Cameras during take off - just to throw the cat amongst the pigeons

[AVC]

I've noticed one of the hot topics is the "turn off all electronic devices", which leads to questions (and some heated debate) concerning:

-What is off? Standby? Hibernate? Pull out the battery?
-What about eReaders?
-What if I get hit in the head by your iThingy during an emergency?
-Who gives a rats about the rules?
etc

We fly to LA-la land in a little over a week, so I've been dusting off the tech. Namely the camera. I have a 12mp phone camera, so the DSLR only gets pulled out occasionally these days. Like now. I remember JB saying that dedicated cameras are allowed during take off and landing.

Now, my DSLR is a beast. 1.3kgs without the lens. One of my lenses weighs 1.3kg by itself, which adds up to a pretty hefty piece of kit.

On a side note, that lens wont be traveling, as it decided to have an fatal aperture ring failure at my daughter's athletics carnival. Groan. But that's another story. So, connected will be the 635gram lens.


So what are the thoughts of our esteemed members on PAX having a sophisticated electronic housebrick sitting on their laps/ round thier neck during take off and landing? I wouldn't be one of them, by the way, it would be stowed in the carry on.

And another thought. Some high end DSLRs have bluetooth or wifi transmitters in them, to stream photos to your laptop during a shoot.

 

[ashleyn]

Surely off means off in all cases ? Oh and pretty sure cats and pigeons are not allowed during take off either.

 

[Paddy55]

I've a fair few TR photos that seemed to be shot during takeoff/landing, and some video.

THis one SF to Paris in Two Minutes - YouTube is one of the best IMHO, despite the 'disclaimer'

 

[Flying Fox]

The announcement is ALL items off because its too hard to list all the exceptions and have debates with passengers.

My confession is that I do take DSLR pics during take off & landing. I do try and be a bit discrete about it.

 

[straitman]

Maybe it's time to look at this post in this thread. Ask the Pilot.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

It is also mentioned on the QF safety information card (on the A380 at least) that cameras (and a couple of other items) are allowed at all stages of the flight, whereas it mentions that other devices must be switched off for take-off and landing, and *may* mention that mobile phones can be used on arrival after the aircraft has left the runway, but that other devices (eg. laptops) must remain off during this time (though if it's not written, the crew start their arrival speech at this time anyway).

 

[brett-au]

I thought (perhaps incorrectly), that transmitting devices could interfere with navigational equipment where as electronic devices in general could interfere with safety procedures. Ie you are tuned out listening & watching the latest episode of your tv show, whilst the crew is preparing for an emergency landing (or something similar) and you are uninformed. Thats why you can have the airline headphones on and watch a movie/music, but ipoods must be switched off.

 

[thedrivesman]

I also have seen that cameras can be used at all stages. I have also witnessed kids using Nintendos connected wirelessly during take-off on KTA-PER flight, without any intervention from the crew, E-readers in use on SYD-MEL last month, etc. it seems the cabin crews do not always recognise use of transmitting devices. I am sure I recently saw on A380 that blutooth devices can be used during flight - which are transmitting devices. Plenty of people seem to use bluetooth wireless noise-cancelling headphones during flight these days. I woudl welcome clarifications by all airlines as to what can safely be used. When you see the increase in in-flight WiFi, it does make you wonder!

 

[zig]

I have been approached by flight attendants and asked to turn my Kindle off before take off and landing. I do not really understand why. The wifi turned off, so it is just a small device being powered by a battery.

 

[simongr]

Given that cameras are permitted during take off it comes down to your crazy heavy device flying around the cabin during an incident. You camera weighs 2kg - I am more concerned about the 5.9722 × 10^24 kg of planet coming up towards me.

 

[flyingfan]

Even though Qantas explicitly allows cameras (and I've always been ready to reach for the safety card if challenged), if I want to take photos when the seatbelt sign is on I try to do it as discreetly as possible in case I do get challenged and because a loose SLR camera could well be a safety hazard and probably one that overrides the anytime camera use rule. I don't have the camera out during the moments of takeoffs and landings so much now, but there are definitely times when I do want to get a photo in but the sign is still on.

My SLR camera isn't one of the bigger ones but I definitely wouldn't hang it around my neck when the sign is on.

 

[milehighclub]

I've been going through the manuals and CASA says....

A still camera can be used at anytime during the flight along with all "Group 1" electronic devices. Group 1 includes medical devices essential for the support of human life, electronic watches, GPS, calculators and other devices powered by micro-cell batteries.

A Kindle is classed as a "Group 2" electronic device because it has the capability to transmit under wifi. Even in flight mode the device must still be off and stowed for take off and landing. Group 2 devices can be used after the seat belt sign is off until cabin preparation for landing.

 

[thedrivesman]

I have been approached by flight attendants and asked to turn my Kindle off before take off and landing. I do not really understand why. The wifi turned off, so it is just a small device being powered by a battery.

All electronic devices with digital circuits running at high frequencies will radiate electromagnetic fields. Generally the higher the power of the device, the greater the power of emissions and therefore the chances of causing interference with other electronic systems. Even watches, hearing aids, pacemakers create emissions and have some potential cause interference, but aircraft avionics are made with high degrees of immunity to such devices.

 

[flyingfan]

I've been going through the manuals and....

A still camera can be used at anytime during the flight along with all "Group 1" electronic devices. Group 1 includes medical devices essential for the support of human life, electronic watches, GPS, calculators and other devices powered by micro-cell batteries.

Would QF FAs be okay with SLR cameras being used during takeoff/landing or will they request passengers put these away due to size?

 

[milehighclub]

CASA also classes the camera as a loose article. CASA says these must be stowed for take off and landing with items under 1.2kg acceptable for stowage in the seat pocket (and because it is a CASA rule - it makes it a Qantas/Virgin/Tiger/Jetstar rule too).

Under the regulations - you shouldn't have the camera out.

 

[flyingfan]

Thanks for that. It also explains the "smaller items such as an iPad may be placed in the seat pocket..." announcement.

 

[AVC]

If I were to take photos during the take off and landing, I would use my phone or pocket camera.

Interesting note about the medical devices. I could just see someone on a retrieval stretcher and ventilator with the carer pulling the pin saying "sorry buddy, rules are rules"