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

[LiamR]

To be honest, when the doors close, I put my phone on flight mode and stick it in my pocket. As long as I'm not openly using it during Taxi, Takeoff or Landing, I don't believe the crew will have a problem. They ask you to turn off electronic devices so that in the unlikely event of an emergency, they can get everybody's attention. If a person was listening to their iPod they might not hear the crew.

If it's not turned onto flight mode it may be another problem, but flight mode ensures that it won't interfear with the aircraft systems. I'm sure people will disagree with me, but that's the stance I take. I can assure you most crew themselves leave their phones on.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I do exactly the same as you LiamR, was just waiting for someone else to 'fess up :mrgreen:

 

[LiamR]

I do exactly the same as you LiamR, was just waiting for someone else to 'fess up :mrgreen:

Yay! I'm not alone and won't be the sole person who gets abused if somebody disagrees with our point of view.

 

[Deleted member 26544]

I too put my phone(s) and iPad into flight mode before stowing them.

 

[simongr]

The crew on QF generally say to turn the device to flight mode before fully turning it off. Personally if I saw someone put it in flight mode I wouldn't worry though.

I tend not to turn off all radios on my
Laptop either...

 

[JohnK]

It makes me wonder how many devices are left on.

I have been guilty of this a few times recently.

By the way is it OK to just switch mobile phones off and not put it into flight mode? The Nokia N97 mini alarm works even when the phone is switched off! :shock:

 

[Austman]

... and switching all electronic devices off seems to exclude digital cameras which I often see being used, in full view of the crew, during take-off and landing.

 

[Austman]

... and most watches are electronic too ...

The blanket ban on all electronics seems more for ease of implementation rather than for any real risk to the aircraft systems.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

This very same question was asked in the BA forum on FT recently (I think AA too).

 

[Moopere]

The crew on QF generally say to turn the device to flight mode before fully turning it off. Personally if I saw someone put it in flight mode I wouldn't worry though.

I thought flight mode was enough and I've also heard the QF cabin call to switch devices to flight mode. Now that its been mentioned though, yes, they usually also ask for devices to be switched off during takeoff and landing (flight mode not enough) but this really does sound like a crew warning/emergency thing as mentioned above - immersed in ones music with earbuds may well mean you don't hear instructions.

Rather than go into a long speal which includes acceptable options of "on-ness" Its just easier to ask for everything to be turned off for those specific times when the crew may need to communicate with you urgently. A mobile phone in flight mode in your pocket is probably fine as you can hear the crew and the phone won't be transmitting.

I must admit though I usually turn my gear off completely for the flight as I never seem to have enough battery life nor the right combination of cables and adaptors to do much in-flight. Now that IFE is increasingly becoming an option rather than the standard I may have to change my habits though.

 

[Mh4k]

Meh. It is pointless. Here's a timely article on the subject http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/...rules-on-kindle-and-ipad-html/?pagewanted=all

Pilots get to use iPads during take off and landing. Daily there are thousands (likely tens of thousands) of flights which occur with passengers who, through ignorance or apathy, have not fully shut down their electronics. There has at no time been any actual evidence of electronics interfering with aircraft systems. If it was a plausible risk then the devices would be banned outright.

Turn it off, or don't turn it off. Just don't be an officious little dweeb and make a big deal out of someone else's failure to act as you would.

 

[Hvr]

I normally turn my phone off when boarding but obviously forgot one day because I received a missed message notification whilst in flight.

We didn't crash so no problems.

However, I usually do turn it off if for no other reason than I like being left alone.

 

[Western Force]

I have an older phone that I always turn off, BUT it turns itself back on with the alarm clock (and stays on). I got caught out the first time this happened!! oppps

Never again

 

[samh004]

I do exactly the same as you LiamR, was just waiting for someone else to 'fess up :mrgreen:

I generally switch my iPhone to flight mode before putting it in my pocket but have on occasion turned it off flight mode on descent to see where the signals start picking up.

I’ve quite often forgotten to switch my iPad to flight mode, and have even used it’s GPS to track the plane over the tasman (receiver… not transmitter).

That said, I know one member here who’s received a video call with a view of a runway slowly moving away from them…

... and switching all electronic devices off seems to exclude digital cameras which I often see being used, in full view of the crew, during take-off and landing.

The back of the safety card will often say that digital cameras (but not video cameras) can be used at all times. I check this often, as it varies, but it’s perfectly acceptable on some safety cards and not on others…

 

[Simo]

I too put my phone(s) and iPad into flight mode before stowing them.

I also do this as well.

But sometimes I have to turn it off otherwise it will have a flat battery when i get home anyway and won't be able to ring my lift back to my car.

 

[Austman]

The back of the safety card will often say that digital cameras (but not video cameras) can be used at all times. I check this often, as it varies, but it’s perfectly acceptable on some safety cards and not on others…

These days... is there any difference? (just switch from still to video mode). But I've never seen that on the safety notice - so it was interesting information!

The whole concept of electronic devices being off seems just for ease of crew implementation. Even non-transmitting electronic devices emit some radio signals.

 

[tuapekastar]

I just do as requested by the crew. I don't consider myself 'above the law' in this respect no matter whether I agree with it or not. If someone else did not it would depend on the level of non-compliance as to whether I said anything to anyone, but it would need to be a significant and blatant breach (and am yet to see one) for me to speak up.

 

[Storyteller]

I just do as requested by the crew. I don't consider myself 'above the law' in this respect no matter whether I agree with it or not. If someone else did not it would depend on the level of non-compliance as to whether I said anything to anyone, but it would need to be a significant and blatant breach (and am yet to see one) for me to speak up.

Was on my flight to the MEL Xmas party recently & seatmate was a QF 747 pilot heading home. He was kind enough to look at my pics & showed me his :mrgreen: and told me that the digital cameras arn't really in the same category as devices that have gps possibilities.

On numerous occasions when I ask about taking pics, usually in J or F, I have been told it's ok to take pics on takeoff and all the way to landing. However, I follow the instructions on the day.

 

[Davo70]

I generally switch my iPhone to flight mode before putting it in my pocket but have on occasion turned it off flight mode on descent to see where the signals start picking up...

Out of interest samh004, at what (estimated or actual) flight level on descent did you start getting a signal ? I've often wondered this myself.

 

[Storyteller]

A couple of us on a flight from FRA ORD last year (yes, 2011), received messages in flight. I always turn off my mobile, yet received a "Welcome to Iceland" message. His was "welcome to ... some island that I can't recall - not Falklands / Shetlands, but my brain keeps remembering it as something like this.

It seems my phone turned itself on, maybe in my bag something pressed onto the on switch, or spontaneously turned on. I didn't have it in flight mode as didn't plan on turning it on for any other function mis flight.