Some passengers turned off by restrictions on electronics in flight
February 2012
The debate rages on about the use of portable electronic devices in flight and when the right time to turn them off should be, if at all. Should anything ever go disastrously wrong with a flight, would a smart phone or laptop be to blame?
A recent USA Today article points out that many passengers today refuse or forget to turn off their mobile phones and other devices, even when instructed to do so by a flight crew. While many studies have been conducted regarding the possible interference by hand-held electronics with aircraft navigational equipment, the results do not settle the argument. The latest aircraft models are better shielded against electromagnetic interference than older aircraft, but the number of simultaneous devices being used also could play a part in determining the level of risk.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently approved the use of electronic tablets in the cockpit for pilots to access their charts and manuals. Those who argue against restrictions on the use of electronics in flight point to such allowances for pilots as well as the results of numerous studies that do not conclusively prove a danger to an aircraft in flight. With headlines like "Electronic Gadgets Can Remain on During Flights", who can blame a confused public? The article behind the headline cites studies that look through prior test data to show that there is very little risk in keeping an electronic device on during a flight. However, pilots and safety authorities warn that it's not necessarily the use of a single device that poses a danger, but the simultaneous use of many, perhaps over 100 devices on a medium-sized airliner, that could affect navigational equipment in the cockpit. Still, passengers can read such a headline and think that some form of blanket approval has been given to keep your electronics on in flight.
But don't airlines counter their argument with in-flight entertainment and internet access? Airlines that have installed Wi-Fi internet access can limit the number of users and have also tested the equipment to ensure that critical aircraft components are not affected. Devices that passengers bring have not been so thoroughly tested. During takeoff and landing, the two most critical phases of flight, internet access is typically discontinued and passengers are asked to turn off any electronic devices. Still, there are skeptics out there, even those who feel that they are exempt from rules they deem silly. These are the ones that will push the envelope to prove their point. There seems to be a little game to see who can keep their device on the longest without being caught. Maybe the devices themselves have desensitized flyers to the environment around them, including the important announcements to turn the things off.
Have your say via our fan page on Facebook, Twitter or group on LinkedIn.
