“I told you to turn off your Kindle!”
The last few months has seen European and US airlines and aviation authorities change their tune on the use of electronic devices during takeoff and landing. Writing in the Irish Independent this week, Adrian Weckler reports that neither Ryanair nor Aer Lingus say they have any plans to submit updated procedures to the Irish Aviation Authority.
As Aer Lingus launches a new direct flight from Dublin to San Francisco, Adrian points out that this “pointless” rule could be more than a minor inconvenience to busy tech executives and others:
Takeoff and landing can easily be 20 minutes each, sometimes longer. In other words, by flying Aer Lingus or Ryanair, you could be taking the guts of an hour out of the time you get to work onboard.
So should we be allowed to keep our headphones in, or is it too much to ask that we pay attention for a few minutes during take-off and landing? (Although, admittedly, we have nothing to do except sit down and keep our belts fastened.)
Update: The poll is running 82% in favour of Irish airlines changing their policy. That’s not surprising – but please do register your opinion or leave a comment below.
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About the Author: Conn Ó Muíneacháin
@blacknight Hell no! I wouldn’t want to be on a plane when the pilot’s playing Angry Birds.
RT @blacknight: Poll: Should Irish Airlines Allow Personal Electronics during Take-Off?: http://t.co/Lj91ZkiLqu
What do you think? Let us know in the poll http://t.co/3YaHZOCce3 http://t.co/ZVP2ZxnDx6
Poll: Should Irish Airlines Allow Personal Electronics during Take-Off? http://t.co/jvfUZf0fSk via @blacknight
Of course there should be a third option:
– If there is no scientific reason for not allowing electronics, then I should be able to do what I want.
Hi Phil – The answers I’ve suggested are a little tongue in cheek, but the choice is simple.
I’ve taken the “no scientific reason” as a given. Adrian’s article suggests that this is now the consensus among other airlines and authorities.
After that I think it comes down to whether or not you think that passengers need to be “paying attention”. If not, then I suggest option 1? :)
I don’t see the harm in paying attention during the 5min emergency thingy, but after that there’s no need. :)
I suspect we need the opinion of someone who flies a lot more frequently than you or I, Phil. Too bad we don’t know anyone like that, do we? ;)