Nick Bilton for the New York Times’ Bits blog:
Nevertheless, Les Dorr, a spokesman for the F.A.A., said the agency would rather err on the side of caution when it comes to digital devices on planes.
He cited a 2006 study by the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, a nonprofit group that tests and reports on technical travel and communications issues. The group was asked by the F.A.A. to test the effects of cellphones, Wi-Fi and portable electronic devices on planes.
Its finding? “Insufficient information to support changing the policies,” Mr. Dorr said. “There was no evidence saying these devices can’t interfere with a plane, and there was no evidence saying that they can.” I’m not arguing that passengers should be allowed to make phone calls while the plane zooms up into the sky. But, why can’t I read my Kindle or iPad during takeoff and landing? E-readers and cellphones can be easily put into “Airplane Mode” which disables the device’s radio signals.
I never turn my devices off, I always put them in airplane mode. It’s absolutely ridiculous that flight attendants are now saying, explicitly, “you cannot put them in airplane mode, you must turn them completely off.” Airplane mode is there for a reason—it turns off all radios and hardware that could possibly create an outward signal. Turning a device all the way off is like pulling the plug of a computer instead of putting it to sleep. It’s completely unnecessary.
In fact, on nearly every flight I’ve taken in the past five years, I’m usually asleep, listening to music on my airplane-moded iPhone before we even take off.
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champagneandcoffeestains said:
The same, I also only turn it on to airplane mode.
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beh said:
Well, as long as there is a closed circuit with current flowing, it _could_, no matter how unlikely, affect some system. Have you never had noise form the power supply in a cheap computer or similar disturb the radio or TV? There is more to it …
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chrisforrette said:
I do the same — airplane mode — and I there should be some science around the policy, but it’s far from excruciating to be on a plane with your device off for the sake of safety. I’d rather fall asleep sans music than potentially disrupt a pilot.
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