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Javier's SBS Wonderland

Take the red pill and see how far down the rabbit hole goes...

Please turn off all electronic equipment for takeoff

Sorry this has nothing to do with SBS, but I really need to get it out of my chest.

As I mentioned in my last blog article I went to Toronto for the local SMB Nation mini summit. It was sooo cool to finally meet in person many of my MVP friends and community members, I really got many memorable moments there (and some even have pictures attached to them!). However, all that “magic” ended abruptly when I got inside the airplane…

Ok. Let me start by admitting that I'm not really a frequent “air” traveler... I normally travel about 3-4 times in a year. As most of you, I carry around my laptop, PDA, smartphone and MP3 player whenever I go.

It REALLY bugs me to have to turn off all electronic equipment for takeoff. How on hell my crappy MP3 player could have any effect on this multi-million dollar airplane? I don’t want to get arrested (I hear the FAA police knocking on my door now J), but I normally turn off my cell and continue using the MP3 player the whole time. However, this time all the flight attendants were ordering me to turn everything off!

This time in particular was pretty bad since I had to take several short flights (1hr max)… so 20 minutes takeoff, then 20 minutes landing it gave me 20 minutes to hear MP3s. That’s not acceptable! (BTW reading on those small airplanes gets me sick!).

Let me put it this way-> I think turning off all electronic equipment for takeoff is pure BS. Even turning off all RF equipment (like cells, pagers, etc.) is totally bogus. If there was really the potential for a problem then the airplane makers need to improve their EMI/RFI shielding, filters, etc. If not, then the safety of xxx passengers can be jeopardized by a moron (maybe like me) leaving their MP3 player or cell on? What a bunch of crap-o-la!

I’m glad the FCC and the FAA are reconsidering all this. Just let me fly with my MP3 player please!

Posted: Jan 26 2005, 11:47 PM by Javier | with 5 comment(s)
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Comments

Javier said:

Always eager to hear an amusing comment on in-flight electronic devices...

:)

FYI - There are new studies going on now to prove one way or another whether the current policy should remain in effect, but even so no changes will likely take place for at least 2 years. Any possible changes may even co-incide with the introduction of in-flight WiFi and on-board cell phone Provider antennae.

The real issue is that when you turn on your MP3 player, no one knows if it does more than play music. Is it also a phone? WiFi? Bluetooth? other RF transmitter? During takeoff and landing if a pilot loses control of the plane, he wouldn't have time to compensate for an unexpected surprise. At higher altitudes, it's assumed he would have time to react.

So far, I don't think that anyone has absolutely, conclusively proven that a cell phone or other consumer electronic device used normally has caused an accident, but it's a theoretical possibility that can't be ignored. Even if the odds were one in a billion, no one wants that one in a billion scenario to ever happen.

Tony

# January 29, 2005 11:47 PM

TrackBack said:

^_^,Pretty Good!
# April 15, 2005 5:07 PM

TrackBack said:

^_~,pretty good!csharpsseeoo
# May 18, 2005 9:29 PM

TrackBack said:

Please turn off all electronic equipment for takeoffooeess
# July 22, 2005 12:13 AM

TrackBack said:

Please turn off all electronic equipment for takeoffooeess
# August 2, 2005 7:56 PM
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