FAA Says No More Minesweeper Or Solitaire In Cockpit

If you like to pass the time playing minesweeper, or checking your Facebook updates while piloting a 900,000-pound aircraft 400 mph, you won't like the latest FAA decision. The agency has asked airlines to create policies to minimize cockpit distractions, including pilots' use of personal electronic devices. "There is no room for distraction when your job is to get people safely to their destinations," said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. "The traveling public expects professional pilots to focus on flying and on safety at all times."

Comments

Re:They need something to do

[2obvious4u]

I love the over reaction to the "150 miles or so" how about you put that in perspective, something that is often forgotten by the media these days. The cruising speed for a modern jet liner is over 500 mph closer to 600mph source. So some basic math tells us that to overshoot the runway by 150 miles means they were distracted for a whopping 15 minutes. Don't tell me you've never missed an exit while having a conversation with a passenger in your car. It happens.

Also they could have had a favorable tail wind they weren't expecting so they were on what was supposed to be a 6 hour flight and it ended up taking 5 and a half hours, they check 15 min before they were supposed to land and they overshot by 15 min. Once again, not that big a deal.

I Don't Care How Bored A Pilot Gets

[ffflala]

Depending on where we're going, I paid $200 to $1400 just to get a cramped seat somewhere between the crying baby and Kevin Smith hogging the armrest. I *get* to zone out. The cockpit crew, OTOH, is getting paid to pilot the craft. Their profession does *not* consist of amusing themselves during times of minimal activity. It's not just b/c that's what they signed up for, either.

It's their responsibility to respond in the unlikely case that something goes wrong which requires a person's immediate and full attention. We're paying them ridiculous fees in part so they can sit around and be bored for hours at a time because everything's running smoothly. They're welcome to make productive use of their time to ensure that things are running as efficiently as possible, but I want every task they accomplish directly related to making my trip as safe and efficient as possible.

And if they're actually just sitting around bored for hours on end, then it's pretty easy money.

Re:They need something to do

[Itninja]

Glad to offer 'helpful advise [sic]' whenever I can. Once need to be an expert to understand technology that has been commonplace for several decades. I am not an electrical engineer either, but I can also offer advice on how to install a light bulb ;)

Re:They need something to do

[Itninja]

facts that conflict with your naive worldview != lies