I credit you sir for being willing to see both sides of the issue. The safety and caution aspect is lost on many travelers, who value convenience and comfort above all else. The subject is something I’m personnally passionate about because my job is ensuring aircraft equipment is first and foremost safe for the aircrew and passengers.

And believe me, I’ve seen plenty interactions occur during testing that noone ever predicted. I’m convinced RF energy is part voodoo, and that’s with an understanding of the physics involved. Anyone who says they can predict interactions, or conclusively determine there won’t be any without testing first, is as you say, “blowing shite out their arss”.

And how long an inconvenience is the FAA currently requiring passengers endure? Maybe 10 minutes at takeoff, and a few more while in the landing sequence. That’s not much to ask for increased air travel safety. Not by a long shot.

kwj, you are spot on and you do realize that most of the people commenting on this site are just blowing shite out their arss.

I would add to your comment:
“You might be willing to risk your own life on it but what about your children’s, parents, friends and neighbors lives?”
How about:
How much would you pay for risk insurance and would you be willing to sign a release that you, or any family members, could not sue the airline in the event of a crash?

Seems like turning them off at take-off and landing is a small price to pay for some additional safety to me but what do I know, I’m not invincible like the other people commenting.

Neither FAA (nor the military for that matter) will just take it on faith that electronic devices will cannot or will not cause interactions that degrade cockpit comm and nav systems. Not to mention human factors issues like reflections of an iPad screen off cockpit windows at night. There are too many lives potentially at stake. Either test the devices against the aircraft systems (research “source/victim testing” if interested) and prove interactions don’t occur or don’t cause degradation, or don’t fly with them.

American can use the iPad in 777s now because that configuration of device/aircraft has been tested. The rest of the American aircraft configs are likely being test now for certification by year end, epecially during takeoff and landing when comm and nav system function are most critical.

Also realize the FAAs position when you expand the number of devices to *all* consumer electronics. And the number of aircraft. Whose burden will it be to test the devices…the FAA? the device manufacturer? And how to you enforce allowing tested devices to be operated and all others shut off?

The problem isn’t nearly as simple as the traveling public realizes.

You have been warned.

But i wouldn’t use it thought, i hate flying.

But i guess for many others would be great

*troll mode off*

“Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is now using iPads in its “electronic flight bags.”
The company is creating custom apps, delivered through the App Store, to help pilots look at operations manuals and figure out airplane performance while in the air. The iPad, according to Airbus, is going to be a standard operating tool going forward.”

http://www.ipadnews.nl/2012/07/10/airbus-creates-electronic-flight-bag-apps-for-pilots-with-ipads/

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