Electronic devices restrictions to be lifted

[777]

Several reports this morning that CASA is about to lift the restrictions on PED (in flight mode) from gate to gate.

Details here: http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/lib100247/003.pdf

Basically, it's now up to airlines to show they have safe procedures and CASA can now give the green light.

Personally i think it's a great move. What do you all think?

 

[TomVexille]

I'd say there's already enough people doing it. If they have proved that a phone in flight mode isn't going to disrupt the flight deck, there's no reason why it shouldn't be allowed.

 

[RooFlyer]

Should be good. I see they are recommending a 1kg limit for non-stow-able items and that seems sensible. I expect airlines to translate that into phones, tablets etc and specify those in the announcement.

I recently did a bunch of travelling around western USA/Canada. Delta proudly announced that it was the first airline to allow small electronics to be used throughout. But there seemed to be confusion wrt Canada.

On Canadian domestic flights, it was OK to use throughout (in flight mode). But when we flew SEA-YYC, they said 'because we are entering Canada, all electronics have to be off on descent'.

Coming back AC I asked the CSM what the policy was. He expressed confusion (!) He thought it was gadgets on for all flights to and within Canada but went on to say, effectively YMMV.

Surprisingly, I didn't hear any phone ring when we were taking off/landing/taxiing on any of the 6 flights. I hope this will also be the case in Oz!

 

[JohnK]

How exciting for those that can live without a gadget for a few minutes.

 

[TomVexille]

How exciting for those that can live without a gadget for a few minutes.

Well nice for people like me who like their books in tablet form (otherwise I'd have to carry multiple books on a trip, and that gets heavy). That being said, I'm usually in a window seat staring out during the stages of flight where gadgets need to be turned off.

 

[jimmylikesitwet]

I recently did a bunch of travelling around western USA/Canada. Delta proudly announced that it was the first airline to allow small electronics to be used throughout. But there seemed to be confusion wrt Canada.

It was certainly nice when I was flying United domestic in January (nothing else about flying United is nice). Although we did have to turn them off for a landing into LAX as there was fog and they needed to do a "precision instrument landing".

 

[erkpod]

Bring it on! I've done domestic US trips under these conditions & it means I can listen to my own music, take photos out the window etc

 

[significance]

I'm just back from an around the world trip, and most airlines seem to have already lifted - or largely lifted - the ban on electronic devices during landing and takeoff.
Qantas - ban still in place
British Airways - ban much reduced (now only for about 10 minutes at the start of take-off and a similar period at the end of landing)
American Airlines - ban completely removed. Used your electronic devices as much as you like.
Air Berlin - ban completely removed

Hurrah! I hope Qantas follows suit soon.

 

[jimmylikesitwet]

I'm just back from an around the world trip, and most airlines seem to have already lifted - or largely lifted - the ban on electronic devices during landing and takeoff.
Qantas - ban still in place
British Airways - ban much reduced (now only for about 10 minutes at the start of take-off and a similar period at the end of landing)

Qantas only bans them for a similar period as to what you're quoting for BA, maybe more like 20-30 mins before landing but very similar.

Hurrah! I hope Qantas follows suit soon.

Well until about 2 days ago they couldn't due to CASA regulations. I'm sure they'll be lifting it as soon as is possible after the put in place a suitable plan with the regulator.

 

[significance]

Qantas only bans them for a similar period as to what you're quoting for BA, maybe more like 20-30 mins before landing but very similar.

It is more like 20 mins. I guess whether that's "very similar" depends how addicted you are to your devices. (BA used to have the ban in place for the same period that Qantas still does, but they have reduced it substantially - perhaps it's even 5 mins now: much shorter, anyway).

 

[codash1099]

It is more like 20 mins. I guess whether that's "very similar" depends how addicted you are to your devices. (BA used to have the ban in place for the same period that Qantas still does, but they have reduced it substantially - perhaps it's even 5 mins now: much shorter, anyway).

For my recent BA flights, there was no ban at all - gate to gate.

 

[jimmylikesitwet]

For my recent BA flights, there was no ban at all - gate to gate.

I'm guessing it depends where the flight is from and to. For example the US carriers can do gate to gate for domestic flights but if they're flying to Australia they still need to follow CASA regulations have have devices turned off for take-off and landing.

 

[codash1099]

I'm guessing it depends where the flight is from and to. For example the US carriers can do gate to gate for domestic flights but if they're flying to Australia they still need to follow CASA regulations have have devices turned off for take-off and landing.

SIN-LHR and within Europe.

 

[significance]

SIN-LHR and within Europe.

I travelled BA London to Amsterdam in late May. At that time, on that route, there was a very short electronic device ban at each end of the flight.

 

[Danger]

Heels First TravelFlight Attendant Union Fighting to Reinstate Ban on Electronics for Take-Off/Landings - Heels First Travel

 

[Warks]

Heels First TravelFlight Attendant Union Fighting to Reinstate Ban on Electronics for Take-Off/Landings - Heels First Travel

Attorney Amanda Duré, who is representing the attendants union, said that since the policy change, many fliers have stopped listening to attendants’ emergency announcements and, in at least one incident, a tablet became a projectile during turbulence.

You mean they used to listen to them?