Originally Posted by saturn

Confession:

I got something out of my flight bag once. It took attention away from monitoring for several seconds. I've often been so engrossed pulling out, filing through pages and reading FAA mandated charts that I've had to say, "say again.." or ask "what fix did he give us"? I've also missed as a crew radio calls for funny jokes and interesting conversations. I've done a puzzle or game, ate some food, fixated on scenery out the window, read a thing, made non-critical banter below 10k. I don't know if I've flown with anyone who can't say the same.

Let any required and non required duty be be done with wisdom, prudentcy and situational awareness. This is what prevents actions from becoming a safety issue, not some arbitrary regulation. Reading the release is probably more distracting than snapping a picture (head up vs head down), though both may not be appropriate at a given phase. And if it can be managed, look back and forth ever so often and scan and cross-check.

As it relates to taking a picture, it can take all but a few seconds, and you can also stop midway and do a scan of the instruments, and back to the camera. Essentially it is the exact same thing as staring at something out the window for a few seconds, you're just viewing it through a screen and hitting a button. PEDs have a stigma, probably because of how it relates to driving. Viewing photons emitted from a PED is always reckless but viewing photons reflected from a city, sunset, mountain, piece of paper can be properly managed. Its perception, not reality. Be smart with with what-when-how you do anything in the flight deck, and for love, be smart about social media.

Originally Posted by AxlF16

The difference is some of those things are required tasks for your job...others are violations of FAR and/or company policy. If I'm very skillful and can fly under the Golden Gate Bridge without problems - does that make it acceptable?

This reminds me of the quote from Top Gun:

"I saw an amazing sunset reflected in my RayBans, my iPhone was next to me and I could visualize the picture, there was no danger - so I took it!"

Originally Posted by mike734

I don't think any of us have anything to worry about. But the first guy who dents some metal and was texting at the same time, could be a problem.

Originally Posted by AxlF16

Ya think?

If you can't stop yourself from being a dumbass, from violating FARs, or from violating your companies policies - at least don't post the evidence in the public domain

Strike that - post away and get culled from the herd. Darwinism works!

Originally Posted by Packrat

So, if you don't have an accident or incident, its OK to ignore the FARs you personally don't agree with?



Amen. Sing it, Sister.

Originally Posted by CBreezy

This must be the thread of people who've never knowingly violated a FAR

Originally Posted by Packrat

I guess you classify anyone that who points out that what YOU'RE doing is not only stupid, but against the regs.

If everyone who did something like this got fired or his license pulled, it would dry up pretty quick.

Originally Posted by Std Deviation

Although there's nothing illegal about posting names and/or pics from a public forum (in general) it's pretty low ball, sucker punch journalism. It's allegations of illegal activity. The author was not there. Who's to say the photographer didn't photo shop it, make a false claim, etc. He has convicted these pilots in the press without a trial. These are alleged violations, not factual.