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Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why

bits.blogs.nytimes.com

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Re: Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why

#3

Post by sudonim »

This is similar to mythbusters 'Can using a cell phone at a gas station start a fire?' http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/mythbusters-cell-phone-gas-s... .

I've accidentally left my phone on flying from the US to Asia and picked up cell service in half a dozen countries. When roaming you usually get a greeting SMS message from the new network informing you of charges and it was fun to look at all the places my phone got signal.

The need to turn off electronic devices is proven to be nonsense. But why keep it there? Maybe because it teaches us to be compliant while flying. Listen to instructions and do as you're told.

I'm not a fan of that. So I read my kindle after I've been told not to if I can get away with it. Or listen to music even when we're coming in to land.

If my e-reader ever causes us to crash, humans really should have built better planes.

Re: Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why

#4

Post by Craiggybear »

I think its because that if there were an accident involving the spill of aviation fuel (even in an aborted takeoff situation, I can see that happening) then the danger of ignition would be that much greater if everyone's phones, tablets, laptops, etc were all in a powered-on or RF transmit mode.

It makes good sense to minimise that risk.

I recall years ago you were not permitted to use a cellphone on the forecourt of a gas station. No one seems to remember or bother about that now.

Re: Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why

#6

Post by js2 »

Craiggybear wrote: post #4

I think its because that if there were an accident involving the spill of aviation fuel (even in an aborted takeoff situation, I can see that happening) then the danger of ignition would be that much greater if everyone's phones, tablets, laptops, etc were all in a powered-on or RF transmit mode. It makes good sense to minimise that risk. I recall years ago you were not permitted to use a cellphone on the forecourt o…

http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp

Re: Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why

#7

Post by CamperBob »

Craiggybear wrote: post #4

I think its because that if there were an accident involving the spill of aviation fuel (even in an aborted takeoff situation, I can see that happening) then the danger of ignition would be that much greater if everyone's phones, tablets, laptops, etc were all in a powered-on or RF transmit mode. It makes good sense to minimise that risk. I recall years ago you were not permitted to use a cellphone on the forecourt o…

It makes good sense to minimise that risk.

Not really. To the extent a risk exists, the only response that would make any sense whatsoever would be to redesign the fueling and/or avionics systems to make them compatible with common consumer electronics. The fact that this isn't happening suggests that the warnings are all just so much hot air.

No one seems to remember or bother about that now.

Perhaps because there isn't a single documented case of a fire or explosion at a gas station being caused by RF energy at levels around one watt.

Re: Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why

#8

Post by Bud »

There is actually a very logical, sensible reason to have everyone power off and stow their devices during takeoff and landing, and this story disappointingly failed to cover it:

By far the most likely time for any accidents or incidents to occur is during takeoffs and landings. If everyone has 15 objects out and is busily typing away, it's going to be tht much more difficult for flight attendants to get everyone's attention to give instructions, and crucially, much much more difficult to evacuate the plane as quickly as possible.

This isn't controversial, complex or even hard to figure out. It's the same reason they aren't serving food and drinks at those times, and the same reason you have to stow your carry-ons and put your tray tables up at these times.

Disappointing that the Times did not bother to learn this or to write a more informative story.

Re: Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why

#10

Post by mikeash »

Bud wrote: post #8

There is actually a very logical, sensible reason to have everyone power off and stow their devices during takeoff and landing, and this story disappointingly failed to cover it: By far the most likely time for any accidents or incidents to occur is during takeoffs and landings. If everyone has 15 objects out and is busily typing away, it's going to be tht much more difficult for flight attendants to get everyone's a…

While this explains why you must stow the devices, it doesn't explain why you have to power them off, why it's often OK to hold a device that's turned off, and why nobody ever tells you to put down a book or magazine during these times.
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