This isn't just a ban on consumer electronics. The FAA doesn't allow much of anything to be used on aircraft until it has been thoroughly tested, and shown not to interfere with the operation of the aircraft. It's been this way since just about day one at the FAA.
If you demonstrate, for example, that a Nintendo does not cause interference, then the approval would apply only to the model tested, and not to any other gaming devices.
One could argue that this is overly cautious, but there are devices out there which do interfere with the aircraft. FM radios, for example, can and often do interfere with VOR navigation receivers. If they err, it is on the side of safety. It would take one really bad accident traced to an unapproved device to have the NTSB screaming for the head of everyone concerned.
Disclaimer: I hold airframe and powerplant mechanics certificates, an inspection authorization (lets me inspect aircraft on behalf of the FAA each year), and a general radiotelephone certificate.
I believe the statements made in the Slashdot squib are misleading. Perhaps not intentionally so, but misleading.
The airline pilots they are talking about are those for short haul (regional) carriers, not the more traditional airliners, like the Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Smaller airliners are not flying aircraft which require the pilot to have an Airline Transport certificate (ATP), because they don't carry as many passengers.
The ATP required by what most of us think of as airliners requires 1500 hours before the candidate can taken the written test. Thus, pilots in traditional airliners already are required to have at least 1500 hours. This, good or bad, is just bringing the requirement for regional carrier aircraft in line with the requirement for other airliners.
For a discussion of the requirements of the ATP, please see this link:
What stands in the way of a solar powered airliner? Power! There are 745 watts per horsepower, no matter how you slice it. Look at the horsepower generated by a jet engine, and multiply by 745. That's how many watts you need.
Pursuing electrically powered vehicles, especially airplanes, reflects a lack of understanding of basic physics, and a misguided attempt to solve a problem. Pursue something believable and useful, like perpetual motion.
In the mid 1950's, Piper Aircraft claimed their new TriPacer aircraft was so easy to use that an 8 year old girl learned to fly it in just a few short lessons. Of course, no one produced the 8 year old girl, and those of us who have flown that aircraft found the ad more amusing than realistic. I wonder if the same may not be true of Windows 8?
What is the general public going to actually say about ease of use when they find a tablet interface has been shoved down their throat in the guise of a real computer? Lessee...I want to run a fairly complex application, yet my default interface looks like something off an overblown game.
I don't want a tablet, smart phone, etc etc because I wind up paying the cost of a computer, without getting a full computer. It sounds to me as though Microsoft is taking this one step further: we're being asked to buy a full computer, but with the functionality of a tablet, or similarly neutered device.
I'm having problems on a 2+ year old router, yet I live in a remote area. There aren't any other routers any where around here, because there aren't any other people around here. You can scan for other routers, and you won't find any.
Thus, in at least some cases, the noise floor isn't the culprit.
I suspect there may be more than one problem. I don't doubt the noise floor is a problem in some areas, but I'd bet on component problems in the router in other cases, like mine.
I believe the first use of the floppy was on the IBM System 360. It was used to distribute changes to the microcode. That would have been in the early to mid 1960s.
Of course, if the FAA still believed in simple radar, and did not try to solely rely on ADS-B, they could at least tell if there was an aircraft there or not. But of course, that would put the expense on the FAA, not on individual aircraft owners, many of whom don't even want ADS-B.
It sounds like a lot of software marketing stories: we know what you want, and don't try to tell us otherwise. Trust us, it's certified, and it will solve all your problems.
Society seems to treat programming as though it were something mystical. In fact, it is simply learning how to think and express oneself logically, using a very basic (no pun intended) language. How is this different than learning how to read and write English effectively?
We expect too many things to be hard, so we make them hard by our attitudes.
Ignoring some of the technical arguments, Microsoft would appear to be at a disadvantage here. They are the open, public company, who can readily be prosecuted and/or sued. Hackers are the unknown, harder to find individuals/groups, who will be harder to prosecute or sued.
In attacking BitTorrent, Microsoft is attacking a protocol, which may or may not contain something illegal. When they disrupt a valid download, it is they who will be in the wrong, and it is they who can potentially be the target of legal action (assuming they get caught). They are also attacking a group (hackers) known to fight back in ways that are difficult to detect.
If Microsoft can target BitTorrent downloads, then hackers can look for flags which indicate Internet traffic originated from a Microsoft program, and target it. If that happens, it won't be long before Microsoft products become known for their inability to function reliably over the Internet (some might argue that this is already true, but I'll ignore that possibility). Yet the individuals/groups Microsoft would have to identify are much harder to find, and thus much more difficult to prosecute or sue.
I believe this is a very foolish act, perhaps and act of despiration, on Microsoft's part. It doesn't appear likely to work very well, and is likely to make them a target.; Moral: don't start wars you aren't likely to win.
I worked on the proposal for the ABL with another company in 1995. All the competitors, including Boeing, were in a "promise the government whatever they want to hear." Boeing is probably the most proficient of the defense contractors in making bold promises that never quite work out. I've seen program after program that they won that stretched out for years without delivering the item originally promised.
There's nothing really wrong with the basic ABL concept. There needs to be better communication between the government and industry on what can actually be done. Contracts need to be firm and enforced.
And, oh, yes: except for supplying the airframe to be modified, keep Boeing off the bidders list.
Excuse me for wondering, but why do we care? This war ended almost 150 years ago, and all the players are long gone. As the saying goes, this is only of historical interest, and only to a very limited number of people, even then.
Perhaps we should rethink the number of casualties in the Revolutionary War?
There have been many attempts to market a flying car over the years. The problem has never been whether it was technically feasible. The problem has been that, after cheering about the idea, people simply don't buy them.
Slashdot Mirror
If you demonstrate, for example, that a Nintendo does not cause interference, then the approval would apply only to the model tested, and not to any other gaming devices.
One could argue that this is overly cautious, but there are devices out there which do interfere with the aircraft. FM radios, for example, can and often do interfere with VOR navigation receivers. If they err, it is on the side of safety. It would take one really bad accident traced to an unapproved device to have the NTSB screaming for the head of everyone concerned.
Disclaimer: I hold airframe and powerplant mechanics certificates, an inspection authorization (lets me inspect aircraft on behalf of the FAA each year), and a general radiotelephone certificate.
Yes, and Obamacare is just as practical and just as realistic.
Just take the traitor out and shoot him, blindfold optional. He admits his crime. The amount of damage he did is significant.
What a lot of BS!
At least we have someone who has the common sense not to swallow the global warming thing hook, line, and sinker. T
Just think of the results this could produce if Congress were to implement it. They're full of the necessary components.
Microsoft has been selling it to users for years, disguised in various ways.
I believe the statements made in the Slashdot squib are misleading. Perhaps not intentionally so, but misleading.
The airline pilots they are talking about are those for short haul (regional) carriers, not the more traditional airliners, like the Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Smaller airliners are not flying aircraft which require the pilot to have an Airline Transport certificate (ATP), because they don't carry as many passengers.
The ATP required by what most of us think of as airliners requires 1500 hours before the candidate can taken the written test. Thus, pilots in traditional airliners already are required to have at least 1500 hours. This, good or bad, is just bringing the requirement for regional carrier aircraft in line with the requirement for other airliners.
For a discussion of the requirements of the ATP, please see this link:
http://fsims.faa.gov/WDocs/8400.10%20Air%20Transp%20Ops%20Insp%20Handbk/Volume%205.%20AIRMEN%20CERTIICATION%20AND%20DESIGNATED%20EXAMINERS/Vol%205-Chap%202-Sec%201.htm
What stands in the way of a solar powered airliner? Power! There are 745 watts per horsepower, no matter how you slice it. Look at the horsepower generated by a jet engine, and multiply by 745. That's how many watts you need. Pursuing electrically powered vehicles, especially airplanes, reflects a lack of understanding of basic physics, and a misguided attempt to solve a problem. Pursue something believable and useful, like perpetual motion.
In the mid 1950's, Piper Aircraft claimed their new TriPacer aircraft was so easy to use that an 8 year old girl learned to fly it in just a few short lessons. Of course, no one produced the 8 year old girl, and those of us who have flown that aircraft found the ad more amusing than realistic. I wonder if the same may not be true of Windows 8? What is the general public going to actually say about ease of use when they find a tablet interface has been shoved down their throat in the guise of a real computer? Lessee...I want to run a fairly complex application, yet my default interface looks like something off an overblown game. I don't want a tablet, smart phone, etc etc because I wind up paying the cost of a computer, without getting a full computer. It sounds to me as though Microsoft is taking this one step further: we're being asked to buy a full computer, but with the functionality of a tablet, or similarly neutered device.
I'm having problems on a 2+ year old router, yet I live in a remote area. There aren't any other routers any where around here, because there aren't any other people around here. You can scan for other routers, and you won't find any. Thus, in at least some cases, the noise floor isn't the culprit. I suspect there may be more than one problem. I don't doubt the noise floor is a problem in some areas, but I'd bet on component problems in the router in other cases, like mine.
Sounds like foggy thinking to me.
They need to look for a sticky-fingered thief! Seriously, national maple syrup reserve?
I believe the first use of the floppy was on the IBM System 360. It was used to distribute changes to the microcode. That would have been in the early to mid 1960s.
Of course, if the FAA still believed in simple radar, and did not try to solely rely on ADS-B, they could at least tell if there was an aircraft there or not. But of course, that would put the expense on the FAA, not on individual aircraft owners, many of whom don't even want ADS-B. It sounds like a lot of software marketing stories: we know what you want, and don't try to tell us otherwise. Trust us, it's certified, and it will solve all your problems.
The constitution does not appear to contain this limitation.
Every time I think our President can't go any further in breaching civil liberties, he manages to do it again.
Best fantasy? That's easy ... the national budget!
Society seems to treat programming as though it were something mystical. In fact, it is simply learning how to think and express oneself logically, using a very basic (no pun intended) language. How is this different than learning how to read and write English effectively? We expect too many things to be hard, so we make them hard by our attitudes.
In attacking BitTorrent, Microsoft is attacking a protocol, which may or may not contain something illegal. When they disrupt a valid download, it is they who will be in the wrong, and it is they who can potentially be the target of legal action (assuming they get caught). They are also attacking a group (hackers) known to fight back in ways that are difficult to detect.
If Microsoft can target BitTorrent downloads, then hackers can look for flags which indicate Internet traffic originated from a Microsoft program, and target it. If that happens, it won't be long before Microsoft products become known for their inability to function reliably over the Internet (some might argue that this is already true, but I'll ignore that possibility). Yet the individuals/groups Microsoft would have to identify are much harder to find, and thus much more difficult to prosecute or sue.
I believe this is a very foolish act, perhaps and act of despiration, on Microsoft's part. It doesn't appear likely to work very well, and is likely to make them a target.; Moral: don't start wars you aren't likely to win.
There's nothing really wrong with the basic ABL concept. There needs to be better communication between the government and industry on what can actually be done. Contracts need to be firm and enforced.
And, oh, yes: except for supplying the airframe to be modified, keep Boeing off the bidders list.
Please explain, except perhaps in speed, how this concept differs radically from the cruise missile.
Excuse me for wondering, but why do we care? This war ended almost 150 years ago, and all the players are long gone. As the saying goes, this is only of historical interest, and only to a very limited number of people, even then. Perhaps we should rethink the number of casualties in the Revolutionary War?
There have been many attempts to market a flying car over the years. The problem has never been whether it was technically feasible. The problem has been that, after cheering about the idea, people simply don't buy them.
As an advanced civilization, the Marsmen have given up higher technology. They're trying to communicate with us by smoke signal.