Surf the web while flying?

[Capt.Doug]

I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering if
there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size, portable
antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that I can use to
surf the web while cruising at the flight levels. The new cellphones won't
work at altitude. If there is a device like I desire, will it work over the
ocean or only over the continental US?

Thanks,
D.

[Schmoe]

Capt.Doug wrote:
> I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
> ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering
> if there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size,
> portable antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that
> I can use to surf the web while cruising at the flight levels. The
> new cellphones won't work at altitude. If there is a device like I
> desire, will it work over the ocean or only over the continental US?


Why not just get a nice DVD player and watch Titanic? That way you can time
the collision with the ship's sinking. What kind of skies are creating with
electronics when pilots like you want to surf the web when you're supposed
to be flying an airplane. Get a boat!

[Larry Dighera]

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 02:10:39 GMT, "Capt.Doug" >
wrote in >::

>I'm wondering if
>there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size, portable
>antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that I can use to
>surf the web while cruising at the flight levels.

Teledesic is/was Bill's solution:
http://www.computerreview.com/profile/teledes.htm
http://www.tnunn.demon.co.uk/spire/features/teledesic.html
http://www.hoovers.com/free/co/factsheet.xhtml?COID=48111
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/L.Wood/constellations/teledesic.html

[NoPoliticsHere]

"Capt.Doug" > wrote in message >...
> I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
> ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering if
> there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size, portable
> antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that I can use to
> surf the web while cruising at the flight levels. The new cellphones won't
> work at altitude. If there is a device like I desire, will it work over the
> ocean or only over the continental US?

Now this is pretty wild. The one thing I never imagined on a long flight is
my captain surfing the Web. Just keep away from the adult sites as we
need both hands always readily available!

---------

[Maik]

Teledesic is gone...


Larry Dighera wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 02:10:39 GMT, "Capt.Doug" >
> wrote in >::
>
>
>>I'm wondering if
>>there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size, portable
>>antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that I can use to
>>surf the web while cruising at the flight levels.
>
>
> Teledesic is/was Bill's solution:
> http://www.computerreview.com/profile/teledes.htm
> http://www.tnunn.demon.co.uk/spire/features/teledesic.html
> http://www.hoovers.com/free/co/factsheet.xhtml?COID=48111
> http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/L.Wood/constellations/teledesic.html
>

[Maik]

I would be more interested in a real-time-weather-goody for Europe...
like wxworx for the US.


Capt.Doug wrote:
> I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
> ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering if
> there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size, portable
> antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that I can use to
> surf the web while cruising at the flight levels. The new cellphones won't
> work at altitude. If there is a device like I desire, will it work over the
> ocean or only over the continental US?
>
> Thanks,
> D.
>
>

[jls]

Well, no, not when on downwind, base, or final.

[Scott Skylane]

NoPoliticsHere wrote:

> "Capt.Doug" > wrote in message >...
>
>>I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
>>ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering if
>>there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size, portable
>>antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that I can use to
>>surf the web while cruising at the flight levels. The new cellphones won't
>>work at altitude. If there is a device like I desire, will it work over the
>>ocean or only over the continental US?
>
>
> Now this is pretty wild. The one thing I never imagined on a long flight is
> my captain surfing the Web. Just keep away from the adult sites as we
> need both hands always readily available!
>
> ---------
If you think that, with no inflight web surfing currently available,
pilot's eyes, ears, hands, and feet remain solidly affixed to to the
controls 100% of the time while airborne, you are mistaken. You may be
surprised to learn that during long, boring cruise operations,
newspapers, magazines, and books are read by all involved.
Conversations take place that have *nothing* to do with the flight at
hand! Believe it or not, some will open up a personal DVD player and
watch a movie, or listen to music on their iPod.

The fact is, a professional, experienced flight crew member is able to
safely divide his/her attention between the task at hand, and other
entertaining activities that help to pass the time. I don't believe
that inflight web surfing would pose any greater diversion than a
spirited debate on politics. The added safety benefit from instant
access to unlimited data and information would be a tremendous plus, in
my mind.

Happy Flying!
Scott Skylane

[Morgans]

"Schmoe" > wrote in message
t...
> Capt.Doug wrote:
> > I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
> > ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering
> > if there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size,
> > portable antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that
> > I can use to surf the web while cruising at the flight levels. The
> > new cellphones won't work at altitude. If there is a device like I
> > desire, will it work over the ocean or only over the continental US?
>
>
> Why not just get a nice DVD player and watch Titanic? That way you can
time
> the collision with the ship's sinking. What kind of skies are creating
with
> electronics when pilots like you want to surf the web when you're supposed
> to be flying an airplane. Get a boat!
>
>
A little slack here? Could be the poster wanted to get duats, or download
current weather radars, or one of a number of other valid purposes.Certainly
no worse than fiddling with a GPS, and I don't see anyone crucifying people
for that.
--
Jim in NC


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[Icebound]

"Scott Skylane" > wrote in message
...
> NoPoliticsHere wrote:
>
---------
> If you think that, with no inflight web surfing currently available,
> pilot's eyes, ears, hands, and feet remain solidly affixed to to the
> controls 100% of the time while airborne, you are mistaken. You may be
> surprised to learn that during long, boring cruise operations, newspapers,
> magazines, and books are read by all involved. Conversations take place
> that have *nothing* to do with the flight at hand! Believe it or not,
> some will open up a personal DVD player and watch a movie, or listen to
> music on their iPod.
>
> The fact is, a professional, experienced flight crew member is able to
> safely divide his/her attention between the task at hand, and other
> entertaining activities that help to pass the time. I don't believe that
> inflight web surfing would pose any greater diversion than a spirited
> debate on politics. The added safety benefit from instant access to
> unlimited data and information would be a tremendous plus, in my mind.
>

I thought that even under IFR rules, crew was still supposed to be looking
out for other traffic???

Or how about looking out for each other.... there was that case of an Egypt
Air flight where the crew was bitching about working conditions or something
in the back while a disgruntled Co-pilot praised Allah and then pointed the
nose into the ocean.

[Larry Dighera]

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 22:46:30 -0400, "Icebound"
> wrote in
>::

>I thought that even under IFR rules, crew was still supposed to be looking
>out for other traffic???


While that is true, in Class A airspace all traffic is supposed to be
radar separated by ATC.

[Gary G]

Maybe they can go to the FAA or AOPA web sites and study "Safety Procedures" while flying.
Or buy aviation safety training products on Ebay!

[Schmoe]

"Morgans" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Schmoe" > wrote in message
> t...
>> Capt.Doug wrote:
>> > I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
>> > ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering
>> > if there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size,
>> > portable antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that
>> > I can use to surf the web while cruising at the flight levels.

snippage

> A little slack here? Could be the poster wanted to get duats, or download
> current weather radars, or one of a number of other valid
> purposes.Certainly
> no worse than fiddling with a GPS, and I don't see anyone crucifying
> people
> for that.

Slack? The poster said he wants to use it to "surf the web" not get duats or
any other flight related duty. Sorry if I took him for his word but we
pilots are pretty specific people. Do you ever ask for clearance to land at
"that runway over there, the one with pretty signs? Of course not. The
poster wants to bide his enroute time d/l'ing porn, shopping at macys.com
and checking the stock market. And I didn't crucify him, just took a good
natured jab.

[Schmoe]

"Scott Skylane" > wrote in message
...

> snippage>>

> If you think that, with no inflight web surfing currently available,
> pilot's eyes, ears, hands, and feet remain solidly affixed to to the
> controls 100% of the time while airborne, you are mistaken. You may be
> surprised to learn that during long, boring cruise operations, newspapers,
> magazines, and books are read by all involved. Conversations take place
> that have *nothing* to do with the flight at hand! Believe it or not,
> some will open up a personal DVD player and watch a movie, or listen to
> music on their iPod.
>
> The fact is, a professional, experienced flight crew member is able to
> safely divide his/her attention between the task at hand, and other
> entertaining activities that help to pass the time. I don't believe that
> inflight web surfing would pose any greater diversion than a spirited
> debate on politics. The added safety benefit from instant access to
> unlimited data and information would be a tremendous plus, in my mind.


A pro pilot as a co-crew member to tend to flying duties while hie does the
stuff you mentioned above. The original poster is looking to do this while
flying alone. In my mind, this poses a threat to him, his passengers and the
surrounding airspace. Are we so bored flying airplanes that we need a
completely divisive entertainment like web surfing? Gimme a break.
Distractions are the last thing I need when the only PIC on board is me.

[Capt.Doug]

>"Schmoe" wrote in message >The original poster is looking to do this while
> flying alone.

What gave you this impression?

D.

[NoPoliticsHere]

Scott Skylane > wrote in message >...

> If you think that, with no inflight web surfing currently available,
> pilot's eyes, ears, hands, and feet remain solidly affixed to to the
> controls 100% of the time while airborne, you are mistaken.

I never thought that; it was mainly meant to be a joke. But how
often have pilots dozed off on those long boring flights?

--------------

[Capt.Doug]

>"Schmoe" wrote in message -
>The poster said he wants to use it to "surf the web" not get duats or
> any other flight related duty. Sorry if I took him for his word but we
> pilots are pretty specific people.

Surfing the web includes sites pertaining to national weather. Many times I
have wished for a bigger picture than the 160 mile range of my airliner's
weather radar. Many times I have wished for a national satellite picture to
plan for minimum turbulence on a transcon flight. Sigmets and Airmets are
broadcast routinely on the radio, but damned if I know many of the
checkpoints to place them. A picture would sure help. The internet provides
better information than the plain text we receive now.

> And I didn't crucify him, just took a good natured jab.

I hope you fly better than you jab.

D.