On 2/6/04 9:04 PM, in article kBYUb.51455$F15.22199@fed1read06, "Ted Wagner"
wrote:

I took the last half hour to read all the FARs, FAAs, PDQs and XYZs, and I
can't find where they say that I can't wear my headphones when the airplane is
coming in for landing. (And no, I'm not flying the airplane!)

[....]

Is there a case I can make for keeping them on?

Ted, I think you are out of luck. The short answer is, if the crew says turn
'em off, then you turn 'em off.

If you'd like to make your case to the Engineering department afterwards,
and seek formal approval for your equipment, be prepared to spend a great
deal of time and money on a very complex testing regimen.

There has been considerable discussion over the years about the use of
electronic equipment in the cabin, not only during the takeoff and landing
phases but enroute as well. Some restrictions are written in the airline's
operating procedures. Some crews will not let you operate equipment for
which there is no specific prohibition. The basis for this position is
usually that, even though certain equipment may have been tested (most
specific units probably have not been tested) and found not to cause a
problem, no one has any idea what a whole cabin full of various types of
equipment might do to the electronic systems of modern airliners.

There is a number of reports of in-flight episodes of what appear to be
passenger electronic equipment interference with aircraft navigation
equipment -- enough so that many prudent Captains will take a hard line on
the use of any equipment not specifically allowed (of which there are very
few examples other than hearing aids, heart monitors/pacemakers, and other
absolutely necessary equipment) during any phase of flight.

This is the general outlook I'd want in any crew I'm riding with, though
passengers who can't leave their toys at home, or at least in their luggage
for the duration of the flight, may not agree. The job of the crew is to get
you there in one piece, every time, no matter what, and if taking a hard
line with electronics removes one more variable from the mix, I'm all for
it.

One of the many nice things about being the Captain is never having to say
you're sorry for following the rules, and for choosing the safest reasonable
course of action whenever there is no specific guidance available. Just as
the crew doesn't get to choose which of the FARs to ignore in normal
operation, so the passengers have little recourse during the flight if they
disagree with the crew's instructions. You don't have to like it, but you
are required to comply. In the present climate especially, one would not
want to be met at the arrival gate by a law enforcement team who will be
happy to ruin the rest of ones schedule for the day. You can always write a
letter later, of course, but don't expect it to do much good. If the crew
has handled your case in a professional manner, you can at best hope for a
polite note in response which pretends to apologize for any "inconvenience".

Now that I have thirty years of safe airline flying behind me, I have the
privilege of pursuing another very challenging aspect of aviation, soaring
over the nearly endless corn and bean fields of NE Illinois, and I think I'm
going to like it.

I don't miss the glass cockpit at all. ;



Jack