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Can I use the Kindle on the airplane when "electronic devices" must be turned off?
One nice thing about books/magazines is that the airline attendant won't make you turn them off during takeoff and landing. With the wireless off, can I argue that my Kindle should be okay to keep on? I mean, how much worse is the Kindle from an interference standpoint than a digital watch?
I’m hacking the system
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according to this slate article, no, you cannot. it has to be stowed during takeoff and landing.
I’m upright and fully locked
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Inappropriate?If I remember correctly, e-ink products don't use *any* charge when displaying data -- only when refreshing the screen. So it could be argued that you're using *less* power than a digital, or even analog, watch.
I’m not a physicist or electrical engineer
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Inappropriate?according to this slate article, no, you cannot. it has to be stowed during takeoff and landing.
I’m upright and fully locked
3 people say
this answers the question
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Inappropriate?If we needed any more proof that airline policy is arbitrary and largely for show this is it. It speaks to a fundamentally anti-science worldview. Or maybe I'm just being crabby.
I’m crabby
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Inappropriate?I don't think it's too much to be asked to sit quietly and stare out the window for the first twenty minutes of my flight.
I’m unconcerned
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Inappropriate?I have no problem being asked to do something for good reasons--just don't ask me to accept policies that are illogical and are to no one's benefit. There's a reason the airline industry is such a mess. -
Inappropriate?I agree. I'm sure the Kindle poses absolutely zero harm if used during takeoff/landing, but actually getting away with it would probably be near impossible. The flight attendants are not going to understand Kindle when they try to arrest you for listening to music on your iPhone.
I’m disappointed in airlines and the TSA. Transmitting electronic devices probably don't pose any harm anyway, let alone innocent Kindles.
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Inappropriate?You know, amazon has a kindle support line. It's even toll free. You can call them and I even bet they'll answer your questions. -
Inappropriate?There has NEVER been an aircraft crash caused by a cell phone. As a matter of fact the internal electronics per FAA rules are shielded. This is, and always has been one of the dumbest rules on planes. My suggestion is use the book cover and treat it like a paper back. The RF from a Kindle is so low that even mice are not getting cancer - Ha.
I’m Confident
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Inappropriate?As the flight attendants say, you have to turn off "anything with an on/off switch." It may be silly, but they will make you turn it off.
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Inappropriate?i've used mine on a bunch of flights now. the flight attendants do make you turn it off for takeoff and landing -
Inappropriate?It's almost impossible to tell them that your iPhone has an airline mode, they just don't wanna listen. But then, this thread is now leaning more toward airlines in general than amazon products like Kindle.
I’m sad there's no "in general" section for airlines
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This answers the question
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I've flown around 10 times since I got my iphone, and I've never had a flight attendent bug me about it. -
Regardless of 'airplane' mode, the rule states that turning off music and computers has a lot to do with making sure everyone is paying attention. Take-off and landing are the most critical times during the flight. If a member of the flight crew needs to make an important announcement, he/she does not want to compete with Jay-Z for your attention.
As electronics become integrated to include phones, games, email and computing in a single device, the office is everywhere. The general flying public think of the plane as just one more place where I do business or leisure activities. But the runway is not Starbucks. And even with the litany of more alarming security concerns, keeping those electronics off while near the ground is still a part of safe flying. -
Inappropriate?so a breakthrough for the kindle. there was one other person with a kindle sitting next to me on two of my last four flights...a good sign.
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Inappropriate?Ive been on about 12 flights since I got it, and I was only made to turn it off once...I tried arguin with the attendant, but she didn't much care.
I’m frustrated
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You should have asked for her name so that you could call and complain to customer service. I think that will either make her give it to you fearlessly, or reconsider her question, or call you a terrorist. My guess is she'd go for the final option in most cases, though.
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Thomas: asking for a flight attendant's information in order to call and complain to customer service about her because she was ensuring compliance with regulations is a threat on a crewmember. I would highly advise against it!!
Kaldan: Trying to "argue" with a flight attendant when asked to comply with a regulation is interferrence with the duties and procedures of a crewmember.
You're lucky she 'didn't much care'...because had she cared she could have had police escort you off the plane on breaking the following regulations:
1. Interrferrence with the duties and procedures of a crewmember.
2. Failure to comply with federal regulations.
3. Failure to comply with crew member instructions. (2 counts)
a) Announcement made to turn-off electronic devices.
b) Crewmember directly instructing you to turn-off electronic devices.
4. Intimidation of a crewmember since you admittedly "tried arguing" with the flight attendant.
You could have had a very bad day had the flight attendant cared. Fines and jail time...or a police escort off the plane at the very least and a report being filed of the incident. FYI there are airlines, despite bankruptcy, that will ban offenders of such violations...they're revenue is just not worth the hassle of their ignorance! -
Inappropriate?Airlines have NEVER had a plane crash due to the use of an on-board electronic device - Never. Think about it. The air around the place is full of radio, TV, cell and microwave signals. The amount of high power transmitters used to communicate with the planes would amaze you.
The airline can do what they want. Will the device cause harm to the planes avionics? No! I read my Kindle all the time on the plane. When asked what it is, I tell them it is my book. So far that has been the end of it. I do turn off the cell feature to save power unless I order a new book.
Good luck. -
Inappropriate?I think Chaser just answered the real question. You can turn off the cell feature, so it can be used on a plane, except during take-off and landing. They don't want you to turn on a flashlight during take-off and landing.
In the FAA and airlines defense, it's not that they believe that an on-board electronic device will likely cause a crash. But from their perspective it's better to say "Sorry you're being inconvienced by our paranoia." than to say "Sorry your friends and loved-ones were killed. But we didn't want to seem paranoid."
I’m happy
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Inappropriate?Hello all,
You can use you Kindle in Air planes but make sure you switch off the wireless. You can inform the airport authorities regarding the same and they will not oppose this as well.
Thanks!
Rock Star.
I’m happy to help you.
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I really don't see what authority you have to say "the airport authorities will not oppose this" when you're just some guy who can't button his shirt nor use his real name. As Maturin said, you can't even use a wristwatch during takeoff and landing.
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Inappropriate?The FAA regulations regarding the usage of non-transmitting electronic devices has nothing to do with the devices possible impact on the aircraft's avionics. No such claim by the FAA has ever been made that an "approved electronic device," can interfere with the aircraft. The usage regulations stating that approved devices may be used after take-off, once above 10,000 ft and must be turned-off prior to landing, once descending through 10,000 ft is to keep potential projectiles to a minimum during critical phases of flight. Take-off and landing are critical phases of flight. Very few incidents occur during the inflight, cruising portion of flight, to keep people from using devices...hence why you are able to use the lav during flight: because there is no imminent danger of going belly-up. Kindles have to be turned-off and stowed just like people with handbags or laptops on their laps have to put them under their seat, because they are potential projectiles during critical phases of flight.
Tired of ignorance!3 Comments Add a comment
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So why are you allowed to have physical books, but not electronic ones? Seems like a hefty tome could cause as much physical damage, if not more, than an iPod or Kindle.
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The regulation that requires stowage of electronics is exactly that, an electronics regulation. Anything that can bounce around during a rough landing should be put away, even books and magazines—although they are not included in the electronics regulation. Therefore, unless preparing for an emergency landing, a flight attendant will not ask you to stow your book for a routine take-off or landing. I understand the Kindle is reading material, but the fact is, it is an electronic device and therefore is subject to the regulations regarding electronics.
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According to the current FAA regulations for PEDs, it is specifically because of interference that they are prohibited AND it is up to the carrier to determine their policies.
Here's the relevant link: http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_...
The reason that they say it is OK to use PEDs at cruising altitude has to do with the ability to determine which device is interfering in a situation that is less dangerous.
There is no mention about the electronic device becoming a projectile during take off.
Also, the reason that cell phones are banned across the board has more to do with the Federal Communication Commission having concerns that cell phone usage from an airplane would be disruptive to service in different operating areas due to the increased transmission potential. -
Inappropriate?Well, it's true that the Kindle, with its wireless signal off, will not interfere in any way, shape or form with the aircraft's operation.
However, the flight attendant will not believe you when you tell him or her that. You can't really blame them - it's their job to enforce the rules. To be honest, sometimes I hide mine under my jacket until they go sit down for takeoff. Then I keep reading.
I’m meh.
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Inappropriate?I had trouble convincing the flight attendant my Kindle was off!
I boarded a United flight this morning with my new Kindle 2 turned off (leather cover ordered separately, not yet arrived). I was holding the device in my lap prior to takeoff when the flight attendant saw Virginia Wolfe on the screen and told me to turn it off. I told him it was off. He threatened that if I did not comply he would have me removed from the plane. I explained it was e-ink and that it uses no power to display the image.
He returned with one of the pilots who looked at it. I showed her how it has a wireless feature and that it was off, and then turned the Kindle back off (which displayed another author!). She was still dubious and asked if I could take the battery out. I showed her the back which has no screws and explained taking the battery out would not clear he image anyway because it uses no power. I tried explaining e-ink again and she was evidentially satisfied enough to let me and my off Kindle stay on the flight!
I figured flight attendants would have been familiar with these devices by now.3 Comments Add a comment
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why didn't you just put it away until you were flying?! you dickhead!!
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Personally, I'm glad Motor1 gave the airline attendants a lesson in 21st century technology. The last thing we need is to be trapped by ignorance!
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Although rude, John is right that if I had tucked the device into the seatback pocket, the attendant would never have seen it, and the exchange probable would not have happened. Accommodating someone else's ignorance at 5:25 AM is not my strong point, however.
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Inappropriate?The mere idea that flight attendants are somehow endowed with the right to imprison us if agitated should give us all pause. While I do not go out of my way to break the "rules" of air travel, the notion that an iPod is more of a projectile than a book is ridiculous. And the notion that just because a bunch of bureaucrats say "this is how it is" we should not question it or complain about it is even more ludicrous.
I suppose if the flight attendant told you that you could not be aboard the plane because you wore yellow socks you would probably take them off... or because you wore a "Jesus" t-shirt you were removed from the plane as a terrorist threat you would just go along with it and say "those are the rules, shucks" just because it was clearly stated in section XXIV, paragraph 482 of some bill, that no one read before they passed it, that yellow socks was an unpardonable offense.
If we don't challenge the inane, archaic drivel that comes out of Washington and just accept what some glorified waitress says as gospel then we deserve what we get. As though not being allowed to use an iPod or Kindle will make us safer...
Some of you political apologists make me nauseous.
I’m disgusted
