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Disruptions: The Real Hazards of E-Devices on Planes
Over the last year, flying with phones and other devices has become increasingly dangerous. In September, a passenger was arrested in El Paso after refusing to turn off his cellphone as the plane was landing. In October, a man in Chicago was arrested because he used his iPad during takeoff. In November, half a dozen police cars raced across the tarmac at La Guardia Airport in New York, surrounding a plane as if there were a terrorist on board. They arrested a 30-year-old man who had also refused… (bits.blogs.nytimes.com) और अधिक...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Urban legend those electronic warnings. As a captain flying over the Atlantic for 3 years and the Caribbean for over 10 years for a major airline, I can't tell you how many times I've left my cell phone on. Never a problem. It was only about 2 years ago that the company made electronic devices turned off on our checklists. Otherwise guys would try to remember if they could since it wasn't on the checklist. The bad part about leaving your phone on is that the battery would go dead looking for a signal for so long. About 30 years ago cell phones did pose a problem but that was back in the day with different technology. IF you were around back then you might recall those old clunky bag phones that you'd carry around with you and plug into your vehicle's cigarette lighter. Those phones indeed cause electrical interference but how many folks carry those around these days??? So much in aviation happens because "that's the way we've always done it"!!! The FAA is extremely slow adapting to a changing world. A classic example is the requirement of pilots carrying their paper copy of their medical and license even though there's computers with the same data available from a person's phone!!!! IF a pilot doesn't have these documents its a $10,000 fine, you could lose your license for 6 months and of course lose your job as well during that time equating to a potential loss of $120,000. Its such a threat to safety not having those two pieces of paper. Give me a break. Now if we could only talk someone into having wind socks at the end of every runway..........
Could a small part of the paper copy issue be because servers are known to go offline sometimes? It's been my experience one can be left without substantiation when relying solely on electronic copies. In the instance you cite, if medical and / or license documentation is required, and the server is offline it could create a rather serious problem. Just a guess.
Airlines have their own computer systems. I don't think they use "servers" per se. The Feds ought to check a guy's license B4 they even show up at the airplane. All they have to do is check with his company's dispatch folks for whatever info they need. Substantiation??? The Feds can substantiate anything within seconds if they want. Its just that the system they use is antiquated and they refuse to get with the 21st century.
The same could be said, I suppose, for the cop who stops you on the highway and asks for your license. If you can't produce it, you are in deep trouble. And they could go back and check, just as you say the Feds can. If the policy, rule, law, whatever says carry it - you carry it.
You are NOT in deep trouble if you get stopped by the law and don't have your license. They can find out in a New York minute who you are. They have more data on you than you know. All you need to do is give them a few pieces of verification like your birthday, your address, what other cars you have, etc. You usually have your insurance papers in the glove box as well. With the technology in place, they could produce a picture of you from your license which they have in their data base and compare it with your face. I've been stopped in the past and it really hasn't been a problem. I tell them I have a concealed weapon permit, they see it in their data base, and all that's left is a discussion why they stopped me. Really not a problem. Papers are old school. The FAA needs to get with the program.
It depends on what state you're in. And I understand they have the technology to find all of this out, as I alluded to - perhaps you missed that part which is too bad, because that was my point. Anyway, this is off topic, so that's it from me.
Sorry. You made a statement, "you are in deep trouble", followed by "And they could go back and check, just as you say the Feds can." Either a person is in deep trouble or they're not. I said they're not in deep trouble. Don't forget, you're the one that got off topic bringing in the police. But the same is NOT the case in aviation. If you don't have a license ON YOU for flying an airplane, in this case you are in deep trouble. But the thing is that you don't have to be in deep trouble just because you don't have some stupid piece of paper on you. But the government has decided to have idiocy reign. We have the technology but the FAA continues to bury their collective head in the sand not only when it comes to paperwork but with electronic devices as well. As an aside, if you misplace your medical or your license, a pilot can call dispatch at his company (depending on the airline) and have them print out a copy of it on a piece of computer paper. I should know since that happened to me a couple of times in the past. If that's good for the FAA, I don't see why they can't just contact the company themselves when its time for a checkride. But they continue to operate in the past unwilling to change from their old ways of doing something. Kinda like the postal service. Its old school, those letters being sent in the mail yet we still have the post office, and we still have those little pieces of papers in our wallets or some other billfold. Same goes for government run schools. They're still operating with 19th century policies. Classrooms with teachers, textbooks, ringing of bells, the entire operation shut down for the summer. All that is antiquated and actually harmful in today's society. But that's what often happens when you get government in the mix. Its a problem in aviation and a problem in other areas of the culture as well.
It's a revenue producer here. Ticket for failure to have license. $159 or go to court. If you go to court, no fine but court cost is $129. Lol
Having been a captain flying across the Atlantic for 3 years and the Caribbean for over 10 years for a major airline, I can't tell you how many times I've left my cell phone on. Never a problem. It was only about 2 years ago that the company incorporated the turning off of electronic devices on our checklists. Otherwise guys would try to remember if they could since it wasn't on the checklist. It was quite humorous requiring flight attendants to remind passengers to turn off electronic devices yet pilots had no reminders. I guess the number one could have taken on that responsiblity........just kidding. The bad part about leaving your phone on as a pilot, is that the battery would go dead looking for a signal for so long. Heck, I've had the darned thing start ringing just as the airplane was in the flare during landing. Same for takeoff. About 30 years ago cell phones did pose a problem but that was back in the day with different technology. IF you were around back then you might recall those old clunky bag phones that you'd carry around with you and plug into your vehicle's cigarette lighter. Those phones indeed caused electrical interference but how many folks carry those around these days??? I think the only place you can find one is in a museum. So much in aviation happens because "that's the way we've always done it"!!! The FAA is extremely slow adapting to a changing world. A classic example is the requirement of pilots carrying their paper copy of their medical and license even though there's computers with the same data available from a person's phone!!!! IF a pilot doesn't have these documents its a $10,000 fine, you could lose your license for 6 months and of course lose your job as well during that time equating to a potential loss of $120,000. Its such a threat to safety not having those two pieces of paper. Give me a break. Now if we could only talk someone into having wind socks at the end of every runway.......... Did you know that pilots are required a physical twice a year but their hearing isn't even tested???? If you can walk in and walk out under your own power and your urine is nice and yellow, free of poppy seeds and what have you, you're good to go!!!........providing you pay your $120