Slashdot Mirror
Time to Review FAA Gadget Policies
Nick Bilton, Lead Technology writer for The New York Times Bits Blog, called the FAA to complain about its gadget policies on flights and got an unexpected reply. Laura J. Brown, deputy assistant administrator for public affairs, said that it might be time to change some of those policies and promised they'd take a “fresh look” at the use of personal electronics on planes. From the article: "Yes, you read that correctly. The F.A.A., which in the past has essentially said, 'No, because I said so,' is going to explore testing e-readers, tablets and certain other gadgets on planes. The last time this testing was done was 2006, long before iPads and most e-readers existed. (The bad, or good, news: The F.A.A. doesn’t yet want to include the 150 million smartphones in this revision.)"
I've always looked at the policies as a hedge against the *really* crappy knock-off electronic devices that spring up. Sure, the wifi on that super cheap android knock-off tablet is under 100mw....sure....
But for the most part, the FAA is in the business of blaming *someone* when something goes wrong. A reversal of the no electronic devices could someday potentially conceivable maybe result in them getting some share of the blame for an incident.
In the end, I just wish more people would act like adults when it comes to the policy. Yeah, it's kinda bunk, but there's a kernel of common sense in there. Seriously. Just shut your fucking iPad off for five minutes. Or your phone. Grow up, pay attention to your surroundings for fifteen minutes (The HORROR!) then go about your day. Quit acting like the NRA Lifers that think Obama is going to personally show up that their house to take away their guns when it comes to your damn cell phone.
There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.