Delta In-flight Information about Portable Electronic Devices

I posted Delta's portable electronic device rules as an example, though I'm guessing these rules are the same among all airlines.

For the "Devices You Can't Use," do these actually interfere with safe operation of the plane?

For the "Devices You Can Sometimes Use" (with the exception of cell phones) what is the purpose of this? It appears that they wouldn't interfere with the operation of the aircraft if it is sometimes okay to use them. It looks like it is okay to use them for the cruise phase, but not for T/O and landing. I'm thinking that it must be because airlines do not want passengers to be watching DVD's with headphones in their ears (for example) during the safety demonstration by the FA's and during the critical phases of flight in case of an emergency. Is that correct or is there another reason?

Is the cell phone rule there to make sure that passengers do not violate FCC regulations?

 

IMO you are spot on except for the cell phone/FCC idea. Cell phones interfere with our radio communications, cause a buzzing sound in our headphones, and while taxing, that is a critical phase of flight where we need to hear all instructions given by the ground controller, ramp tower, or runway tower controller. I still cannot get a clear answer as to why it's ok to turn on and use once we land, but not on the taxi out for takeoff, they should be turned off from door closing till door opening. Also, you are not going to get cell phone reception above 10k feet which most commercial airliners cruise above.

 

I was thinking that EXACT thing (the bold part). It doesn't make sense that you can use it on the taxi on the way in after landing....

 

The electronic devices rule is strictly a money/liability issue.

1) New devices come out daily and the FCC/FAA does not have the funds to check every single device.

2) There is no way to train an FA to recognize which items are approved/unapproved, so its just easier to say everything with an on/off switch needs to be turned off.

 

Hand-held radios and old analog cell phones will set off the cargo smoke detector in a CRJ 200. If it happens in flight, you cannot access the compartment to verify lack of fire, so you have to blow the bottles and land at the nearest suitable.

Generally most devices, especially modern low-powered ones, will not have a serious affect on most aircraft operations (except cell phones interfere with COM and mayne NAV radios). As was mentioned, the issue is one of certification and liability....the FAA needs proof, not just "pretty sure".

Separate from all safety concerns is an FCC-mandated requirement to not use cell phones because it confuses the ground-based cell nodes. An airborne cell phone has line-of-site with many cell towers and the system is not designed to resolve that many options when deciding which node to utilize.

Eventually I assume they will come up with standard for flight-safe devices, using a set frequency range and power output. The airframers will then design for that.

 

I think that the burden of proving that the device doesn't futz with the airborne electrons doing their electron-ing actually rests with the individual operator—and there's just no way Delta's going to bother.

 

Because the F/A's have to verify that they are turned off and stowed prior to takeoff. The F/A's do this during their walk-throughs early in the taxi. If you allowed the use during taxi out the F/A's would have to make additional walk-throughs after the announcement that the phones had to be turned off and stowed was made.