Gadgets on Airplanes – Brandon Muramatsu

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Source: Gizmodo

I ran across this article on Gizmodo, Giz Explains: How To Fix the Airlines’ Stupid Portable Gadget Rules. I fly enough that I can hardly remember the time when the FAA rules about electronic devices really made a whole lot of sense.

If the research in the article is accurate, the relevant FAA rules date from 1999:

§ 121.306 Portable electronic devices.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may operate, nor may any operator or pilot in command of an aircraft allow the operation of, any portable electronic device on any U.S.-registered civil aircraft operating under this part.
(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to—
(1) Portable voice recorders;
(2) Hearing aids;
(3) Heart pacemakers;
(4) Electric shavers; or
(5) Any other portable electronic device that the [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][airline] has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used.
(c) The determination required by paragraph (b)(5) of this section shall be made by that [airline] operating the particular device to be used.
[Doc. No. FAA–1998–4954, 64 FR 1080, Jan. 7, 1999]

I agree that some sort of restriction is worthwhile from a practical standpoint. I’ll also agree that it’s hard to accomodate all of the likely situations, but I definitely believe that the rules should be updated for 2004, let alone 2009.

Most obviously, there are very few “on-off” switches any more on electronics devices.

Though if I use my iPhone’s voice recording function it’s not unreasonable to believe that I can use the device all the time on a plane. Since Apple prevents me from using the cell phone functions, while I’m using the voice recording app, then when I’m using it that way I am in fact using a voice recorder. Though I’d be hard pressed to find a flight attendant that would agree.

What do you think?

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