or less to it really.

And, it's total BS that something terrible happens if you don't switch off the devices. But, you know what? They fly for a "living". So, just do what they say and hope you don't have to cross paths too many times in the life ahead of you.

The airline industry is lame. It's no more "glamorous" than taking a bus. Every mutant that drags itself to the airport (for work or as a customer) is no different than a peice of filth strolling into the bus terminal.

Just as a pigeon is a rat with wings so is an airplane just a bus with wings.