Rek
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| posted on 30/12/06 at 10:16 AM |
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Things it's OK to use on an Aircraft
As in the title. Is there a list of stuff you can/cannot use on an aircraft?
Flying Alitalia yesterday my son was told he couldnt use a gameboy (the old one) at anytime, which is fair enough, but sat behind him was a guy with a
PSP which was ok. Last year on summer hols I was listening to an MP3 player but the people next to me were told they couldnt use a CD player. you are
explicitly told you can use laptops but not printers (blimey who takes one of those on a plane!!).
More strange was that people were listening to music on mobile phones.
BTW I'm not asking so I can cause a fuss and I understand that ultimately the flight crew know best, and must have a hell of a time knowing
whats what...
[Edited on 30/12/06 by Rek]
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Dazza
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| posted on 30/12/06 at 10:35 AM |
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yes
there are official rules, normally in the magazine on the plane. but to sum up, anything that can send or receive a signal, of any kind, including
radio/bluetooth etc, is not alowed. a game boy and psp are fine, cd players are fine, laptops ok, but no wreless items like a mouse/printer. no
mobiles unless in the offline/flight mode. mp3 are fine, as are ipod video, dvd players etc.
some crew are just being over causcious and really just a pain in the arse. i spend most of my life flying, and see so many variations of what you can
and cant use.
as you say, the crew are the ones that decide on the day, but its ok to ask to see the CSD/Purser and confirm with them, as sometimes crew, if new or
on bad mood will just tell you to turn everything off. all has to be off for take off/taxi/landing, whatever it is. but while flying most things are
ok....
hope that helps a little. 
fuckit
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ch1ll1
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| posted on 30/12/06 at 10:56 AM |
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my last trip (3 weeks ago) i got told i wasn't allowed to use my phone as a Walkman!
you can turn it on just for Walkman no phone is switched on !
but i could play things through my laptop and head phones.
do they know what they are doing !
cheers paul
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RichieC
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| posted on 30/12/06 at 11:36 AM |
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Speaking as a flight engineer, modern electronic devices wouldnt concern me overly. Years ago when mobile phones came out, there were instances of
them interferring with compass systems and other kit on board.
Since phones in particular are essentially radio transmitters (all be it in the high frequencies where few if any aircraft systems operate) its
prudent to have them switched off.
As for other devices, its the airlines policy to dictate what they allow, and the crew on the day to enforce it, but Id be very suprised if there was
any real evidence of laptops and gameboys interferring with avionics. What is true though that its not possible to test each and every device.
I wouldnt be suprised if the airlines policy is also a confidence measure for other passengers who may not be happy with electrical items being turned
on, especially at critical stages of flight.
Final note about mobile phones. Not talking specifically about those phones which are MP3/walkmans, however, as long as your battery is connected to
the handset, the phone itself can be tracked, it is therefore on and free to transmit and receive irrespective of whether a network SIM card is
fitted. This is another reason airlines prohibit there use entirely; its easier to enforce a blanket policy.
Rgds
Rich
[Edited on 30/12/06 by RichieC]
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ReMan
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| posted on 30/12/06 at 12:10 PM |
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And just to make a further nonsense of it all....
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/11/09/mobile.flights/index.html
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Ian Pearson
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| posted on 30/12/06 at 12:24 PM |
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There are different rules depending on which country the airline you fly on is registered. You will also find that each airline within that country
will have slightly different interpretations as to what is useable in flight. Always best to find out from the airline prior to flying.
[Edited on 30/12/06 by Ian Pearson]
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BenB
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| posted on 30/12/06 at 01:28 PM |
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I know that carrying around a mobile phone in your shirt pocket if you've got a reprogrammable cardiac pacemaker is not a good idea (but then
it's literally an inch or two away)....
With the early mobile phones they did have a fair chance of knackering EEPROMs (NHS tech studies (ie hospital porter in his lunchbreak) stated 50%
chance of changing *some* information at < 1M)- more modern phones are less of a problem.
I just think in hospitals it's a good reason to get people to shut the things off in inappropriate situations. In GP land we've got the
signs but no-one believes we've got sensitive medical equipment so people leave them on. The number of times I've called a patient in and
whilst walking in and after sitting down they've proceeded to spend five minutes actually finishing the conversation about what they're
going to have for dinner is quite amazing.... The other day I actually got up after a few minutes and went and made a cup of tea.... Oh well!! Rant
over!!!!
It is frustrating though that the airlines are so pinickity about stuff like mp3 players of CD players (particularly when they try to sting you five
quid for crappy headphones to listen to their extensive selection of easy listening via the armrest)...
After all, as they said on TV last night, if mobile phones are so dangerous why do Al Qaeda bother with bombs? Just sit on a plane and start playing
Snake and we'd all be f*cked
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RichieC
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| posted on 30/12/06 at 05:44 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by oliwb
Its mostly all total balls! My dad flies alot (has a ppl as well) and frequently uses a mobile and other gadgets.
Ive also used my phone whilst flying light aircraft and indeed also when airborne in larger jets to resolve technical snags, however, there is a world
of difference between a light aircraft and a modern airliner. At worst you get some interference on the intercom of a light aircraft. Its the fact
that there was an element of doubt regarding older generation electrical equipment and passenger aircraft that leaves us with the rules today; most of
which are fairly pointless by todays standards.
Good to see some airlines are getting real and allowing passengers to use GSM phones whilst airborne; Id still suspect these would be off during
critical stages of flight - back to the confidence point.
quote:
Originally posted by BenB
why do Al Qaeda bother with bombs? Just sit on a plane and start playing Snake and we'd all be f*cked
Very good 
[Edited on 30/12/06 by RichieC]
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iank
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| posted on 1/1/07 at 11:25 PM |
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It's difficult for a member of the flight crew to tell if a phone is in flight mode or not so the easy option is to insist they are all off.
There was one case of a 3rd party app being made available that killed the phone application and put up an icon that the phone was in flight mode, but
wasn't able to control the transmitter. After that little episode no phone has been trusted.
There are 3 theories for phones being banned by airlines.
1. They 'interfere with flight systems' this is in rubbish (IMO) they can be detected, but most flights have 1 or 2 phones switched on
accidentally. GSM Phones CAN interfere with sensitive equipment (CT scanners and ICU equipment) if they are very close as they produce some ugly AM
interference. But suggesting this can effect a plane from the cabin is accusing the avionics designers of incompetence.
2. They pollute the networks by rapidly changing cells every few seconds. Some truth, but again they seem to cope with the ones that are left on.
3. They force the suits in business class to use the extortionate satellite phones.... Bingo  Proof of that is they are now planning to install
pico cells into planes to allow the use of normal mobiles at the extortionate rates. Suddenly they are to be allowed, who would have thought.
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mangogrooveworkshop
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| posted on 2/1/07 at 09:28 AM |
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In the local hospital they have the switch off signs everywhere.........and five networks cell transmitters mounted on the roof..
Enough said  The cell operators pay for the site...so money is the mover.
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oliwb
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| posted on 2/1/07 at 01:00 PM |
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Agreed, its bizaar how in order to get away from mobiles now you have to book an appointment at the GP's or buy an extortinate cinema ticket or
even leave the country! Even then its not a simple case of buy buy Mr Nokia as most ppl don't seem to care when Casino Roayle is interrupted by
Vikki Pollard answering her mobile at the back of the theatre! Oli.
If your not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room!
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