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Maybe the FAA Gadget Ban On Liftoff and Landing Isn't So Bad

First time accepted submitter oyenamit writes "Ars Technica reported a while back that FAA is going to reconsider the ban on use of electronic gadgets during take-off and landing. If this ban is revoked, you will be free to use your gizmos for an additional 30 minutes or so. Peter Bright has an interesting take on why lifting of the ban may not be such a good idea."

2 of 414 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Screw off. by mpoulton · · Score: 5, Informative

    A quick Googling of "arrested for not turning cell phone off on plane" shows MANY results. First: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/06/air-passenger-arrested-fo_0_n_950326.html

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    I am a geek attorney, but not your geek attorney unless you've already retained me. This is not legal advice.
  2. Re:Attention by Drishmung · · Score: 5, Informative

    Modern commercial passenger aircraft are barely flown by the pilot anyway. Automation is so extensive that the air craft is basically a drone flight and the pilot is just an emergency override.[...]

    No, not even close. See the "Ask the Pilot" piece, or go read a bit more about it. Patrick covers this particular myth with remarkable frequency, since It Will Not Die!

    Passengers using electronics is unlikely in the extreme to ever impact flight safety.

    Absolutely agree. Basically, if it were possible to bring a plane down merely by using a cellphone, it would already have been done by now. Certain groups have an intense interest in doing just that. They haven't, so they can't. Q.E.D.

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