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Congress Moves to Ban Cockpit laptops

Old 11-03-2009, 04:41 AM
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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.
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Old 11-03-2009, 04:46 AM
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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.
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Old 11-03-2009, 05:05 AM
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Originally Posted by johnso29 View Post
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.
Perhaps they should ban laptops whilst congress is in session. Perhaps they would get some work done to.
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Old 11-03-2009, 05:06 AM
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The government specializes in knee-jerk reactions.
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Old 11-03-2009, 05:09 AM
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Originally Posted by shadyops View Post
The government specializes in knee-jerk reactions.
What type of reaction would you expect from the jerks in Congress?
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Old 11-03-2009, 05:11 AM
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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.
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Old 11-03-2009, 05:16 AM
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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
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Old 11-03-2009, 05:24 AM
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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.



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
"

Last edited by forgot to bid; 11-03-2009 at 06:01 AM.
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Old 11-03-2009, 05:28 AM
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Your tax dollars at work for you.
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Old 11-03-2009, 05:33 AM
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Is there anything that can be done to stop this legislation? ALPA can you do anything? A letter writing campaign?
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