Reading on planes

SageTracey · 11-16-2010, 07:23 PM

I have just had a couple of weeks traveling to and within Western Australia for business and pleasure. Loaded up my Kobo with plenty of books as I had a total of 12 hours' flying time, 12 hours' coach travel and 2 hours' train travel.

As soon as I boarded each plane, the cabin staff asked me to turn off my Kobo as it was "a personal electronic device which may interfere with the plane's navigational equipment." It was at least 20 minutes into each flight before I could turn it back on and then I had to turn it off again 20 minutes before we hit the ground!

I'm all for safety on the planes but with some overseas services now allowing texting from planes in flight, I can't quite see the problem with reading - especially a non-wireless device!

Anyone have any thoughts or experiences to share?

Cheers

Tracey

stodge · 11-16-2010, 08:03 PM

This is standard procedure for takeoff and landing. You yourself said that they allow texting in flight, but presumably not during takeoff and landing. I assume the crew said you could use the Kobo during the flight?

Personally I'd rather switch my devices off and enjoy a safe takeoff and landing!

3d0g · 11-16-2010, 09:18 PM

Some say the real reason for no electronics has nothing to do with interference and everything to do with having undistracted passengers during the most dangerous phases of flight.

Mussgorsky · 11-16-2010, 09:42 PM

I have been travelling to and from Toronto since July with a foot injury (seeing a specialist in TO) and have yet to have them tell me to turn it off. I do close my cover during the actual take off and landing but with a few minutes of take off I am back to reading with no complaints.

stodge · 11-16-2010, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mussgorsky

I have been travelling to and from Toronto since July with a foot injury (seeing a specialist in TO) and have yet to have them tell me to turn it off. I do close my cover during the actual take off and landing but with a few minutes of take off I am back to reading with no complaints.

Maybe they don't realise it's still on.

flexnib · 11-16-2010, 11:16 PM

Yep, have been told to turn off my Kobo during take off and landing too.

I now ensure I have something else I can read during this brief period. It might actually be a paper book, or it could be a work document.

I find that having a small paper book as back up suits me especially when I'm travelling on business. I sometimes like to have a bath to relax, back at the hotel after a long day of meetings, and I can't use the Kobo in the bath!

Yes, I'm one of those people who cannot bear not to have something to read!

HamsterRage · 11-16-2010, 11:21 PM

This was a massively long thread in the General Discussion area a few months back.

Two camps evolved, with no common ground:

1. Follow the rules and enjoy the takeoff, you can't expect the flight crew to know which particular device is safe and which isn't. What's the matter with you?

2. The rule's obviously stupid, be as sneaky as you need to be to keep on reading. What's the matter with you?

There you go! I've just saved us about 200 posts and a lot of hurt feelings.

amo · 11-17-2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flexnib

and I can't use the Kobo in the bath!

You can't?!?

Darn it, I better go take my Kobo back. Bath-reading is all I got it for in the first place.

Ghoda · 11-17-2010, 01:04 PM

I have been told to turn off my Kobo for take off / landings and also to remove my bluetooth headset from around my neck for these times as well. One attendant acknowledged the fact that this was a bunk requirement in my case and was really helpful in explaining why the rule still stands. Basically it's because there will always be that one guy with a 1950's high-power transmitting device and big thick wired headphones that will look at us and say 'well they're not turning off their devices or removing their headsets so I'm not gonna do it either!'. So yes, they know that our modern stuff no longer interferes with instrumentation and present no hazards in terms of dangling wires that become nooses in emergencies. They also know that that one retro guy mentioned previously is usually really loud and obnoxious and it saves hassles all around.

I say rock the Kobo until you're caught

Most attendants have seen me using my Kobo, smiled at me, and carried on.

Ghoda · 11-17-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amo

You can't?!?

Darn it, I better go take my Kobo back. Bath-reading is all I got it for in the first place.

I'm sure it's fine right up to the point that you drop it in the tub

flexnib · 11-17-2010, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amo

You can't?!?

Darn it, I better go take my Kobo back. Bath-reading is all I got it for in the first place.

I just have a tendency to doze off in the bath and drop whatever I'm holding into the water...

pholy · 11-17-2010, 05:30 PM

Try stuffing it into a Ziploc bag. If you leave a little air, it'll even float.

JCKobo · 11-17-2010, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amo

You can't?!?

Darn it, I better go take my Kobo back. Bath-reading is all I got it for in the first place.

Put it in a zip lock. Works great. I do it all the time.

ModReader · 11-17-2010, 11:19 PM

Never would'ave thought.

amo · 11-18-2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pholy

Try stuffing it into a Ziploc bag. If you leave a little air, it'll even float.

Hah!! That's hilarious. I was actually kidding about reading in the bath- I'm a paper-book librarian in real life, I'd never take a book in the tub- but the ziplock thing is a great idea for taking the kobo to the beach or reading poolside!

11-16-2010, 07:23 PM	#1
SageTracey Enthusiast Posts: 37 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	Reading on planes I have just had a couple of weeks traveling to and within Western Australia for business and pleasure. Loaded up my Kobo with plenty of books as I had a total of 12 hours' flying time, 12 hours' coach travel and 2 hours' train travel. As soon as I boarded each plane, the cabin staff asked me to turn off my Kobo as it was "a personal electronic device which may interfere with the plane's navigational equipment." It was at least 20 minutes into each flight before I could turn it back on and then I had to turn it off again 20 minutes before we hit the ground! I'm all for safety on the planes but with some overseas services now allowing texting from planes in flight, I can't quite see the problem with reading - especially a non-wireless device! Anyone have any thoughts or experiences to share? Cheers Tracey

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11-16-2010, 08:03 PM	#2
stodge Groupie Posts: 155 Karma: 1008328 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Sony PRS-650SC	This is standard procedure for takeoff and landing. You yourself said that they allow texting in flight, but presumably not during takeoff and landing. I assume the crew said you could use the Kobo during the flight? Personally I'd rather switch my devices off and enjoy a safe takeoff and landing!

11-16-2010, 09:18 PM	#3
3d0g I make fjords. Posts: 304 Karma: 11192 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Colorado Device: kobo 1 (retired), kobo 2, iPad, G2, Galaxy Tab 7+	Some say the real reason for no electronics has nothing to do with interference and everything to do with having undistracted passengers during the most dangerous phases of flight.

11-16-2010, 09:42 PM	#4
Mussgorsky Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 20 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Thunder Bay,On,Canada Device: kobo	I have been travelling to and from Toronto since July with a foot injury (seeing a specialist in TO) and have yet to have them tell me to turn it off. I do close my cover during the actual take off and landing but with a few minutes of take off I am back to reading with no complaints.

11-16-2010, 11:16 PM	#6
flexnib Member Posts: 19 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Perth, Western Australia Device: iPad, Sony PRS-T2, PRS 950, PRS 350	Yep, have been told to turn off my Kobo during take off and landing too. I now ensure I have something else I can read during this brief period. It might actually be a paper book, or it could be a work document. I find that having a small paper book as back up suits me especially when I'm travelling on business. I sometimes like to have a bath to relax, back at the hotel after a long day of meetings, and I can't use the Kobo in the bath! Yes, I'm one of those people who cannot bear not to have something to read!

11-16-2010, 11:21 PM	#7
HamsterRage Evangelist Posts: 435 Karma: 24326 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Kobo	This was a massively long thread in the General Discussion area a few months back. Two camps evolved, with no common ground: 1. Follow the rules and enjoy the takeoff, you can't expect the flight crew to know which particular device is safe and which isn't. What's the matter with you? 2. The rule's obviously stupid, be as sneaky as you need to be to keep on reading. What's the matter with you? There you go! I've just saved us about 200 posts and a lot of hurt feelings.

11-17-2010, 01:04 PM	#9
Ghoda Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 52 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Device: Kobo, Kobo for iPhone, Aluratek Libre	I have been told to turn off my Kobo for take off / landings and also to remove my bluetooth headset from around my neck for these times as well. One attendant acknowledged the fact that this was a bunk requirement in my case and was really helpful in explaining why the rule still stands. Basically it's because there will always be that one guy with a 1950's high-power transmitting device and big thick wired headphones that will look at us and say 'well they're not turning off their devices or removing their headsets so I'm not gonna do it either!'. So yes, they know that our modern stuff no longer interferes with instrumentation and present no hazards in terms of dangling wires that become nooses in emergencies. They also know that that one retro guy mentioned previously is usually really loud and obnoxious and it saves hassles all around. I say rock the Kobo until you're caught Most attendants have seen me using my Kobo, smiled at me, and carried on.

11-17-2010, 05:30 PM	#12
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	Try stuffing it into a Ziploc bag. If you leave a little air, it'll even float.

11-17-2010, 11:19 PM	#14
ModReader Kobo Posts: 53 Karma: 326 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Aura, Sony PRS-T1, Kobo Wifi	Never would'ave thought.