The FAA has announced plans to permit expanded use of personal electronic devices on aircraft below 10,000 feet with the provision that during immediate take-off and landing phases, they would need to be stowed in a seat pocket, etc.

Everyone is hailing this as a monumental moment in aviation. And airlines are scrambling to be first to allow it with Delta appearing to be in the lead to win that race by starting it . . . tomorrow.

Here is my reaction: The FAA is staffed with people who are supposed to be very smart and very experienced in making such evaluations. If they’ve come to the conclusion that this is safe, then I stand behind that decision. I do think it would be very, very regrettable to find out one day that “electrons floating in the air” impeded aircraft instrumentation at a critical moment resulting in a crash. So I hope that the FAA has made this announcement on the basis of real science and study rather than political will.

But this doesn’t mean that stupid in the cabin is over. Far from it. The new ruling doesn’t permit phone calls being made and text messages being sent, for instance. You are still supposed to be in “airplane mode” with your PED and you can only connect to the aircraft’s WiFi systems.

How many here think that people aren’t going to text with their phone NOT in airplane mode?

Yes, me too. Because how can you really tell if someone is in airplane mode?

It also isn’t going to prevent a large contingent of stupid from using their PEDs during takeoff and landing phases. Personally, these really are the moments where everyone could stand to have their hands folded in their laps and to be situationally aware of what is going on around them.

Allowing PED use just before landings means that few will put them away and in the even of a crash, we’ll have iPhones flying around the cabin smacking people in the head with fatal results. While that opportunity exists even today, there isn’t any need to encourage it either.

I think the FAA offered something to the public with high perceived value, low real value and which artfully dodges issues around what’s safe in a cabin and even invasions of personal space.

In other words, the airlines still have a lot on their hands with this and don’t be surprised if some just tell you to put your device away until they say so. Much like today.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax
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