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Disruptions: Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why
Millions of Americans who got on a plane over the Thanksgiving holiday heard the admonition: “Please power down your electronic devices for takeoff.” And absolutely everyone obeyed. I know they did because no planes fell from the sky. No planes had to make an emergency landing because the avionics went haywire. No planes headed for Miamiended up in Anchorage. We were all made safe because we all turned off all our Kindles, iPads, iPhones, BlackBerrys and laptops, just as the Federal Aviation… (bits.blogs.nytimes.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Why would I, as a passenger, have an urgent need to power up my kindle during the takeoff run? I just waited two hours getting through the TSA security mess; I probably can afford to wait another ten minutes until the captain says "it's safe now". Besides, if I were instrument rated and shooting an ILS approach to minimums in IMC, I wouldn't want any extra signals to come from the back; it probably won't do anything, but then again, I don't make flying decisions on "probably".
I like what you said. Why can't people just turn off their devices as told!? it's very simple.
But it's an unnessasry precaution. I may not have all the bells and whistles in a 737, but when I fly my 152 my instructor ENCOURAGES me to fly with my cellphone on. this is in case of a com failure so I can PHONE the tower. It also says right in the article " the radio frequencies that are assigned for aviation use are separate from commercial use,”
I often fly with my cellphone on too, but I'm not in IMC, and if it did wreak havoc on the VORs or ADF, it wouldn't pose me many problems, because I can see where I'm going. I think that that's not a bad idea as a backup communication device, but not in all circumstances. Yes, it probably is an unnecessary precaution, but especially as a passenger, it's not really necessary to make phone calls, etc. I can see how having rules about the Kindle being off for takeoff is very much overkill, but then again, it is only for like five or ten minutes.
Gee Brett - how long does it take to turn on a cellphone? I have mine handy when I fly - but it's turned off (I get tired of hearing it on my headset, constantly searching for cellphone towers). I think your instructor needs to re-emphasize aviate and navigate, communicate can always wait until later.
In 2002 I have been on a flight with an old Iberia B-727 enroute from Tenerife Norte to Barcelona. Shortly after take-off at approx. 5000ft the plane suddently rolled over the right wing was descending rapidly. After a few seconds it stabilzed again but than again rolled and descended.
The seemingly very nervouse Captain made the anouncemnt that everybody should immediately check that all cellphone have been turned off. After everybody checked the cellphones the plane contiued it's flight with out any further 'turbulences.
This was a very old plane and it might have been poorly protected against cellphone radiations. Newer planes got better protection but no one can predict how the electronics get influenced by cellphones. A few millimeters closer or more distant to some signal wires could make the difference.
The seemingly very nervouse Captain made the anouncemnt that everybody should immediately check that all cellphone have been turned off. After everybody checked the cellphones the plane contiued it's flight with out any further 'turbulences.
This was a very old plane and it might have been poorly protected against cellphone radiations. Newer planes got better protection but no one can predict how the electronics get influenced by cellphones. A few millimeters closer or more distant to some signal wires could make the difference.