Posted on 05/03/2012 6:45:02 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine
Remember that bird strike in April that forced a Delta flight to make an emergency landing? The actual incident was caught on video by author Grant Cardone, who is now on some FAA "you're a troublemaker" list because he shot that video when his iPad was supposed to be turned off.
Cardone was on CNN this morning to discuss the letter he'd received from the FAA's Supervisory Principal Operations Inspector regarding the incident.
Reads the letter: "Your failure to comply with flight attendant instructions during a critical phase of flight and an aircraft emergency could have affected the safe outcome of the flight... We have given consideration to all of the facts. In lieu of legal enforcement action (a civil penalty), we are issuing this letter which will be made a matter of record for a period of two years, after which, the record will be expunged."
"I don't think I'm above the law or anyone should be," said Cardone. "I've flown over 3 million miles, a million of them with Delta, and to think that a device — a phone or this iPad... to think that any of these devices could take down a plane is ridiculous... "If truly these devices are that dangerous, then the FAA has the responsibility to ban them."
He didn't exactly respond to host Soledad O'Brien's point that, regardless of whether or not phones present a danger to the flight, Cardone did disregard the instructions of the flight attendants. But he did express concern that the FAA letter is overly vague about the implications of having this scolding on file for the next two years
"What I'm concerned about is what watch list am I on... Am I now a terrorist?" Cardone asked. "Am I going to get double-screened? They just need to clarify what the deal is."
Such as what?
As I said to another federal bureaucrat who was insisting on giving me an answer that contradicted with reality: I accept your authority to give me an answer that has zero credibility.
iPad Electronic Flight Bag Replaces Paper for Alaska Airlines, FAA Approved
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
By OP Editor
Alaska Airlines is the latest billion dollar corporation to replace paper with iPad. Their goal: “to enhance flight safety, improve efficiency and protect the environment.”
Their is a fairly famous aviation writer who in essence told the FAA what to do and the horse they rode in on, and now he gets the full shaboygan, but I am not sure about the cavity search.
It is true, piss them off and they will squish you like a bug.
Can you even run a laptop and do work while you fly?
I so hate flying now, and if you knew my background, and how I was part of the industry it breaks my heart to see what has happened. It was on purpose IMHO, it is all about demoralizing us and making us feel like we have no say or liberty, do as I say.
My iPad has 3G wireless fom AT&T. Uses cell towers just like a cellphone. When I fly, I enable airplane mode. It turns off any radio signals. So there is no interference with a plane. Regardless, I also shut my iPad down when instructed to do so. Not worth arguing with clerk mentality drones.
There are many nations which do not have hijackings, yet take a different approach to airport security at their airports. I could name specific countries, but I think most people know whom I refer to. Unfortunately (for US officials), these approaches overseas present two, stubborn, uncomfortable and inconvenient things: a) they are successful; be) they place basic human respect of the flying customer or citizen as a key element--and still achieve the goal and get the job done.
Back in the United States, though, the US federal government can have none of this. I wish it were otherwise. It is all a mind game, intimidation, control and government statism.
Not to wax early 2012 here and get too political, however, Santorum did have it right when he said the issue, over and above economics in 2012, was one clearly of "freedom". So true. We have lost so much and we will continue to lose even more it seems. Sadly, people will willingly surrender it. The are scared to death of being pulled out of line and "crucified" (EPA-speak for "made a public example for challenging the state.") Nobody wants to hang separately. People are cattle in their intimidated mindset at times. What would The Founders and other early patriots who grabbed their muskets against government excess, think of today?
I have been ordered to turn off my wireless mouse and keyboard twice recently while we were in the above 10,000 feet all clear zone. Since is clearly absurd but their position is screw you. It would inconvenience us to spend the time to prove that a wireless mouse is not a danger.
On the other hand airline-provided-for-a-fee WI-FI is just fine, supposedly.
The FAA’s double secret probation is no laughing matter. On my last vacation trip I drove almost 2,000 miles each way just so I wouldn’t have to get on an airplane. That’s how much I like flying now.
Belsen? Buchenwald? The US Armed Forces guidelines on following illegal orders? As a famous man once said, "Any fool can make a rule, and any fool can mind it." You mind away, Sunshine.
Uh, no, the Ipad couldn't.
Not in a million years.
All these schmucks are doing with this heavy handed nonsense is breeding contempt.
The Beech King Air, a very popular short haul corporate turboprop has a warning regarding the Instrument Landing System. If you run the prop speed at 1800 rpm on an ILS approach the information provided by the ILS system won't be accurate.
Another instance I know of is a multi band radio used quite commonly in the helicopter industry that if you broadcast in one of the available bands also can effect ILS signals.
Those are both known issues that have been tested, confirmed and mitigated through warnings made available to aircrew. None of the electronic gear in the back of a commercial airliner have been tested for electronic interference. Even if the FAA did test all the gear out there today, there would be 100 new devices tomorrow, and the day after that etc.
I would also add that despite the small percentage chance of a mishap in commercial aviation, takeoffs and landings are still critical phases of flight . The risk is higher and the staff on those airplanes would like to have immediate capability to give instructions. Imagine being on the US Air flight that landed in the Hudson, trying to give emergency instructions if half the flight was grooving on their iPods.
Before I read the posts, let me say that those absurd electronics rules are AIRLINE rules, not government regulations.
(If any device were capable of harming navigation is left on, it would and should be contraband on board. (I’d estimate that 10% of all such devices are on at all prohibited times).
When you put electronics on a plane strange things can happen.
THEY NEVER HAVE!!!!
No harm to navigation has ever come from a consumer device on an aircraft!
And if there is a minuscule risk, then well, FREEDOM IS WORTH IT!!!
“who thinks they’re above the law simply because they don’t believe their device poses a danger.”
So how does this affect you; and why is your dander up about it?
This whole thing is stoopit.
1st off. Cables are shielded to protect against EMF. Why? because there are a million miles packed into that thong you are flying and they all bleed EMF so the insulation contains the electronic waves are contained in the sheathing.
2nd. I know it total BS because I have private for the last 10 years and they never so much as wiser a word about turning off our cell phones, which are contained constantly clicking as we text friends about our, the fun we had on the trip or making transportation will be at the end of the wing when we land.
I have been in full on conversations conducting business as the plane soars down the runway or while landing.
Gameboboys, IPad’s, IPod’s, etc all stay on use and no one says boo.
So why is this rule still an issue for commercial? Control and superstition
Oh’ my qualifications are:
I have been in telecom for 30 years and installed structured cable in campus environments, data centers and even a battleship..
Nonsense and illogical. An iPad weighs less than a lot of books and so the rational is that lighter objects like iPads pose more of a threat than a heavier object like a book?
Think about it.
Nonsense and illogical. An iPad weighs less than a lot of books and so the rational is that lighter objects like iPads pose more of a threat than a heavier object like a book?
Think about it.
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