Devices now allow at all stages of flight - what about exit rows

[harvyk]

More to the point, I was flying yesterday, and I'd picked the exit row as per normal. Anyway I took a glance at the exit row instructions card, the one that everyone insists they have read when asked, but in reality just place into the seat pocket in front without thinking about it again.

One of the provisos of sitting in the exit rows was that you are not allowed to use any sort of hearing aids, this is so in the highly unlikely event of an emergency, you can hear the instruction to evacuate.

Now in a normal seat, if you see other pax getting out of the plane in a hurry, heard mentality means that you will follow very quickly, so even with your own music and not hearing the command to evacuate you'll probably be ok. However if you're the one sitting next to the exit and it's your job to get that exit open, having headphones on which are not connected to the planes PA system, is there a risk that an evacuation could be slowed down in the unlikely event of, esp if you're using a good set of NR's?

For the record, I stopped my music just before landing, not because I had to, or for "in the unlikely event of", but more because I kinda like the sounds the engines make during landing.

Thoughts, comments?

 

[RooFlyer]

Good points, but I think would be negated by the argument that some-one sleeping in the exit row would be less likely to be able to respond 'instantly' and there has never been any suggestion that sleeping / sleeping pills be banned in exit rows. (Not saying that I would agree with that argument, but would be out there...

Although .... Air Canada, under the new 'stuff on' regime, strictly enforces its policy that 'only bud type earphones connected to the airplanes sound system' may be worn by anyone after the seat belt sign goes on.

You can have your iPod etc on during landing / take-off, but that's not to say you can listen to it

 

[harvyk]

I've often wondered about the use of a person in an exit row if they are asleep. As a result I'll make sure I'm awake and with it esp around take off / landing, just in case.

Furthermore it's not like every emergency evac always starts off with what feels like the airplane falling from the sky / massive braking during a takeoff. A few years ago there was a southwest flight which needed to do an emergency evac, the landing looked pretty normal, it only became an emergency when they realised the brakes where on fire after the landing.

 

[opusman]

I think it's pretty unlikely anyone in the exit row would ever need to respond "instantly" unless the plane's actually on the ground when the emergency occurs.

 

[jaspon]

Asked a VA FA about the exit row requirements the other day, they advised that for take off & landing only virgin bud style headseats can be used , once in the air you can wear your own personal headsets / noise cancelling etc.
When the seatbelt sign comes on for landing , you then have to put back on the virgin headsets.

Also told me that they expect all devices to be paused while the safety demonstration is being performed.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Also of note is the point made by jb747 in the "Ask the Pilot" thread:

It's worth noting that even though QF/Virgin are now allowing passengers to use their 'devices' at all stages of flight, they must still be turned totally off if low vis operations, or an automatic landing are being performed. The margins in those ops are so tiny that no 'interference' can be tolerated...so don't be surprised if you now hear a new PA telling people to turn them off for these operations.

 

[harvyk]

I think it's pretty unlikely anyone in the exit row would ever need to respond "instantly" unless the plane's actually on the ground when the emergency occurs.

Just to quote my previous post...

A few years ago there was a southwest flight which needed to do an emergency evac, the landing looked pretty normal, it only became an emergency when they realised the brakes where on fire after the landing.

That's the problem with emergency evac's, they can't always be planned out in advance. Sometimes it really is "oh dear, everyone get out NOW!!!"

Sitting there blissfully unaware with NR phones on might only delay things on that exit by a few seconds, but a few seconds is a really long time when you've only got 90 seconds to get the plane emptied.

VA's answer with bud style earphones only is not a bad idea.