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The pilots of Instagram: beautiful views from the cockpit, violating rules of the air
The pilots of Instagram are internet famous. Their stunning photos of the skies, captured from their unusual perspective inside the cockpit, garner hundreds, sometimes thousands of likes from fans. But taking photos, or using most any electronic device, while piloting a commercial aircraft is prohibited by American and European regulators. Pilots for airlines large and small, flying planes of all sizes, seem to be violating the safety rules, taking photos with their phones as well as GoPro… (qz.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
LOw hanging fruit....BINGO.....And just who runs these regulatory agencies? Bureaucrats. Not people in the regulated industry. Not anyone who has "been there"...No outsiders who's job it is to make sure they can keep their job. so they invent silly things with which we must deal. Of course the regulations ALWAYS make things more difficult, costly and are put in place for the purpose of creating more regulations.
Apparently a slow news day for "Quartz". This guy needs to get a life.
This article has so much that can be gone over. But, I personally most liked: "Landing at Reagan is notoriously complex and unusually difficult due to its proximity to the National Mall and the Pentagon." Yes, it is "notoriously complex and unusually difficult," if you don't know how to fly a Transport-Category Aircraft! It is challenging on the first approach to 19, but planning ahead, and using your resources, makes that easier. And, subsequent approaches should be non-events. But, what gets me most is that the video is showing an approach to 1, which is a straight-in with no hazards, unless you don't proceed appropriately in a missed approach!
There have been a number of videos of Lufthansa flights including contemporaneous interviews with the flight crews on final approach. How do these differ from the Quartz report? Is it because the computer is the captain?
Foreign Air Carriers do not need to comply with FAR 121.306. As well this regulation was only effective since April 14, 2014. Before that, crew could use PEDs above 10,000ft.
Even the suction-grip of a go-pro? Even by the jump seat ride-along crewmember? Hell, before everyone started panicking and flailing about "terrorists" and "bombs", I rode with crews as an ordinary passenger and had many good conversations, took lots of photos, and in every case was briefed on (a) supplemental oxygen and (b) sterile cockpit.
This regulatory nonsense is going too far. So what else should be prohibited.. eating? Blowing your nose? No crew would endanger themselves or the airplane for a photograph. The dweebs pushing this panic should be called to account for such mistrust in such a fundamental as this.
Next, flight crews will be required to wear helmets lest one of them bumps the overhead!
While the FAA and other authorities continue to strive for safety (allegedly), taking the low-hanging fruit is not a good solution. Rather, clean your own house of the continued collusion between the industry and its regulators, which is still problematic, and then return with the nitpicking... how might I put it best.. distractions once the bigger problem (aka: you) is solved.
Photographs, stories, and videography from the flight deck provide a reassuring window into this overly-restricted domain. I think most viewers would be amazed at the views and marvel at the discipline and skill of these crews, inspiring to say the least. What's not inspiring is the usual from governments: job justification, expansion of authority, and of course more money. Message: Do your job, or get a real one.