On every flight we've been on like the ones we boarded in China required us to
"Turn off all devices with an on/off switch to avoid interfering with the plane's wireless communication."
I'm always wondering, do devices really interfere with the plane's navigation?
Flight attendants say that such a ban is in place because- well, during takeoff and landing, any device with an on/off switch must be "turned off because transmissions will interefere with the pivotal navigation of the plane".
The weird thing is that it should only be gadgets that send off transmissions, like a device using the internet or a cell phone. An e-Reader should be okay, an iPod, or even a phone in airplane mode. Which I believe so, since this rule only covers gadgets that give off transmissions?
According to Toure on Time, he once asked a flight attendant why this rule is in place. She replied, in a small voice, that there was really no chance of said devices to throw off the radar. It was "really to make sure everyone was paying attention". To me, this was a strange reply.
Studies by the Radio Technical Commission of Aeronatics found no data proving that devices could really throw off the plane's radar. I believe that this is still a bad conclusion. There are more and more devices being released yearly, and other gadgets they haven't tested. In an experiment like this, you can't have a group of gadgets to test on and call it your sample size. Every gadget is different. You have to test on the entire body, meaning that the RTCA's conclusion is not all of it.
PEDs (Portable Electronic Devices), however, that are not specifically listed as an item that's banned are determined alone by the airline if they are usable.
The RTCA's advise to turn off your gadget once you reach the altitude of 10,000 feet; any other height below this mark COULD interfere with the plane's radar as the cockpit crew tries to fulfill crtical arrival and departure times. But of course, only most gadgets follow this rule.
Which I must say that your gadget could be turned on anytime if you rode a small private jet. Even airlines in the Middle East and Asia allow you to freely turn on your gadget. And the big guy, Air Force One, reserved for presidential staff and reporters, allows you to do the same. That's also a bit weird.
Addressing Cell Phones
Cell phones are different. They give off LOTS of transmissions, far away from the user. That's how strong they are.
The FCC bans over 800 of these phones, since it's kind of obvious that these really could interfere with the plane's navigation radar. I won't talk about this much, since you really shouldn't be using these things on the plane because that would pose as a safety hazard.
Airlines may allow some phones on airplane with "airplane mode", which cuts off all transmissions from the phone so you can't connect to the Internet or make calls, rendering it just like a regular device (which of course you must apply to the rules for any non-trasmissioning gadget).
But of course I do feel a twinge of annoyance when we do have to turn off our gadgets. It's really annoying to have a person blabber all day because they really couldn't use their e-Reader. But it's only or like, ten minutes the entire flight! You can use them when you're in the air.
But here's something: Nick Bilton of the New York Times reveals that PEDs (the non-transmissing kind) send out so few microvolts that the amount of interference seems almost inconsequential, meaning it's probably impossible for interference to happen because it sends how really really small transmissions. Microvolts.
A veteran pilot once told ABC news that the electronic equipment in the cockpit are "heavily shielded. Stray signals cannot get into those systems". Score one for PEDs?
Toure (again), according to his post, refuses to turn off his gadget/phone. Dude, you really want to take that small risk? Do you really want to throw off the plane's radar just because you're so stubborn that you can't use it? A plane is like a dictatorship. You have to listen to the rules. And yet you still want to put thirty other passengers at risk because you're so insolent about not switching your phone off! Here's a quote:
"After getting molested by the TSA, making my way through a long line filled with annoyed people and snuggling into a tiny seat, the last thing I need is to be cut off from my iPhone and iPod and left alone with my thoughts. Thoughts like, I wish I’d stayed at home."- Toure
Guys, that's one message: Just obey the rules like your parents told you to.
(Write your replies on both perspectives!"
"Turn off all devices with an on/off switch to avoid interfering with the plane's wireless communication."
I'm always wondering, do devices really interfere with the plane's navigation?
Flight attendants say that such a ban is in place because- well, during takeoff and landing, any device with an on/off switch must be "turned off because transmissions will interefere with the pivotal navigation of the plane".
The weird thing is that it should only be gadgets that send off transmissions, like a device using the internet or a cell phone. An e-Reader should be okay, an iPod, or even a phone in airplane mode. Which I believe so, since this rule only covers gadgets that give off transmissions?
According to Toure on Time, he once asked a flight attendant why this rule is in place. She replied, in a small voice, that there was really no chance of said devices to throw off the radar. It was "really to make sure everyone was paying attention". To me, this was a strange reply.
Studies by the Radio Technical Commission of Aeronatics found no data proving that devices could really throw off the plane's radar. I believe that this is still a bad conclusion. There are more and more devices being released yearly, and other gadgets they haven't tested. In an experiment like this, you can't have a group of gadgets to test on and call it your sample size. Every gadget is different. You have to test on the entire body, meaning that the RTCA's conclusion is not all of it.
PEDs (Portable Electronic Devices), however, that are not specifically listed as an item that's banned are determined alone by the airline if they are usable.
The RTCA's advise to turn off your gadget once you reach the altitude of 10,000 feet; any other height below this mark COULD interfere with the plane's radar as the cockpit crew tries to fulfill crtical arrival and departure times. But of course, only most gadgets follow this rule.
Which I must say that your gadget could be turned on anytime if you rode a small private jet. Even airlines in the Middle East and Asia allow you to freely turn on your gadget. And the big guy, Air Force One, reserved for presidential staff and reporters, allows you to do the same. That's also a bit weird.
Addressing Cell Phones
Cell phones are different. They give off LOTS of transmissions, far away from the user. That's how strong they are.
The FCC bans over 800 of these phones, since it's kind of obvious that these really could interfere with the plane's navigation radar. I won't talk about this much, since you really shouldn't be using these things on the plane because that would pose as a safety hazard.
Airlines may allow some phones on airplane with "airplane mode", which cuts off all transmissions from the phone so you can't connect to the Internet or make calls, rendering it just like a regular device (which of course you must apply to the rules for any non-trasmissioning gadget).
But of course I do feel a twinge of annoyance when we do have to turn off our gadgets. It's really annoying to have a person blabber all day because they really couldn't use their e-Reader. But it's only or like, ten minutes the entire flight! You can use them when you're in the air.
But here's something: Nick Bilton of the New York Times reveals that PEDs (the non-transmissing kind) send out so few microvolts that the amount of interference seems almost inconsequential, meaning it's probably impossible for interference to happen because it sends how really really small transmissions. Microvolts.
A veteran pilot once told ABC news that the electronic equipment in the cockpit are "heavily shielded. Stray signals cannot get into those systems". Score one for PEDs?
Toure (again), according to his post, refuses to turn off his gadget/phone. Dude, you really want to take that small risk? Do you really want to throw off the plane's radar just because you're so stubborn that you can't use it? A plane is like a dictatorship. You have to listen to the rules. And yet you still want to put thirty other passengers at risk because you're so insolent about not switching your phone off! Here's a quote:
"After getting molested by the TSA, making my way through a long line filled with annoyed people and snuggling into a tiny seat, the last thing I need is to be cut off from my iPhone and iPod and left alone with my thoughts. Thoughts like, I wish I’d stayed at home."- Toure
Guys, that's one message: Just obey the rules like your parents told you to.
(Write your replies on both perspectives!"
Yeah...I mean,this is annoying, but what's the point of being all insolent and stubborn? It's honestly not that big a deal.
ReplyDeleteI know, right? Like, what the flux, just shush and follow the rules!
ReplyDelete