PED's on/off during various flight stages - Why?

[Sprucegoose]

I have been asked to turn off my Bose noise cancelling headphones a few times when on Qantas link 717's. Not sure why as I've never been asked on bigger planes...

Qantas went through that learning curve. They don't bother now. Tell them to align policies it can't be safe on one airline and not on another. Group need to review this

 

[mannej]

Correct me if I am wrong but the 717's have no IFE to be connected to in regards to the noise cancelling headphones

 

[Austman]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

Correct me if I am wrong but the 717's have no IFE to be connected to in regards to the noise cancelling headphones

Not QantasLink ones. But my noise cancelling headphones work stand alone (pretty well!) or can be plugged into an iPod etc.

From qantas.com: *Inflight entertainment is not available on QantasLink services.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I don't understand why people want to do whatever they feel like? And I find it even more puzzling that some people cannot sit still for 5 minutes without a gadget.

It is very simple and it will not kill you. I managed to pass the entire flight from BKK-SYD with just listening to radio on board. No movies. No gadgets. Why? Because I want to be in control. I don't want gadgets to control me.

Uhmm....

Sent from my HTC Desire using AustFreqFly

 

[AVC]

do you use your mobile while driving.

I never use my phone when driving.

I'm usually too busy eating a pie. With a knife and fork of course.

 

[eosphoros]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

Do you text whilst driving too ?

Driving a vehicle cannot be compared to sitting in your seat doing absolutely nothing on an aircraft during taxi, take-off, and landing.

 

[tuapekastar]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

There are some astonishing posts in this thread. When the self-styled experts on which devices should and should not be switched off are actually in a position to influence official policy on same, I'll give them some credence.

In the meantime, I'll just follow crew instructions and turn them off. Completely.

 

[horseman]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

I like to turn my stuff off well before boarding, and read the in flight magazine

 

[samh004]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

I like to turn my stuff off well before boarding, and read the in flight magazine

I find the inflight magazine gets a little boring by the second flight, and this month I’m taking 11!

 

[horseman]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

I find the inflight magazine gets a little boring by the second flight, and this month I’m taking 11!

This is true, reading the same magazine every second day gets tedious, however it's only for the few minutes during departure, then I turn on the iPad etc (already set into flight mode of course), so overall I enjoy it. I also enjoy just sitting there and watching the world go by. It's healthy to just sit and think sometimes I believe.

I don't feel the need to be connected every second of the day, sure I enjoy AFF, other forums etc, but by no means does my life revolve around it. I like to disconnect from the world now and then. I also think its childish and downright disgraceful that educated grown adults would ignore a simple instruction, that is in place for the safety of everyone on the plane, just because they can't bear to be away from they're precious email or angry birds for ten minutes.

To all of you that think they know better than airline policy makers and say "I'm going to keep on using my device, bugger your simple requests QF, bugger everyone else on board, because I know better!" I know I eventually will, and possibly have, but god I hope I never share a flight with you!

 

[dajop]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

I don't feel the need to be connected every second of the day, sure I enjoy AFF, other forums etc, but by no means does my life revolve around it. I like to disconnect from the world now and then. I also think its childish and downright disgraceful that educated grown adults would ignore a simple instruction, that is in place for the safety of everyone on the plane, just because they can't bear to be away from they're precious email or angry birds for ten minutes.

To all of you that think they know better than airline policy makers and say "I'm going to keep on using my device, bugger your simple requests QF, bugger everyone else on board, because I know better!" I know I eventually will, and possibly have, but god I hope I never share a flight with you?

Aren't there two issues:
1) Those who think they know better/bugger requests/ etc - an attitude problem
2) Those who think they are doing the right thing by having wi-fi off, radio off, screen off & music/video off and do this when told = ignorance problem, not attitude problem

For 1) Agree with you ! Some people obviously think they are more important than everyone else. (Although even in these instance some time can be ignorance. I was once told off by a rather gruff FA on QFi for not turning off my b/berry after an announcement to turn off electronic devices - mainly because I don't recall hearing the announcement and passengers were still streaming through the front door with their devices on. I naively assumed like QFd you turn off devices around the same time the door closes. Why the different rules? Or has it changed now?)

2) if it's such a problem then perhaps some printed and specific guidance in airline magazines about what constitutes/is acceptable off, for the more commonly used devices (not just generic advice which they already have) may help.

Then there's the various combinations of rules that just confuse everyone! In last few week I've heard the following rules after landing for turning on:
- OK to turn on at announcement (on plane leaving runway and entering taxi-way)
- When reach gate
- When seatbelt sign turned off
- When doors open
- Only once inside terminal


Sheesh, some consistency would be nice, no wonder people start to develop an attitude around this! I admit though pre-departure is usually more consistent, ie. when doors are closed.

 

[rechoboam]

The csm on the 738 today told me that they had radio interference from a "device on standby" 2 days ago.

Although it sounded from the description that it was a mobile phone interfering with a radio (while on) in the way most of us have probably experienced before.

I didn't tell them that I had opened my MacBook air on the previous flight and realised with embarrassment that I had closed the lid and not put it on standby. (all connectivity was disabled of course).

 

[DeKa]

The csm on the 738 today told me that they had radio interference from a "device on standby" 2 days ago.

Although it sounded from the description that it was a mobile phone interfering with a radio (while on) in the way most of us have probably experienced before.

I didn't tell them that I had opened my MacBook air on the previous flight and realised with embarrassment that I had closed the lid and not put it on standby. (all connectivity was disabled of course).

Doesn't a MBA standby the moment you close it? (unless you changed the settings)

 

[rechoboam]

Doesn't a MBA standby the moment you close it? (unless you changed the settings)

It does, which is why I didn't think much of it. But the instructions seem to me to mean totally powering off, meaning the MBA goes thru the power down/up sequence. Whether that actually makes any difference I don't know. Everything is stored on a flash drive.

Of course since I gave up my hideous bug-ridden bloatware infested Windows machine I don't have to worry about the start up sequence which takes approx no time whatever.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

Aren't there two issues:
1) Those who think they know better/bugger requests/ etc - an attitude problem
2) Those who think they are doing the right thing by having wi-fi off, radio off, screen off & music/video off and do this when told = ignorance problem, not attitude problem

Then there's the various combinations of rules that just confuse everyone! In last few week I've heard the following rules after landing for turning on:
- OK to turn on at announcement (on plane leaving runway and entering taxi-way)
- When reach gate
- When seatbelt sign turned off
- When doors open
- Only once inside terminal


Sheesh, some consistency would be nice, no wonder people start to develop an attitude around this! I admit though pre-departure is usually more consistent, ie. when doors are closed.

I think a difference in rules is an issue. I travelled a couple of flights on JAL last year and their rule was that electronic deviced had to be switched off the moment you boarded the aircraft. I was one of the first to board and the crew asked me to turn the phone off.

Now if we were on a Japanese equivalent of AFF (JFF) then members of that board might be heavily critical that I didn't knkow the rules and how could i be so selfish to endanger the lives of everyone on board etc etc etc. When in fact I just didn't know.

But I think it's a stupid rule. I complied out of respect for the cabin crew, not for any safety reason. And yes I made that safety call based on my own opinion, and based on the regulations of the countries from the dozen other airlines I had previously flown on that year that allow mobile devices to be used until the door is closed and an announcement made.

 

[simongr]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

But I think it's a stupid rule. I complied out of respect for the cabin crew, not for any safety reason. And yes I made that safety call based on my own opinion, and based on the regulations of the countries from the dozen other airlines I had previously flown on that year that allow mobile devices to be used until the door is closed and an announcement made.

Just out of interest are you a specialist in avionics and specifically japanese configurations of avionics? Because if you aren't then any opinion you have is based on a lack of information. It's ok to hold any opinion you like so long as you accept that your opinion is based on a complete lack of technical knowledge. Are you good with that? I would also advise that watching a few safety briefings on a bunch of different flights doesnt qualify you as an expert in avionics.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

Just out of interest are you a specialist in avionics and specifically japanese configurations of avionics? Because if you aren't then any opinion you have is based on a lack of information. It's ok to hold any opinion you like so long as you accept that your opinion is based on a complete lack of technical knowledge. Are you good with that? I would also advise that watching a few safety briefings on a bunch of different flights doesnt qualify you as an expert in avionics.

nope I'm not an expert. But NH doesn't require mobiles off until doors closed. Neither does any other airline i have been on. The JAL requirement is particularly unusual. Every other airline I can make a call to advise of my arrival time once I am on board and can ask the captain the expected flying time. On JAL it seems I can't.

Safety implication from making a call while a plane is on the ground and passengers are still boarding via a jetbridge? Like whatever. If it's permitted by every european airline, every australian airline, and every USA airline and All Nippon, then poor poor JAL for having such screwed avionics. And I'm 100 per cent comfortable with making sure I text discretely during boarding if I travel JAL.

 

[dodgeyhack]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

I think a difference in rules is an issue. I travelled a couple of flights on JAL last year and their rule was that electronic deviced had to be switched off the moment you boarded the aircraft. I was one of the first to board and the crew asked me to turn the phone off.

Now if we were on a Japanese equivalent of AFF (JFF) then members of that board might be heavily critical that I didn't knkow the rules and how could i be so selfish to endanger the lives of everyone on board etc etc etc. When in fact I just didn't know.

But I think it's a stupid rule. I complied out of respect for the cabin crew, not for any safety reason. And yes I made that safety call based on my own opinion, and based on the regulations of the countries from the dozen other airlines I had previously flown on that year that allow mobile devices to be used until the door is closed and an announcement made.

On Jal, I wouldn't be surprised if telling you to turn it off immediately is an etiquette thing. It's considered pretty rude to use your mobile phone on public transport and I'd say that carries across to airliners. Getting travellers to turn their phones off immediately saves any cross cultural issues.
Since there are safety aspects that come into play once the plane is moving, it's easier just to get you to turn it off on boarding.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

On Jal, I wouldn't be surprised if telling you to turn it off immediately is an etiquette thing. It's considered pretty rude to use your mobile phone on public transport and I'd say that carries across to airliners.

Yes true. I had forgotten this aspect of it! (Although again, it doesn't apply to NH)

 

[dajop]

Re: Approaches for dealing with 'electronic devices off'

nSafety implication from making a call while a plane is on the ground and passengers are still boarding via a jetbridge?..... every australian airline, ......

"Every australian airline?" I hope it is now fixed to be consistent, but three years ago on QF was I told off (quite sternly like I was committing a life endangering act) for using phone whilst people were still boarding? Same airline, same plane type, but domestic flight is acceptable to have the phone on until doors closed, yet international it was not?