tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post5821314988625118655..comments2024-02-21T03:48:52.674-05:00Comments on Flying Lessons: Why Blogging Ain't Reporting (That Means You BITS)Christine Negronihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15190247339367487575noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post-32355242178016917622012-01-11T04:16:39.562-05:002012-01-11T04:16:39.562-05:00Recently I was listening to a tech podcast and Bil...Recently I was listening to a tech podcast and Bilton was lamenting the fact that he gets to cover all kinds of tech start up companies but because he is with the NYT he is not allowed to be given a piece or purchase a piece of the action. He obviously was not happy about it. I wished someone would have asked him... if he were not with the NYT would he be given the same opportunity? Doh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post-51164713811503499892011-12-29T09:50:36.298-05:002011-12-29T09:50:36.298-05:00I think this reporter falls into the catagory &quo...I think this reporter falls into the catagory "educated stupid". May have a lot of brains but fails to engage the brain before opening the mouth. Does his preferred choice of communicating with the world of "blogs" have FAR or CS standards? Does he even know what the abbreviations mean?<br /><br />I have heard of a documented case in the 1960's / 70's when an airman was working upside down in an aircraft and put his torch on a ledge, as he did so there was a loud bang near his feet, the bang was the canopy of the aircraft being blown off as he had put his torch (flashlight) near the initiator for the explosive release.<br /><br />Until all the electronic devices are checked for flight safety my personal view is that they all should be banned. If you have a mobile phone that is powerful enough to transmit a couple of miles to the nearest tower what exactly is your EMF output???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post-24754900812899985082011-12-28T16:44:51.341-05:002011-12-28T16:44:51.341-05:00'Spot on' Christine, fully agree with your...'Spot on' Christine, fully agree with your stance on this. Ive been an EMI Trials Officer and was constantly amazed at that ways 'wiggly amps' find new ways to totally mess up perfectly good systems.<br /><br />I'd also observe that Bilton's simplistic approach overlooks the fact that modern day accidents are much more complex than just a single device interfering directly with a critical system. EMI can influence complex systems indirectly in many ways.<br /><br />However, so long as the appropriate tests/precautions/certifications have Ben done, and controls are in place the risk of portable devices in the cockpit will be manageable and acceptable. There are no problems with iPads etc that have been checked out (witness Executive Jets' recent work with the FAA) where the risks are known and controlled. The challenge and risks come from the long tube of uncontrolled and unpredictable electronic paraphernalia aft of the cockpit.<br /><br />Pseudo reporting of the type done by Bilton is very unhelpful, and some would say ultimately detrimental to air safety. The message he delivers fuels the attitudes and miconceptions of the traveling "EMI expert" who sees no validity in the measures that are designed to protect the traveling public and who are not shy at declaring their opinions loudly and often. These folk are the bane of cabin crew, they are misinformed and they are wrong. Bilton's shallow and flawed analysis of this important complex subject is a disservice everyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post-77391453552478754062011-12-28T11:59:46.995-05:002011-12-28T11:59:46.995-05:00Alan,
Your point is well taken. Rushing in to miti...Alan,<br />Your point is well taken. Rushing in to mitigate the most recent air safety risk can be somewhat knee-jerk.<br /><br />Regarding the use of PEDs, the regulations are already in effect.<br /><br />Policy on PEDs can be assessed with a simple risk benefit analysis. The regulations require that these devices be kept off during takeoff and landing. Is that cost worth the mitigation of the risk, which is not easily quantified?Christine Negronihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15190247339367487575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post-91153358041564603422011-12-28T11:43:02.668-05:002011-12-28T11:43:02.668-05:00@Christine, it would be helpful to contrast the 75...@Christine, it would be helpful to contrast the 75 (or 4 x 75) "suspected" incidents of avionics interference with the number of confirmed safety incidents from other causes--not that we should create hazards through de-regulation of electronic devices in the cabin, but many safety (and crime victim) advocates across society routinely zero in on relatively rare events, ignoring much more common and dangerous ones. Our "lizard brains" can be pretty irrational when it comes to rare accidents with visible and high consequences (airplane crashes, harm to children). For instance, I'd rather have sensible duty time rules, so my pilot is "wetting his or her pants" than asleep in the cockpit.Alannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post-28646588442971546432011-12-28T10:00:33.781-05:002011-12-28T10:00:33.781-05:00As a airline technician and someone who has had a ...As a airline technician and someone who has had a interest in EMI, I must take exception to your point on IPads in the flight deck. I have worked on passenger, cargo and corporate aircraft. They are all now using iPads in the flight decks. These are always on....never off and many have been found to be running in wifi/ 3G mode. The crews have forgotten to put them on airplane mode. The concentration of magnetic and navigational equipment in the flight deck far exceeds any other area except for the first few rows in first class.... The avionics bay is directly under those seats. I have to wonder what is worse ten people in rows 8,14,25 with phones on or two iPads running in the flight deck. Having been in aviation 22 years an dispatched more planes then I can remember I can't recall a single flight that came in with a problem due to EMI. I have had aircraft who have lost all instruments for as long as 40 seconds due to lightning ..... That concerns me more that you on a laptop or a phone. Thank you for a great blog though I enjoy reading your thoughts.... KenKenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07565243658852159958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post-44693989799908632722011-12-28T08:22:12.700-05:002011-12-28T08:22:12.700-05:00This is very interesting. I've seen people ref...This is very interesting. I've seen people refuse to turn their phones off on planes when asked - the attitude is "what's the harm? why should I?"<br />You say the airlines take this issue seriously - but in that case, isn't it time that the airlines took a firmer stand? Insist that electronic devices are carried separately on checking in, just as liquids have to be, and make it clear that they are turned off and must not be turned back on again. Make a few examples of people who refuse, by not letting them fly. Show that it's a serious issue. And get the airlines' PR people to tackle ill-informed writers like the one you refer to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post-81465433968818442182011-12-27T18:46:17.943-05:002011-12-27T18:46:17.943-05:00Thanks for this interesting discussion Christine.
...Thanks for this interesting discussion Christine.<br /><br />I agree with your comments about BLOGs. I BLOG on my website www.rdcollins.com.au and 95% of the time it is my opinion that I'm publishing. I think I make that quite clear. Notwithstanding, I do my very best to base that opinion on fact and 35 years of experience in this industry.<br /><br />I also agree with your comments about personal electronic devices (PEDs). Frankly, the reporter to whom you refer (who I do not know), does not seem to understand the technological considerations and analysis associated with safely using PEDS on board an aircraft.<br /><br />In Australia, there are numerous examples of interference associated or suspected to be associated with using PEDs, and the issue is regarded seriously by airlines, the regulator, and the investigations agency.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post-38838238987146416182011-12-27T18:09:10.329-05:002011-12-27T18:09:10.329-05:00For what it's worth...
I'm an airline pil...For what it's worth...<br /><br />I'm an airline pilot and air travel columnist/writer of at least * some * reknown. I sent Nick Bilton two perfectly polite and constructively critical letters regarding two of his posts. Neither of my letters was answered or acknowledged.<br /><br />Patrick SmithPatrick Smithhttp://www.askthepilot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post-57008452018361062772011-12-27T08:54:58.864-05:002011-12-27T08:54:58.864-05:00Thoughtful, well-written counterpoint to an idioti...Thoughtful, well-written counterpoint to an idiotic article with a clear agenda behind it. I'd like to see Matt Wald do a similar rejoinder -- the Times has access to a lot of people far better qualified to write about aviation safety matters than this rookie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post-35028876237483277752011-12-27T01:21:48.041-05:002011-12-27T01:21:48.041-05:00The whole premise of SMS is to be proactive, detec...The whole premise of SMS is to be proactive, detect hazards and mitigate the risks. 75 incidents of EMI interference are 75 events too many in 7 years or otherwise. Do we have to wait for an accident to prove or disprove whether EMI interference is hazardous to flight or not, especially in critical phases of flights; the answer is NO.<br />Until science can prove otherwise I suppose people can live without their electronic gadgets for 30 minutes or so.Oussama's Takehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17804888569746656075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9133703253863123050.post-31890114650837558912011-12-26T22:06:05.874-05:002011-12-26T22:06:05.874-05:00Anyone who reads the NYT deserves what he/she gets...Anyone who reads the NYT deserves what he/she gets. The likes of the giants are long gone, and we're blessed with bloviating bloggers who couldn't differentiate between science & scientology if their lives depended on it (and they just might).Grumpyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13649751799346172339noreply@blogger.com