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

[ProfCrash]

Just hold the switch you use for leaving sleep mode for something like 5 seconds. Apparently you can turn off an IPod by holding the menu button for something like 5 seconds.

ApK: Not disagreeing with you, I am just relaying what I was told by the Flight Attendant. She/He was not satisfied until I had turned it completly off which meant shutdown. And yes, watches you don't have turn off.

[DiapDealer]

With a Kindle, there really is no "Off." Only "Sleep" and "A Tad Bit Deeper Sleep with No Screen-Saver." If it were truly off... you'd have to go through a long boot-up procedure (the same one you experience when you do a Restart) when you turned it back "On." Instead, it comes back on in seconds with a flick of the switch. I'm guessing "Sleep with No Screen-Saver" is what the Airlines are looking for in an Off. Even if they're unaware/don't care about the distinction.

[ilovejedd]

I didn't have an ereader before when I flew on planes. Now that I do, I think I'll probably have it off and inside my purse before the flight and will just be reading on my iPhone or iPod Touch which are easy enough to turn on and off. I usually sleep during the flight anyway. Works pretty well for avoiding jetlag.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

The rules say that it has to be turned off. The few times a Flight Attendant has said something to me directly they have specifically said I have to power it down and not just close the cover. Same with IPods and noise reduction head sets.

Nope, not here.
I've posted a link to the UK Goverment advice, which says not to use electronic devices, not that they must be switched off, other than phones.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Just hold the switch you use for leaving sleep mode for something like 5 seconds. Apparently you can turn off an IPod by holding the menu button for something like 5 sec.

That was painless- Worked like a charm. Tks

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It shows that wrist-watches and pacemakers are not a problem, certainly. I guess that the fundamental issue is that the airline cannot know what sort of electronic device a passenger may bring on to the aircraft, and there may well be some which could conceivably pose a hazard to avionic systems. The only practical solution, therefore, is to enforce a "don't use electronics during take-off and landing" rule.

That's probably very close to the truth of the matter.

Of course, any airplane that takes off might get hit by a meteor, so all airplanes should be grounded permanently. Same logic. Same degree of probablility.

The problem is that this rule has been in effect for years, without anything more than a supposition that there might be a problem, and with no attempt being made to find out if that supposition has any basis in scientific fact. Instead, everyone is perpetually inconvenienced by this most likely scientifically unfounded rule.

[Harmon]

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.

Unless, of course, it means that you need a hearing aid...

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Given that you live in a democracy, what is it that gives you the right to pick and choose which laws you follow and which you ignore?

Conscience?

[haydnfan]

I genuinely try to shut off my kindle, but the best I can do is make the screen go blank which is just a sleep state (it recovers too quickly to be off). I have no problem with people around me using their ereaders, but I personally don't want to be kicked off the plane for any reason and put my kindle away during take off and landing.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by ApK

Here's another example:
A cop kills a murderer who was holding a gun to a hostage's head.
What attitude do you want in the cop?
"Any death is a tragedy, but I know I did what I had to do to save an innocent life."
or
"Yeah, baby, I got to kill a bad guy today, woo hoo!"

Well, if I'm the hostage, I'll take either one...

EDIT: On reflection, "woo hoo!"

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by plib

# 5. It is illegal to be blindfolded while driving a vehicle in Alabama (6%)

So...if you drive blindfolded into church in Alabama while wearing a false moustache and someone laughs, y'all are in a heap of trouble, Boy...

# 9. There is no age of consent in Japan (5%)

Wait a minute. Surely SOMEONE in Japan is consenting. They seem to keep getting new Japanese...

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by piperclassique

I do the same for takeoff and landing as for the rest of the flight. Off and in the flight bag for the kindle, the ipad is strapped to my knee with the gps running. Mind you, in a piper cub the ipad represents 100 % of the available electronics. I don't actually read while flying, I look out of the window.....

I was in one of those itty bitty planes in Hawaii recently. There actually turned out to be a rational reason not to use my iPhone. It was a night flight, and the light from the screen interfered with the pilot's night vision.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by piperclassique

I do the same for takeoff and landing as for the rest of the flight. Off and in the flight bag for the kindle, the ipad is strapped to my knee with the gps running. Mind you, in a piper cub the ipad represents 100 % of the available electronics. I don't actually read while flying, I look out of the window.....

Out the window? Don't you scan? Window, instruments, mobileread on the ipad, window, instruments, mobileread on the ipad....?

[heeby]

No plane has ever crashed or had an emergency due to consumer electronics. Every flight you are on there are people who do not turn off phones or devices...as has been said pilots use the same devices. If you still need to believe there is a danger then you are just looking for things to worry about and love drama.

It isn't about "not following rules" it is about exercising common sense and examining a situation and making a smart decision. I don't need rules and laws for everything I do. If a rule or law is silly I ignore it if I can do so without causing myself trouble. If it is reasonable I follow it. I would bet the bank you "always follow rules" people break all kinds of them when you find them unimportant if you are honest.

If you tell me to shut off my ereader or give me any other "directions" I will ignore you. If you then drag the stewardess into it and they insist, I will do so to avoid manufactured drama and if that makes you feel like you won or are safer then yay for you...but know that is it ALL about YOU and not about what will make a difference in your safety. You aren't fooling anyone. It's about control and pushing your nonsense on others. This kind of crap is exactly why I hate being around the public...too many busy bodies who cannot mind their own business and worry about important things that actually matter. And you will just have to continue to live in fear knowing I will not be turning off my phone or whatever else is in my bag that you can't see to tattle on. Better watch out for my nail clippers too. Hope you can survive the panic.

[ProfCrash]

And they hate being around us because we will not follow a clearly stated rule and are being selfish. So no one is happy.