OK, Let Me Get This Straight...

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...it is bad for paying customers to use iPads, computers, earphones, and games on airplanes because of the (infinitesimal) chance they will interfere with the instruments.

But, it is safe to use the same iPad right up next to the instruments?!

United Airlines said Tuesday it was replacing the hefty flight manuals and chart books its pilots have long used with 11,000 iPads carrying the same data.


The 1.5 pound (0.7 kilogram) iPad will take the place of about 38 pounds (17 kilograms) of paper instructions, data and charts pilots have long used to help guide them, parent company United Continental Holdings said...

"The introduction of iPads ensures our pilots have essential and real-time information at their fingertips at all times throughout the flight."

Flying has become a miserable and surreal experience.

Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 25, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    The real reason everything is to be stowed under 10000 feet is because the theory is to keep passengers distraction and clutter free in case of a sudden need to prepare for/execute an evacuation. Why airlines spin it otherwise is a good question.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 25, 2011 at 7:46 AM

    Some related info:
    http://ntl.bts.gov/DOCS/91-21_1.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mike SmithAugust 25, 2011 at 8:45 PM

    @7:46am. I read the circular and am unconvinced this is a problem. Foreign airlines' rules are not as strict and their planes are not crashing. Plus, as I say in the blog posting, it iPads can cause interference from the passenger compartment, think what they can do in the cockpit!

    ReplyDelete

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