Take-off, Landing, and Your Ereader -- A Poll

[ApK]

Originally Posted by MovieBird

I happen to work as an aerospace engineer, albeit on the power side. In an academic setting, I've also worked through several theoretical control system designs, to include inertial navigation.

I don't know as much as some, but I do have a bit of a background in this. I cannot unequivocaly state that x-type of devices cannot possibly cause a problem. I do find it extremely hard to fathom how a gameboy, or other single purposed but wifi enabled device could cause a problem.

I can also state, unequivocally, that my ereader, which does not have wifi or cellular capabilities, cannot possibly cause harm to an airplane's electrical systems.

It doesn't take an aerospace engineer to realize that rules like that are to most efficiently manage a large set of unknowns, not to optimally handle each individual case. At some point they may determine that the rule is not needed and change it, but that does not mean it was stupid of them to err on the side of efficiency and safety up to that point.

By the way, by "endanger everyone" I didn't necessarily mean physically endanger by making a plane fall out of the sky, I meant put us danger of higher costs or longer delays.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

It's easy to have the flight attendants carry a receiver that would let them know if they pass by a device that emits in the range where it would cause interference.

In all honesty, don't you think it's rather easier simply to say "don't use your electronic devices during take-off and landing"? Honestly, how great a hardship is it to be without your reader for a few minutes?

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by HarryT

In all honesty, don't you think it's rather easier simply to say "don't use your electronic devices during take-off and landing"? Honestly, how great a hardship is it to be without your reader for a few minutes?

You forgot to say: except watches and pacemakers. And I'm sure that you would agree that hearing aids should be on the list as well.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

You forgot to say: except watches and pacemakers. And I'm sure that you would agree that hearing aids should be on the list as well.

Are they? Do airlines exclude hearing aids?

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Are they? Do airlines exclude hearing aids?

I never heard them excluding pacemakers of watches, so the fact that I didn't hear them excluding hearing aids means nothing.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

I never heard them excluding pacemakers of watches, so the fact that I didn't hear them excluding hearing aids means nothing.

This is from EgyptAir's "Conditions of Carriage":

For safety reasons, we may forbid or limit operation aboard the aircraft of electronic equipment, including, but not limited to, cellular telephones, laptop computers, portable recorders, portable radios, CD players, electronic games or transmitting devices, including radio controlled toys and walkie-talkies. Operation of hearing aids and heart pacemakers is permitted.

(Emphasis mine) So now you have heard of it .

[K. Molen]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

For me it is a mixture of 2 and 3. First I put it away (I close the cover, I never turn it off or put in sleep mode). Then, sometimes, not always, I continuing reading as the plane picks up speed on the runway and the stewardesses have settled into their seats.

This is exactly what I do too.

Yes, rules are rules and all that, but I frequently break rules I find to be unreasonable. I exceed the speed limit with my car, I jaywalk when there are no cars around, I liberate my books from DRM, and yes, I read my Kindle during take-off.

I'd rather deal with any punishment the powers that be may throw my way than to live my life with the frustration that'd accompany following any and all rules blindly.

[MovieBird]

Originally Posted by ApK

By the way, by "endanger everyone" I didn't necessarily mean physically endanger by making a plane fall out of the sky, I meant put us danger of higher costs or longer delays.

If you abandon the physical danger line, then there's no reason for the rule in the first place. If there's no reason for the rule to be there, then insisting upon compliance because of delays becomes a moot point.

Originally Posted by K. Molen

Yes, rules are rules and all that, but I frequently break rules I find to be unreasonable. I exceed the speed limit with my car, I jaywalk when there are no cars around, I liberate my books from DRM, and yes, I read my Kindle during take-off.

I'd rather deal with any punishment the powers that be may throw my way than to live my life with the frustration that'd accompany following any and all rules blindly.

Oh the horrors of thinking for yourself! You should be ashamed!

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by MovieBird

If you abandon the physical danger line, then there's no reason for the rule in the first place. If there's no reason for the rule to be there, then insisting upon compliance because of delays becomes a moot point.

Are you really happy to stake your life on the fact that every device a passenger may choose to bring on board an aircraft will be safe to operate? Do you think that the passenger is best qualified to make that decision for himself?

[MovieBird]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Are you really happy to stake your life on the fact that every device a passenger may choose to bring on board an aircraft will be safe to operate? Do you think that the passenger is best qualified to make that decision for himself?

Wait a minute Harry, did you even read my post? I specifically said I cannot speak for all devices. I specifically restricted my comments to a non wifi or non cellular ereader.

And I will happily stake my life on that. Hell, I'll even liquidate my house and all investments to pay for any negligence if I, or someone in my family, causes a crash with one of these devices.

I do the same thing every time I drive faster than the speed limit. The chances of a fatal crash are much, much higher.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Are they? Do airlines exclude hearing aids?

Items which are excluded are defined by the FAA in the US in FAR 91.21 subparagraph (b). Anyone can look it up on their website. Yes, hearing aids and pacemaker are among the excluded items along with a few others. There is also an advisory circular (AC) that provides additional guidelines on how to meet this regulation. If you use the technical term "portable electronic device" or PED, then your google searches will be more effective at finding information on this subject.

[tubemonkey]

This is my hearing aid.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by MovieBird

Wait a minute Harry, did you even read my post? I specifically said I cannot speak for all devices. I specifically restricted my comments to a non wifi or non cellular ereader.

And I will happily stake my life on that. Hell, I'll even liquidate my house and all investments to pay for any negligence if I, or someone in my family, causes a crash with one of these devices.

Yes, I did read your post. My point was that although you may (very rightly) be confident that your device will not endanger an aircraft, can you be confident that the same applies to every device a passenger may decide to bring on the aircraft? If the answer is "no", what practical alternative is there other than to prohibit the use of ALL devices? That's a serious question - how can the cabin crew possibly know what is or is not safe?

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Are you really happy to stake your life on the fact that every device a passenger may choose to bring on board an aircraft will be safe to operate? Do you think that the passenger is best qualified to make that decision for himself?

Absolutely not. But, I thought that's what security checkpoints were for. What a passenger may carry on a plane is not left up to them. Electronic or otherwise. We're talking about devices that are allowed to be carried on... and as far as I'm concerned, any electronic device that is allowed to be carried by a passenger on the plane, should be allowed to be used on a plane at anytime. If not, then then passenger shouldn't be allowed to carry them on the plane at all. Problem solved.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Absolutely not. But, I thought that's what security checkpoints were for. What a passenger may carry on a plane is not left up to them. Electronic or otherwise. We're talking about devices that are allowed to be carried on... and as far as I'm concerned, any electronic device that is allowed to be carried by a passenger on the plane, should be allowed to be used on a plane at anytime. If not, then then passenger shouldn't be allowed to carry them on the plane at all. Problem solved.