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Alec Baldwin stirs up the ‘electronics on an airliner’ safety debate

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Baldwin dust-up sparks debate about electronics on planes

Actor Alec Baldwin’s removal from an American Airlines plane Tuesday for playing a game on his cellphone has sparked discussion among experts and frequent fliers at odds over being required to shut off electronic devices during takeoff and landing.

Federal Aviation Administration rules state that no airline or pilot may allow passengers to operate “any portable electronic device” on an operating aircraft.

Nonetheless, airlines often allow passengers to use laptops and other devices that don’t emit radio signals when an aircraft is above 10,000 feet, says Alison Duquette, FAA spokeswoman……. continued

Click here for full article at USA Today

 

1 comment for “Alec Baldwin stirs up the ‘electronics on an airliner’ safety debate”

  1. Martha's Whirled News
    December 7, 2011 at 8:35 pm

    Excellent article from AOL Travel “Do Electronic Gadgets Really Affect an Airplane’s Instruments?”

    From the article: “Shortly after boarding, flight attendants are required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to tell passengers to turn off all electronic devices including cell phones and laptop computers. But is it really necessary and what really happens if you don’t?

    The official reason for the requirement that electronic devices need to be turned off is to make sure passengers listen to the safety instructions from the flight attendants, reduce the presence of loose objects getting in the way in case of an emergency and to eliminate the possibility of the devices interfering with the airline’s avionics.”

    Read more here http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/03/25/do-electronic-gadgets-really-affect-an-airplanes-instruments/

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