Your airline's rules on PEDs
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Your airline's rules on PEDs
Hello,
I'm a reporter with Quartz and I'm working on a story about commercial pilots using portable electronic devices on the flight deck.
In the US the FAA prevents PEDs use at all phases of flight now (After the NWA Minneapolis overflight), but EASA and the UK CAA appear to still leave it up to the airlines.
So, does your airline have a policy on PED use outside of sterile cockpit procedures? Do you think they should?
I'm a reporter with Quartz and I'm working on a story about commercial pilots using portable electronic devices on the flight deck.
In the US the FAA prevents PEDs use at all phases of flight now (After the NWA Minneapolis overflight), but EASA and the UK CAA appear to still leave it up to the airlines.
So, does your airline have a policy on PED use outside of sterile cockpit procedures? Do you think they should?
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Between a rock and a hard place
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's very hard to sit and stare into outer space for any longer period of time..
Some form of entertainment, whether in form of a book, newspaper or PED keeps you from going crazy. Or falling asleep.
That said, the company has banned PEDs for personal use.
Some form of entertainment, whether in form of a book, newspaper or PED keeps you from going crazy. Or falling asleep.
That said, the company has banned PEDs for personal use.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Seattle
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FAR 121.542(d), effective 14 Apr 14:
From FAA InFO 14006 of 20 May 14:
(d) During all flight time as defined in 14 CFR 1.1, no flight crewmember may use, nor may any pilot in command permit the use of, a personal wireless communications device (as defined in 49 U.S.C. 44732(d)) or laptop computer while at a flight crewmember duty station unless the purpose is directly related operation of the aircraft, or for emergency, safety-related, or employment-related communications, in accordance with air carrier procedures approved by the Administrator.
• This prohibition includes any personal use by flightcrew members of these devices, including, but not limited to, talking, texting, bidding for schedules, reading or accessing the Internet. In other words, all personal use is prohibited, whether or not the device is in “airplane mode”.
• “FAA approved operational procedures” (e.g., use of electronic flight bags, digitized charts or manuals) are those procedures that have been developed by the air carrier and have been approved/accepted, as appropriate, by the FAA.
• This prohibition does not apply to a person occupying a flight deck jumpseat.
• The prohibition applies regardless of any “ownership” test. The rule does not differentiate between devices owned by the air carrier or the flightcrew member. Rather, the rule requires a “use” test. These devices (regardless of ownership) may not be used for personal use during aircraft operation but may be used only in accordance with FAA approved operational procedures, as defined above.
• “FAA approved operational procedures” (e.g., use of electronic flight bags, digitized charts or manuals) are those procedures that have been developed by the air carrier and have been approved/accepted, as appropriate, by the FAA.
• This prohibition does not apply to a person occupying a flight deck jumpseat.
• The prohibition applies regardless of any “ownership” test. The rule does not differentiate between devices owned by the air carrier or the flightcrew member. Rather, the rule requires a “use” test. These devices (regardless of ownership) may not be used for personal use during aircraft operation but may be used only in accordance with FAA approved operational procedures, as defined above.
Join Date: May 2001
Location: England
Posts: 1,904
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What a lousy, totalitarian piece of legislation. None of the airlines I've flown for (Far East, Middle East and Europe) have had such a rule, common sense remains the order of the day. Recently, the average sector length for me has been close to 5 hours (and then 5 hours back all in the same day). I would literally end up banging my head on the windshield or falling asleep. Sectors of less than 2 hours you generally don't have the time to pull out your laptop or do anything extended with your tablet.
I note:
I cannot believe what I'm reading. The basic assumption is that it's not possible to be distracted by reading operational documentation or that risk is fully accepted. I expected better from the FAA to be honest.
I note:
“FAA approved operational procedures” (e.g., use of electronic flight bags, digitized charts or manuals) are those procedures that have been developed by the air carrier and have been approved/accepted, as appropriate, by the FAA.
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: EU
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As far as I know, we are allowed to use them during non critical phases of flight as we wish. Having them connected either by wire or by Bluetooth etc to a headset is prohibited.
Guest
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: On the Beach
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Superpilot:
It's not the airlines. It's the *#@*!! FAA.
What a lousy, totalitarian piece of legislation. None of the airlines I've flown for (Far East, Middle East and Europe) have had such a rule, common sense remains the order of the day. Recently, the average sector length for me has been close to 5 hours (and then 5 hours back all in the same day). I would literally end up banging my head on the windshield or falling asleep. Sectors of less than 2 hours you generally don't have the time to pull out your laptop or do anything extended with your tablet.
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: I wouldn't know.
Posts: 4,497
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Since we switch to a PED as EFB it has to be allowed. Said EFB (iPad Air) can be used for private functions as well as long as we leave enough space for the required company software on it, no tracing of usage or private functions is allowed so the company doesn't know what we do with it. Private use is allowed during non critical phases. Bluetooth to third party items is not allowed, however an aircraft iPad connection via bluetooth will be rolled out soon to allow ownship position and use of datalink/ACARS functions via the iPad.
It seems odd that magazines, newspapers, books or other "non pertinent" reading materials are not included in this pronouncement. How about mental exercises like Sudoku, crossword puzzles and other such "distractions"? Why not include conversing about non-flight related subjects. What's next, what one thinks about? Oh wait, most of these are already on the list of activities disallowed during critical phases of flight! Why? Could it be that more concentration is required during critical phases of flight than in non critical? 
This officially sanctioned misapplication of logic is just the sort of mindless nonsense that one comes to expect when allowing non-specialist jobsworths into the policy-making loop in aviation matters. They actually believe humans are going to remain 100% focused on task at all times during a long flight like they do during "critical phases of flight"? That'll be the day! The level of attention and work-rate is appropriately modulated as required by situational demand.
Pilots like to keep their boredom rate low and their mental acuity in a "ready state" to meet demand as required. These small "distractions" allow many individuals to remain ready to respond. Others prefer to occupy themselves in other ways such as conversation. I enjoy simply flipping through all the FMS pages and comparing them to my mental estimations of flight performance. (done slowly and carefully to consume maximum time!) On some flights I've done all of the above. It even helps to trade off the duty of "minding the store" at intervals. I'm no good at sleeping sitting up but if the other guy needs to "be quiet" for awhile, I'll be sipping on some coffee and fiddling around with the FMS.
Sorry FAA, I believe you're wrong and what's more, the flaw in your logic is so obvious that even you must know it.
This officially sanctioned misapplication of logic is just the sort of mindless nonsense that one comes to expect when allowing non-specialist jobsworths into the policy-making loop in aviation matters. They actually believe humans are going to remain 100% focused on task at all times during a long flight like they do during "critical phases of flight"? That'll be the day! The level of attention and work-rate is appropriately modulated as required by situational demand.
Pilots like to keep their boredom rate low and their mental acuity in a "ready state" to meet demand as required. These small "distractions" allow many individuals to remain ready to respond. Others prefer to occupy themselves in other ways such as conversation. I enjoy simply flipping through all the FMS pages and comparing them to my mental estimations of flight performance. (done slowly and carefully to consume maximum time!) On some flights I've done all of the above. It even helps to trade off the duty of "minding the store" at intervals. I'm no good at sleeping sitting up but if the other guy needs to "be quiet" for awhile, I'll be sipping on some coffee and fiddling around with the FMS.
Sorry FAA, I believe you're wrong and what's more, the flaw in your logic is so obvious that even you must know it.
Join Date: May 2001
Location: England
Posts: 1,904
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The biggest issue with this legislation is the one size fits all approach that has been adopted. I can understand that there are high intensity operations (such as regional flying) where it’s neither easy nor practical for pilots to be using PEDs in “Cruise”. Indeed if there have been incidents where safety has been compromised then I understand the need for regulation. Such intense operations involve so much work, it’s easy to forget who you are let alone have the time to do anything of a personal nature on the flight deck.
However, it’s painful to see that the FAA have not considered/chosen to ignore the other side of the coin where sector lengths of 3+ hours flying over water and desert are concerned.
However, it’s painful to see that the FAA have not considered/chosen to ignore the other side of the coin where sector lengths of 3+ hours flying over water and desert are concerned.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wor Yerm
Age: 68
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We don't have any manuals anymore. They went a few months ago. Our company iPads have all of the relevant documents downloaded and like Denti's company, the free space is ours. All of our aircraft all have mounts and charging sockets. We are expected to use our iPads during critical phases of flight. Once you have learnt to use them they are great, especially when you are looking for something hidden. Indices (indexes?) were not a feature of our old manuals. They are also good for diversions. We now carry documentation for nearly every airfield we could possible operate to. Our next task us to get rid of back office systems and given back to hem to us. A nice byproduct is that we have music and movies on turnarounds.
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: ADZ
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Resentful Yanofsky
Have you seen what this probably "once wanted to be a pilot but couldn't for some reason and now is full of resentment" guy did to the pilot community?
The pilots of Instagram: beautiful views from the cockpit, violating rules of the air ? Quartz
Very sad to use misinformation to speculate and harm commercial aviation and commercial pilots.
Came here to get information to write his article and didn't even return to share the link.
I guess this guy needs somebody who explains how aviation industry works...
The pilots of Instagram: beautiful views from the cockpit, violating rules of the air ? Quartz
Very sad to use misinformation to speculate and harm commercial aviation and commercial pilots.
Came here to get information to write his article and didn't even return to share the link.
I guess this guy needs somebody who explains how aviation industry works...
