i hope you know that you must turn off all devices until the airplane comes to a full stop, dear phuketwan, making pictures during flight/on the runway is against the law

Posted by micheal on May 9, 2013 11:01

Wrong.

ANY electronic devices must be turned off when descending below 10.000 ft. They can be turned on again after the doors have been opened.

This is not subject to debate or discretion of the airline. It's safety standards as per aviation authorities.

Any person or airline in violation of or failing to enforce them are subject to heavy fines and even withdrawal of their license to operate.

Until such date that authorities declare such devices safe to use they are and remain banned.

Airplane is not the place to challenge those regulations and anyone failing to adhere to them is irresponsible and putting other passengers lives in danger.

I seriously doubt that PW has the technical knowledge and aviation industry background to make such sweeping statements but feel free to prove me wrong.

Posted by Stephen on May 9, 2013 12:33

Different airlines don't follow the same rules. Emirates allow you to use mobile phones during flight & taxiing in to park for example. Also many electronic devices have a 'flight mode' function & some airlines allow you to use those devices if that function is activated. The main problem (as with airport security checks around the world) is that there is no standardization & hence much confusion.

Posted by Logic on May 9, 2013 14:02

Stephen:
"ANY electronic devices must be turned off when descending below 10.000 ft. They can be turned on again after the doors have been opened".

You're ten years behind the times.

Posted by Pete on May 9, 2013 16:07

The key word here is below 10.000ft. Pay attention.

Airlines cannot implement policies that contradict the aviation authorities regulations. In Thailand that would be DCA plus the authorities in the country the airline is registered in and any other international airspace they fly through.

For this reason most authorities follow more or less the same set of rules to simplify regulations. Checking the FAA database will give you the best picture of what they are.

But I guess you know better than the DCA, FAA, Boeing or Airbus together.

Why don't you argue your case with the FAA then since you claim using radio transmitting devices below 10.000ft is wrongly banned.

Airlines that allow mobile phone usage or WLAN onboard must be certified to do so. Most employ Connexion by Boeing system.

It is not for you to decide it's ok because some other airline allows it. You don't have a clue what is involved to make such operations possible.

Interestingly enough a few days back you were in full agreement about how wrong it is for some just to ignore traffic rules and regulations because they think they don't apply to them and can reason their way out of it.

Yet here you are doing the same yourself. Ignoring the rules because you think they are stupid and just downright wrong.

From your previous reporting one can see you don't have the first clue of aviation technology, certification process or safety regulations. Frequent Flyer miles don't qualify you as an armchair quarterback.

No other transport industry is so tightly regulated as aviation is. If something goes wrong en route, you can't just pull over at the side of the road. Airplanes are incredibly complex systems and even seasoned engineers make mistakes.

Take the Boeing 787 battery issue for example.

On this issue you are way out of your depth and just plain dead wrong.

Here is the current situation explained in layman terms

http://www.wisegeek.org/why-do-all-electronics-have-to-be-turned-off-for-takeoff-and-landing.htm#did-you-know

Posted by Stephen on May 9, 2013 16:24

Here is the current FAA directive. It's a difficult read but the essential paragraph is this

f. Prohibiting the operation of any PEDs during the takeoff and landing phases of flight. It must be recognized that the potential for personal injury to passengers is a paramount consideration, as well as is the possibility of missing significant safety announcements during important phases of flight. This prohibition is in addition to lessening the possible interference that may arise during sterile cockpit operations (below 10,000 feet).

http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%2091.21-1B.pdf


Prove me wrong and I shall stand corrected.

Posted by Stephen on May 9, 2013 16:43

Ahh Stephen- you confuse FAA with CGAF. As this is Thailand I suggest you keep US regulations where they belong. In the days of skyphones and such you really should keep up.

Posted by Mister Ree on May 9, 2013 16:46

Wat a bunch of moaners. I though that we would see a few reactions in regards the car park and the lack of space, but instead I met some of the most interesting know-it-all people.... Get a life.

Posted by Charles on May 10, 2013 00:09

Buses delivering passengers to the bus gate,how about delivering all the way to kata karon and Patong instead of into the arms of tuk tuk shysters
I have a dream.

Posted by slickmelb on May 10, 2013 00:35