Congress Moves to Ban Cockpit laptops
 

Here we go......



Congress Moves to Ban Cockpit Laptops
Lawmakers Working on a Bill in Aftermath of Northwest Airlines Incident with Distracted Pilots


(AP) Lawmakers are moving to ban the use of computer laptops and other personal electronic devices in airline cockpits to prevent another incident like the Northwest Airlines plane that overshot Minneapolis by 150 miles.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, chairman of the aviation subcommittee, said in an interview that his staff is working on a bill that he expects to introduce in about a week. He said he was surprised to learn after the Oct. 21 incident that the Federal Aviation Administration doesn't specifically prohibit pilots from using laptops, DVD players, MP3 players and other devices during flight except below 10,000 feet while the plane is taking off or landing.

The two pilots of Northwest Flight 188 told National Transportation Safety Board investigators that they didn't notice repeated attempts by air traffic controllers and airline dispatchers to contact them because they were working on a new crew scheduling program on their laptops. The plane carrying 144 passengers was out of communication with anyone on the ground for 91 minutes, prompting the military to ready fighter jets for launch and the White House situation room to alert senior White House officials.

The plane zoomed past its Minneapolis destination before the pilots were alerted to their situation by a flight attendant. By that time, the plane was over Wisconsin.

"We now understand from this flight at least that this can happen and there ought to be a more clear understanding by everyone in the cockpit that there is a national standard that would prohibit this and that they need to take it seriously," said Dorgan, D-N.D.

Delta Air Lines, which acquired Northwest last year, has a policy prohibiting the use of personal laptops by pilots during flight. The airline has suspended the two pilots - Timothy Cheney of Gig Harbor, Wash., the captain, and Richard Cole of Salem, Ore., the first officer - pending an investigation. The FAA has revoked the pilots' licenses, and the NTSB is investigating the cause of the incident.

Dorgan said he expects his proposal to eventually be wrapped into a larger aviation bill pending before the Senate. He also said he doesn't anticipate any opposition to the measure.

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., has also said he wants to introduce legislation to prohibit pilots from using laptops and other personal devices during flight, and several other senators expressed support for a ban at a hearing last week.

Dorgan said his bill will make an exception for "electronic flight bags" - laptops containing navigational tools issued to pilots by some airlines.

Yet another example of the government sticking it's nose in business that it does NOT understand. I bet all these guys don't text or talk while driving either. :rolleyes:

Perhaps they should ban laptops whilst congress is in session. Perhaps they would get some work done to:rolleyes:.

The government specializes in knee-jerk reactions.

What type of reaction would you expect from the jerks in Congress:D?

We should form a petition that says its illegal for them to cheat on their spouses to advance their careers.

Serously, I wouldnt be suprised if eventually there is a bill that requires the autopilot to be on at 200 feet until 200 feet before touchdown. They are micro managing us to the fullest. Maybe its time for Alpa national to put out a national commercial during monday night football or something defending our rank and file.

well if this law passes...then JetBlue will have to cease operations.....jetblue pilots are all assigned laptops that contain all their manuals, jeppesens, maps etc etc

From September 2009:

Ever wonder if your hard earned tax paid dollars were wasted on politicians? Well wonder no more. Connecticut state legislatures were bagged on camera playing solitaire while House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr, (R-Norwalk), far right, speaks to the House as they convene to vote on a new budget for the fiscal year in the Capitol on Monday.

What is even better is it appears that another Nutmeg law maker to the right of the solitaire duo is getting a baseball update of NY Yankee Andy Pettitte’s attempt at a perfect game. ***!!! What are these people 12? I guess the Reps excuse would be, could be worse, we could have been surfing porn?

You mean to tell me that these people cannot just focus and do the work of the people? That is what you are paid for.

http://www.chandlerswatch.com/wp-con...-solitaire.jpg

The two non-interested CT state Reps are Barbara Lambert, a freshman Democrat from Milford and Rep. Jack F. Hennessy from Bridgeport.

The Associated Press picture has appeared in any number of venues, and it shows two lawmakers sitting in the back row of the historic Hall of the House in Hartford during the lengthy debate over the two-year, $37 billion state budget.


On the left is Rep. Barbara Lambert, a freshman Democrat from Milford who won her first legislative election in November 2008. She replaced longtime Milford Democrat James Amann, who ended his legislative career as the House Speaker and is now running for governor against Republican M. Jodi Rell.

Lambert is playing spider solitaire in the photo, while Rep. Jack F. Hennessy, a Bridgeport Democrat who has served in Hartford since 2005, is playing regular solitaire. They both voted in favor of the Democratic-written budget, while Cafero voted against it.

Michelle Malkin had questioned WTH these Reps were doing and they responded that this was a “momentary diversion ”. Maybe some one would like to define momentary diversion and it just happens to be when Republican House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr is speaking. It’s called not paying attention, LALALA!

"Our members have discussed and debated the state budget for seven months, culminating in yesterday’s marathon, 13 hour budget session. With little new ground being broken, and the results of the upcoming vote a reasonable certainty, a momentary diversion is understandable. Both representatives insist there was no intent to disrespect the minority leader during his presentation.

Regards,
Doug Whiting
Communications Director
Connecticut House Democrats "

Your tax dollars at work for you.

Is there anything that can be done to stop this legislation? ALPA can you do anything? A letter writing campaign?

If you read the last line, There seems to a provision for the electronic flight bag. With the exception of approach plates, arrivals, sids, etc. (since digital lido plates were attempted and found to be substandard), that is exactly what our computers are called. In addition, most programs are controlled by the company on the computer. Things like games, skype, etc. are prohibited unless approved by IT. Schumer and his crew will see that our flight ops, and therefore, the airline will remain able to operate.

Everyone is looking out for themselves. NWA has its reputation on the line and congress wants to get reelected by ignorant (to aviation) people who can say, "See, they did something to protect me!!".

It would just be terrible during an extended ground stop with folks on board to use a smartphone to check the weather, call dispatch etc.

Unbelievable.

Find and upload the video feed from the law makers playing with their laptops on every political and news blog possible!

I just sent a letter to Senator Dorgan and told him he had been "Richard Reid'ed". I find it interesting that millions in this country have no health insurance and that isn't a priority, but two guys who screwed up are now worthy of a bill being passed ASAP because of their actions? What a joke. :mad:

Once again, our government treating a symptom and not addressing the problem. The NWA guys screwed up because they lost situational awareness, NOT because they had their laptops out. In fact, we should be approaching this from exactly 180 degrees. Laptops should be encouraged. Check weather, check next flight status, communicate with company, etc. Do they really expect guys to fly 5 hour legs focused solely on the autopilot not kicking off and the occasional radio call?

Holy effing crap! I can't believe this. I'm floored.

• Washington, DC
  
  322 Hart Senate Office Bldg
  Washington, DC 20510
  Phone (202) 224-2551
  Fax (202) 224-1193

I just called his office and told his aide I wanted to speak with him. I doubt he'll call me back, but we'll see. He does NOT understand the dynamic of the flight deck, and what goes on in there. It's out of control. I can't believe these people. Now, on to call my Senator - Saxby Chambliss. He'll help! :D

STOP CONTROLLING ME!!!!!!!!! ENOUGH!

What 121 carrier in the US doesn't already prohibit the use of personal electronics in the cockpit?

Is it not good enough to just put this under a violation of existing laws prohibiting "careless operation" or whatever the verbage is? Why do we need a specific law for everything that happens?

I feel the same way about texting/cell phone use while driving. I don't think you should be texting while driving either, but if they make a law prohibiting that specifically, then the also need to make a law prohibiting burrito eating, makeup applying, reading, looking down for too long, falling asleep, looking at the passenger while talking, tending to children in the back, changing cds, picking up the coke that just fell over, etc...


Enough is enough. This didn't happen because of an absence of a law, so why would the addition of a law fix it?

They should pass a law preventing themselves from passing dumb A#% laws.

This nation needs to kick every one of those idiots out and start over. Can't be any worse than it is right now.

Yes... yes they do.:rolleyes:

Sanity must prevail
 

Irish Tiger, I'm sure that even Congress wouldn't propose a ban on a laptop being inside ones bag (turned OFF) in the cockpit. If so, maybe they need to pass legislation requiring the laptop to be placed inside a locked area protected by the TSA;)
fbh

I'm sorry, but I must be missing something here. It does not say you can't bring your laptop onto the flight deck, they are just talking about not using it while in flight. Let's not get too carried away with this. Almost monthly I would get emails from our chief pilot about not reading any materials that are not company related during flight. These usually came out right after a fed was on the plane and saw a copy USA Today in the side chart holder.

This bill will sail through, and it will become law. Big deal, in over 7000 hours of flying the only time I HAD to use a laptop was to look stuff up in one of the several manuals we had on company issued laptops that where part of the aircraft equipment. Not gonna be a lot of sympathy with anybody outside the pilot groups.

Lets just go back to reading the USA Today and working our crossword puzzles.

Why is that rule ok to break but not this new one?

Exactly my point as well.

The material they were reading WAS related to the company. Thats the kicker.

I think the problem is, that with the proliferation of WiFi on aircraft it would be in everyone's best interest to let pilots use laptops to check current radar.

It would be an invaluable asset, IMO, to be able to get a current radar picture. It would help with course diversions, planning a departure route around storms before takeoff, and getting an up to date idea of what your destination looks like before you get close enough to use your aircraft radar.

It would be just another tool that would increase safety for everyone, and these Delta yahoos and band wagon jumping lawmakers are ruining it for everyone.

Ummmm.......what?:rolleyes:

thank you. if you guys pull out your laptop in front of the FAA you shouldn't be surprised if they don't want to see your RC airplane youtube.

somebody f'd up, and heads have to roll. as long as you don't forget to land at your destination, you're probably gonna be just fine watching your glenn beck videos. LOL.

VA allows for WI-FI use in cruise with several restrictions. Delineated in the GOM.

Oooh oooh ooh.... don't forget my Hannity rerun too!!!! Yeah!!! :D:D

JetBlue has Weather Channel in the bus, why can't I have Fox News?!?!?! :cool:

colgan killed 50 people, legislation resulting from that took 9 months to become a bill. NWA goofed, but killed 0, 2 weeks to produce a bill now. The difference? One bill will cost airlines money, the other doesn't.

I think it is only because they have their hands wet right now with the Colgan incident that they have moved so fast this time.

On another note... What is the point of the FAA if lawmakers now want to write all sorts of new regs in aviation? They need to work WITH the FAA not do their job. The FAA understands the complexities of aviation and the cockpit, lawmakers do not. (especially private pilot lawmakers)

+1.........

We regulate by tombstones created. Or, in this case, near-creation of tombstones. There is actually a book on this topic, but I don't remember what it's called.

Glad to see Congress is getting all up in 14 CFR :( Congress, get out of the FAA's turf, and let them do their job. Better yet, give them more teeth for dealing with the airlines...

On a related sidenote, there were not enough printed copies of the DL contract to be distributed to every pilot. Several bases are completely out of the paper version.

Which leaves only the pdf version available for a lot of pilots.

Guess you won't be allowed to read your contract (a company document) while on duty.

What I absolutely CAN'T STAND is business travelers with their cellphones/electronics/laptops/etc...how about we just ban all electronic devices for all the ignorant traveling public as well. See how much Mr. D-Bag traveling salesman likes it when he can't have his precious iPhone to incessantly text his current position to everyone on Earth via Twitter and Facebook.

The point I was trying to make is this--most of the time it's just as much of a safety issue when biz travelers constantly ignore F.A. instructions concerning THEIR electronics and we're rocketing down the runway or on approach and some d-bag is in the exit row fiddling with what is essentially a projectile at that point. Yeah--good luck figuring out what's going on and getting the door open if something catches fire and 160 people need that guy to bust the hatch ASAP. He'll be trying to post to all his friends on Twitter that he was just in an aborted takeoff and it was SO COOL.

I'm OK with the cockpit legislation if they equally pass laws concerning pax responsibility--aka no talking, no noise, no books or magazines under 10,000 feet. In a true emergency or ditched landing, every passenger is as much a player in whether people live and die as we are--if they're not paying attention, it won't matter much if we were paying attention.

They'll have more incidents like this the LESS stuff they let us have up front to engage us and keep us awake en route. Or just give me some Provigil/go pills if you're going to deprive me of every form of stimulation...

ha ha. well, if the weather channel blamed democrats for thunderstorms i could see your point. lol.

Because the mind is capable of alternating between short articles (or solving crossword puzzles, word-by-word), and normal cockpit duties. To pry the mind from the computer, only certain events work:
-your hunger becomes unbearable,
-you reach the limits of your bladder,,
-your domestic animals are sick of begging in front of their food bowls, and are actually trying to test your status as nutrition: you are disturbed by the biting,
-your spouse (assuming there is still one) pours a cold drink to entice you, then pours it in your lap an hour after you say you'll be there "in five".

Moral of the story: certain things are compatible with normal cruise activities:
-a crossword puzzle you can't finish anyway,
-a newspaper article (if no real newspaper is available, a USA Today will do),
-Jepps,
-anything else that you can do in short increments or not at all, like reading any memo from Joe Kolshack (for UAL and DAL pilots), or any sort of book written by Dr. Phil.

Some things don't belong, because they are too engrossing:
-computers,
-hookers,
-Jack Daniels.

It's all pretty straight forward.