Okay, I spoke with a guy at work whose long, convoluted job title roughly translates to "avionics expert". He's an engineer that is head of the group that installs the cockpits on our aircraft. I started with the blanket question, "I've always been curious... why exactly can't some electronic devices be used on a plane?" His answer was based on two categories: Aircraft functionality and passenger comfort.
Essentially, the potential danger to aircraft functionality lies with items that can send and receive wireless communication. Cellphones and other devices capable of wireless networking (PDAs, some laptops, AM, FM, and shortwave radios, newer portable gaming systems with bluetooth or similar features to allow wireless multiplayer play, etc.) have been shown to cause interference with the radio signals sent and received by the aircraft in radio communication and navigation equipment. The FAA takes a very large lean to the side of caution with regard to these devices, even if only one instance out of, say, 10,000 has shown even the slightest effect on instruments that measure altitude, speed, and distance.
As far as passenger comfort goes, this includes using audio/video devices without headphones, watching porn on a screen that can be "incidentally" seen by other passengers, and the like. When I asked what sort of danger an e-cigarette poses (had to explain what it was. Got a positive reaction from him, btw), he said that it's highly unlikely that the electronics in the e-cig would cause any aircraft functionality issues, and that it's likely a passenger comfort issue, for the obvious reason that those who are e-cig ignorant would mistake our toys for the real thing. After all, if it looks like a cigarette, has a red light at the end like a cigarette (yeah, yeah, red ain't the only color), and the user is blowing out what looks like smoke... well, you know the drill.
Aircraft functionality issues are governed by the FAA, while Passenger comfort is governed by the airlines. That means it's more or less the same as "No shoes, no shirt, no service."
As much as it sucks for us, it's a by-product of a free market. A business is free to dictate behaviors of their consumers, within the bounds of the law, while consumers are free to take their patronage elsewhere if they disagree with a business' policies. While I can't speak for those outside of the U.S., there is nothing in our Constitution that guarantees freedom from inconvenience.
That said, I'll certainly be avoiding American Airlines and U.S. Air. Besides, the only reason why I used to fly through Phoenix on my cross country trips back home was because of the awesome Blue Burrito Grill Lounge. I always loved walking in, taking a seat, and having one of the waitstaff greet me with a clean ashtray, brand new pack of matches, and no hint of prejudice towards my habit. I've heard that place, if it's still there, is now non-smoking, like the rest of the airport. Such a shame, too... their Ultimate Margaritas were the ****.
-D4
Essentially, the potential danger to aircraft functionality lies with items that can send and receive wireless communication. Cellphones and other devices capable of wireless networking (PDAs, some laptops, AM, FM, and shortwave radios, newer portable gaming systems with bluetooth or similar features to allow wireless multiplayer play, etc.) have been shown to cause interference with the radio signals sent and received by the aircraft in radio communication and navigation equipment. The FAA takes a very large lean to the side of caution with regard to these devices, even if only one instance out of, say, 10,000 has shown even the slightest effect on instruments that measure altitude, speed, and distance.
As far as passenger comfort goes, this includes using audio/video devices without headphones, watching porn on a screen that can be "incidentally" seen by other passengers, and the like. When I asked what sort of danger an e-cigarette poses (had to explain what it was. Got a positive reaction from him, btw), he said that it's highly unlikely that the electronics in the e-cig would cause any aircraft functionality issues, and that it's likely a passenger comfort issue, for the obvious reason that those who are e-cig ignorant would mistake our toys for the real thing. After all, if it looks like a cigarette, has a red light at the end like a cigarette (yeah, yeah, red ain't the only color), and the user is blowing out what looks like smoke... well, you know the drill.
Aircraft functionality issues are governed by the FAA, while Passenger comfort is governed by the airlines. That means it's more or less the same as "No shoes, no shirt, no service."
As much as it sucks for us, it's a by-product of a free market. A business is free to dictate behaviors of their consumers, within the bounds of the law, while consumers are free to take their patronage elsewhere if they disagree with a business' policies. While I can't speak for those outside of the U.S., there is nothing in our Constitution that guarantees freedom from inconvenience.
That said, I'll certainly be avoiding American Airlines and U.S. Air. Besides, the only reason why I used to fly through Phoenix on my cross country trips back home was because of the awesome Blue Burrito Grill Lounge. I always loved walking in, taking a seat, and having one of the waitstaff greet me with a clean ashtray, brand new pack of matches, and no hint of prejudice towards my habit. I've heard that place, if it's still there, is now non-smoking, like the rest of the airport. Such a shame, too... their Ultimate Margaritas were the ****.
-D4
