Electronic Devices

I think in Europe (BA and Swissair are the ones I’d cite, as both have allowed me to make calls after delayed pushbacks were announced) the criteria for mobiles is that they have to be off from enging startup to shut down. Similar to, but not quite, UA.

Out of all the airlines I’ve flown, digital camera’s are never included in the “please turn off electronic devices the first and last 10 minutes of flight” equipment. Gameboys, palm pilots, laptops, CD players, cell phones, walkmans, etc. is what needs to be turned off.

Different airlines have different rules, however. UA allows you to use your cell until the doors close prior to the flight, and as soon as the plane touches down afterwards. When I flew Virgin Blue, however, at no point while you were inside the airplane was cell phone usage allowed. About 2 years ago, my girlfriend at the time (now my wife) sent her brother a text message telling him what time we landed, and one of the hostesses busted out with, “please turn that off NOW!” I was very shocked.

Cameras,dvd players,gameboys etc etc are now allowed on the majority of flights as long as the seat belt signs are turned off.However at no time on an a/c should a mobile phone be turned on as they pose the greatest risk according to a recent CAA study.

According to CAA Scaremongers more like.

Cameras,dvd players,gameboys etc etc are now allowed on the majority of flights as long as the seat belt signs are turned off.However at no time on an a/c should a mobile phone be turned on as they pose the greatest risk according to a recent CAA study.

I don’t think many airlines are concerned about the use of digital cameras on board. If most of you have seen my Borneo report, you will see how many pics I took at all stages in the flight. That’s not even half of them, I actually took about 350. Didn’t get asked or told off once.

I’m not saying it’s anything other than scaremongering… I too used a digital Camera during takeoff/flight/landing on the BCN trip recently.

And as for Mobiles, airlines only started banning them 5 or 6 years ago, by which time they wouldn’t have been just luxury items, either.

Anyway, I’m a tim, I know nothing about Paranoia.

Except that Shug from Bonkle [Hugh Dallas] is out to get us… 😮

This all stems down from the earliest versions of CD roms and Players. Where the motor used to spin the disks gave of high pitch interference, put it next to a telly and the picture with start to strobe in vertical lines. I think the laser also was known to interfere, dunno how.

But that was long long ago. Todays rules are base more on paranioa than anything else.

I used my digital camera during all modes of flight… I’m still here to talk about it. No bugger said anything to me.

dunno about CO (Whisky Delta is the person to ask about that… he may even be in the flightdeck for the EWR-PIT flight), but LX and BA both have bans on CD players at all times while the engines are on. Laptops are permissible while the Fasten Seat Belt signs are off, but not with CD-ROM drives. Or at least, not with external CD-ROM drives.

Unsure about CD Walkmen, but DVD’s can’t be that bad if some airlines (LX, for example) use personal DVD players for the IFE in Business/First…

Landing in BRU coming from JFK, shot taken with a digital camera 😀

Sorry for the bad quality, I had to resize the picture.

Last September i used both digital camera and camcorder on my BA flight home from SFO
i even videoed landing at LHR over Hatton Cross
i was sat at the back of the plane but nobody said anything about using it
i know radios and mobile phones are not allowed

Sorry but last paragraph in English please ??

I have used both film and digital cameras on several different domestic flights in the UK. All the cabin crew seem interested in is whether it is secure and not likely to hit someone in an emergency. Surprisingly an organiser like a Psion does give out quite a bit of interference. Try a scanner receiver on an ATC frequency and see how much the device interferes. One may not matter to an airliners electronics but just imagine 100.!
mmitch.

Different operators have various level of interference paranoia. Regarding mobile phones, there have been several tests in my part of the world that all have come to the conclusion that they do not interfear, but airlines ban them anyway since they use different frequencies. Different types of aircraft have different makes and types of electronics in the A&E compartments, so what doesn’t interfear on a 737 might very well create havoc with the electronics on a Fokker 100 for example.

I’ve witnessed an “empirical” test in the cockpit of an ATR72 on cruise, where the captain purposely held a mobile phone turned on in front of the panel for half a minute. Nothing happened. That time…

They have never been not allowed on a/c as far as i know ? For sure with MyTravel / Airtours they have always been permitted. :confused: Digital cameras also have always been permitted even during take off and landing :confused:

Regrettably that includes digital cameras, so during the most interesting bits (take-off/landing) of the flight your camera will have to stay in the bag.

Surely not SLR cameras? yeah, there are some of us whole still own one and use it regulary!

dave

As of the 1/5/2004 you can use all the electrical devices you want on MyTravel.But only when the seatbelt signs are off. The Old Man your nephew was spot on what he said as MyTravel had very strict rules.Why the change of policy i have no idea,but the question has been put to the company and i will post the reply when i get it.

When I flew with MyTravel, the use of any electrical item onboard was prohibited. This was on a 767. However on the A320 I don’t recall any announcements so maybe only the 76 is affected :confused:

No electrical devices are allowed when the fasten-seatbelt signs are lit. Regrettably that includes digital cameras, so during the most interesting bits (take-off/landing) of the flight your camera will have to stay in the bag.