Comments for JetHead's Blog

Comment on Passengers Removed for Non-Compliance: A Pilot’s View. by Chris Manno

Chris Manno — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:24:25 +0000

American and the FAA did a year and a half of ops testing to be sure the iPad was safe for use (Delta is going through the same certification with their tablet) and part of the procedure includes the checklist item certifying that both pads are in “flight” mode.

Kind of different than a free-for-all “bring whatever you want” on board.

Comment on Passengers Removed for Non-Compliance: A Pilot’s View. by Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:08:39 +0000

Captain,

I appreciate your perspective on this, but I have a hard time buying the argument that electronic devices aren’t permitted due to compliance issues. If the goal is to make passengers pay attention to the safety briefing, why am I fully permitted to read a paperback copy of the same book that I was reading on my Kindle before the forward door was closed? Or how about the guy with the Wall Street Journal spread wide in front of him, blocking his view of the cabin? It happens all the time, yet it’s permitted because it’s made out of paper! If the rule is actually in place to make people pay attention, make people put away all of their stuff, not just the electronics, and pay attention.

Unrelated, given what’s been said here, what are your feelings about the FAA granting your employer permission to allow pilots to carry iPad’s in the cockpit? Doesn’t that fly in the face of the “we’ve gotta be 100% certain that there’s no possibility of any sort of interference?” argument? How is your iPad in airplane mode in the cockpit (next to the instruments!) any different from my iPad in airplane mode back in row 30?

Thanks for the debate!

Comment on Passengers Removed for Non-Compliance: A Pilot’s View. by Fr. Jeremiah

Fr. Jeremiah — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:28:31 +0000

Might I just add to the good Captain’s side of the conversation that, regardless of the seemingly endless debates about electronic interference with avionics, cell phones, Kindles, iPad/iPods, etc. are all subject to the Law of Inertia. In any scenario involving a sudden stop, these things can all become little projectiles… I don’t really fancy getting whacked in the back of the head by an iPhone 5 traveling at V1, thanks!

The most disturbing part of the whole story, to me, was the inability of the young people to follow simple instructions… and their blatant disregard for complying with competent authority! I might also ask Mr. Till to speculate about how many of those 100 students could have actually articulated their disobedience and lack of respect in terms of the academic debate about personal electronic devices and the potential for interfering with the electronic systems of the aircraft.

Furthermore, I find the insinuation that this had anything to do with race, ethnicity or religion to be wholly repugnant…the undisciplined whining of over-privileged, under-disciplined petulant children.

Thanks for the post, Captain!

Comment on Passengers Removed for Non-Compliance: A Pilot’s View. by Cedarglen

Cedarglen — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:38:46 +0000

Correction: Make that, “You need NOT give reasons or engage in debate…” Brain not connected to fingers. -C.

Comment on Passengers Removed for Non-Compliance: A Pilot’s View. by Cedarglen

Cedarglen — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:36:44 +0000

Great post, Chris. My odd thoughts if I may: First, I do NOT know the absolute answer to the electronic interference debate, but mature enough to error on the side o f extreme caution. S/he who cannot exist without their ‘device’ for 30 minutes has issues that are beyond the scope of this conversation. Second, is compliance. You need to give reasons or engage in debate. A you so put it so well, it is a binary and if compliance is not achieved, we ain’t going flying! Period. As for the claim of ethnic discrimination, two simple words: Bull and shit! What the hell is wrong with those pampered little brats? I applaud the Air-Tran captain that ordered them off his airplane, even it meant cancelling the flight. That’s also a binary and the gentleman had no choice – and made exactly the proper choice. I think is sad that a post like this one is necessary, but you said it very well. Thanks. -C.

Comment on Passengers Removed for Non-Compliance: A Pilot’s View. by Chris Manno

Chris Manno — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:32:06 +0000

Maybe the FAA and the airlines need to refocus the understanding of the reason for the rule, moving beyond just electrical interference (which engineers say can’t be rule out) and more on the attention to and compliance with crew instructions.

Comment on Passengers Removed for Non-Compliance: A Pilot’s View. by Joe_T

Joe_T — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:25:01 +0000

Absolutely. But with all due respect, I believe that if you thought that someone’s electronic device could compromise your control of the aircraft, you .. personally .. would be at the boarding door checking pockets, purses, bags.

We trust the folks on the flight deck but when we get information from them that’s illogical, we get confused. We still comply, of course, but it makes for interesting discussion on the ground.

Comment on Passengers Removed for Non-Compliance: A Pilot’s View. by Chris Manno

Chris Manno — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:06:07 +0000

So, you’re saying there might be another reason? Could it be what I’ve been saying about undivided attention to crew instructions during those critical phases of flight?

Comment on Passengers Removed for Non-Compliance: A Pilot’s View. by Joe_T

Joe_T — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:22:17 +0000

There’s one point that I’m having a hard time dealing with regarding electronic devices on board.

If the FAA thought for a millisecond that the safety of an airliner was being put at risk, do you think we would be “on our honor” to power them down?

Comment on Passengers Removed for Non-Compliance: A Pilot’s View. by viptraveluk

viptraveluk — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 21:12:03 +0000

Reblogged this on viptraveluk's Blog and commented: With many groups heading off together in the summer, maybe educating them on the WHY's before they board could save this happening as often!