FAA to allow electronics to remain on during take-off and landing??

Dazrin · 03-19-2012, 12:38 PM

Found this on Techreport.com today and thought it was interesting.

"The New York Times' Nick Bilton got in touch the Federal Aviation Administration responsible for setting electronics guidelines, and he learned that travelers might see those restrictions relaxed—one day."

I sure hope this comes to pass! I hate not being able to read for the first and last segments of a flight.

khalleron · 03-19-2012, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Found this on Techreport.com today and thought it was interesting.

"The New York Times' Nick Bilton got in touch the Federal Aviation Administration responsible for setting electronics guidelines, and he learned that travelers might see those restrictions relaxed—one day."

I sure hope this comes to pass! I hate not being able to read for the first and last segments of a flight.

Amen.

Apache · 03-19-2012, 02:43 PM

I want this too.
Apache

Pinecone · 03-19-2012, 02:56 PM

The FAA only says it is up to the operator to determine what is acceptable or not.

But since it is impossible to test all possible combinations of devices and seating, don't hold your breath.

And there is evidence of certain devices causing interference, makes it even more difficult.

And then you get into the does the device transmit or not. Much easier to just say all devices OFF.

tubemonkey · 03-19-2012, 03:09 PM

Yep, all devices off

monkeyluis · 03-19-2012, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Yep, all devices off

Yeah. I was thinking the same thing.

catsittingstill · 03-19-2012, 04:31 PM

It looks like this was taken with the plane on the ground. Look out the front window.

WillAdams · 03-19-2012, 05:08 PM

It's one thing to have a couple of certified, tested, known-to-be-in-good-condition and unmodified / hacked in the cockpits where they're being used under the control of the crew and can be quickly powered off if necessary to check if they're the source of interference.

It's quite another to have a bunch of un-monitored, un-checked, un-tethered devices in the cabin.

Stow your toys, pay attention to the safety drills, and be ready to act in the event of an emergency.

DiapDealer · 03-19-2012, 05:10 PM

They might as well relax it. It's not like they check every device to make sure it's really off.

Dazrin · 03-19-2012, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinecone

The FAA only says it is up to the operator to determine what is acceptable or not.

But since it is impossible to test all possible combinations of devices and seating, don't hold your breath.

And there is evidence of certain devices causing interference, makes it even more difficult.

And then you get into the does the device transmit or not. Much easier to just say all devices OFF.

I guess that was the point of this...from the NY Times article:

"So, likely bowing to public pressure, the F.A.A. has decided to take this initiative into its own hands and is going to figure out a way to start testing new electronics on airplanes."

It doesn't sound like they will test phones (too many of them) and they will require the manufacturer to help fund it (or be excluded), but it is a step forward. For those of us who have dedicated e-readers this would be great.

elemenoP · 03-19-2012, 05:26 PM

Will it mean an ugly "FAA Approved" sticker on my ereader?

Hmmm, would such a sticker be worth it, if it meant you could read during take-off and landing?

eP

Shaggy · 03-19-2012, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I guess that was the point of this...from the NY Times article:

"So, likely bowing to public pressure, the F.A.A. has decided to take this initiative into its own hands and is going to figure out a way to start testing new electronics on airplanes."

It doesn't sound like they will test phones (too many of them) and they will require the manufacturer to help fund it (or be excluded), but it is a step forward. For those of us who have dedicated e-readers this would be great.

I doubt this is anything more than a PR move, and that nothing will really come out of it.

There are already certifications/procedures in place to test electronic devices and have them allowed on an airplane. But none of the airlines/manufacturers want to pay for it.

What you say above is exactly right... "they will require the manufacturer to help fund it (or be excluded)". It's already setup that way, and all of the airlines/manufacturers have chosen to be excluded. It just doesn't make any business sense for somebody like Apple to pay for the testing in order to get an iPad approved. The number of people who really care about this is so small, that any increase in sales from having such a certification likely wouldn't pay for the testing.

Shaggy · 03-19-2012, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elemenoP

Hmmm, would such a sticker be worth it, if it meant you could read during take-off and landing?

Forget the sticker. The more important question is, would it be worth paying more for a device just so you could read during take-off and landing?

The airlines and device manufacturers don't want to pay for it, otherwise they'd be doing it already. What this really means is that the cost would be passed on to the customers. The reason they haven't done that already, is because they're betting that the customers don't really want to pay for it either.

khalleron · 03-19-2012, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaggy

I doubt this is anything more than a PR move, and that nothing will really come out of it.

There are already certifications/procedures in place to test electronic devices and have them allowed on an airplane. But none of the airlines/manufacturers want to pay for it.

What you say above is exactly right... "they will require the manufacturer to help fund it (or be excluded)". It's already setup that way, and all of the airlines/manufacturers have chosen to be excluded. It just doesn't make any business sense for somebody like Apple to pay for the testing in order to get an iPad approved. The number of people who really care about this is so small, that any increase in sales from having such a certification likely wouldn't pay for the testing.

What, 98 billion dollars wouldn't cover it?

RDaneel54 · 03-19-2012, 06:04 PM

It's a hassle, but one we have to live with to fly.

I just bring a throwaway paperback (or two) on a trip to read on the up and down parts of the flight. Then leave it somewhere or give it someone else on my trip.

The Kindle is for the rest of the flight.

03-19-2012, 12:38 PM	#1
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,735 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	FAA to allow electronics to remain on during take-off and landing?? Found this on Techreport.com today and thought it was interesting. "The New York Times' Nick Bilton got in touch the Federal Aviation Administration responsible for setting electronics guidelines, and he learned that travelers might see those restrictions relaxed—one day." I sure hope this comes to pass! I hate not being able to read for the first and last segments of a flight.

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03-19-2012, 02:43 PM	#3
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I want this too. Apache

03-19-2012, 02:56 PM	#4
Pinecone Guru Posts: 902 Karma: 1660722 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-650, PRS-600, PRS-350	The FAA only says it is up to the operator to determine what is acceptable or not. But since it is impossible to test all possible combinations of devices and seating, don't hold your breath. And there is evidence of certain devices causing interference, makes it even more difficult. And then you get into the does the device transmit or not. Much easier to just say all devices OFF.

03-19-2012, 03:09 PM	#5
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,851 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Yep, all devices off

03-19-2012, 04:31 PM	#7
catsittingstill Guru Posts: 643 Karma: 551634 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle 1.0.8, iPod Touch, Kindle Keyboard	It looks like this was taken with the plane on the ground. Look out the front window.

03-19-2012, 05:08 PM	#8
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,260 Karma: 3439432 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	It's one thing to have a couple of certified, tested, known-to-be-in-good-condition and unmodified / hacked in the cockpits where they're being used under the control of the crew and can be quickly powered off if necessary to check if they're the source of interference. It's quite another to have a bunch of un-monitored, un-checked, un-tethered devices in the cabin. Stow your toys, pay attention to the safety drills, and be ready to act in the event of an emergency.

03-19-2012, 05:10 PM	#9
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,880 Karma: 207000000 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	They might as well relax it. It's not like they check every device to make sure it's really off.

03-19-2012, 05:26 PM	#11
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	Will it mean an ugly "FAA Approved" sticker on my ereader? Hmmm, would such a sticker be worth it, if it meant you could read during take-off and landing? eP

03-19-2012, 06:04 PM	#15
RDaneel54 Aging Positronic Brain Posts: 633 Karma: 2155452 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Aurora (when off-Earth) Device: Amazon Oasis; iPhone, iPad Mini	It's a hassle, but one we have to live with to fly. I just bring a throwaway paperback (or two) on a trip to read on the up and down parts of the flight. Then leave it somewhere or give it someone else on my trip. The Kindle is for the rest of the flight.