Originally Posted by
CaptainMongo
For those subject to US regulations, the use of any personal electronic device (PED) is prohibited by a crew member occupying a control seat from brake release to brake set. An electronic flight bag is only an EFB while accessing required flight material, any other use turns the EFB into a PED.
FAR 121.542:
(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 to operation of the aircraft, or for emergency, safety-related, or employment-related communications, in accordance with air carrierprocedures approved by the Administrator.
Northwest Airlines flight 188, 21 October 2009 flew 150 miles beyond it's destination. The investigation had the crew admitting to using their laptops to check their schedules which would have placed them in breach of this part of the regs, Lack of information on the CVR meant investigators could not clearly identify any level activity on the flight deck which led to the suggestion that both crew were asleep until awoken by the Flight Attendant Chime asking when they were expected to land. Not relevant to this thread except in terms of what some crews may be doing from time to time (and getting away with). In the cruise is one thing but on short finals? I guess it was CAVOK but some unexpected windshear might have got their attention....or not!
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