Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Birmingham, AL, USA
Posts: 32

On a recent Southwest Airlines flight, once we had reached our cruising altitude, I pulled out my trusty Visor and leaned back, ready to read some e-books and AvantGo channels to pass the time.

Not 30 seconds later, a flight attendant appeared over my shoulder. "I'm sorry, we no longer allow the use of Palms in flight," she said.

Ignoring the whole Palm/Visor issue, I told her that my Visor doesn't have any wireless capability, so there was no possiblity that it was going to interfere with the plane's electronics.

"I'm sorry," she said, "but it's a new rule. We just got the memo this week."

So, I put the Visor away, and stewed for the rest of the flight.

Have any of you seen this happen, either on Southwest or other airlines?? Is it just extra caution by the airlines, since they can't necessarily tell at a glance if a PDA is wireless-enabled or not???

I want to speak with a PR or customer service contact at Southwest, but I want to find out if other airlines are doing the same thing before I call them. For heavens sake, one of the main reasons I bought my Visor was to use it on plane trips!!!!!

Eric

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

Did you notice anyone using a laptop? They may have just banned the general class. If they banned Palms and not laptops, though, that's just plain odd.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Birmingham, AL, USA
Posts: 32

Toby--

I didn't notice if anyone was using a laptop...wish I had paid attention, that would be helpful.

Eric

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 8

I have yet to be told to put my Prism away... I even pull out my keyboard and type memos and emails to send later...

I think if they start banning those they should ban all electronics... I mean what if you were using your mp3 player... does it really let out a signal?

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Thomas Musante
Founder / CEO / Head Bottle Washer
DevMinds Inc.
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Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 12

Idea

I think Handspring should do a commerical for that. Kind of like the ones for the SONY VAIOs. =)

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1683

It's always freaked me out that Airlines have such outdated equipment that a Walkman can interfere with it.

When a lot of these planes that we fly in today were built, I think the 'cutting edge' were using 8-tracks and those fancy new calculator things.

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Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:

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Originally posted by homer
It's always freaked me out that Airlines have such outdated equipment that a Walkman can interfere with it.

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It is a scary thought that the electronics on an aircraft are so interference-prone... and we've been complaining about needing an RF-optimized Visor for OnmiSky

During the holidays, I was at the airport and saw a couple of pilots (the airline kind ) walking towards their plane carrying handhelds... I wonder if they're using them in the cockpit?

"Hey, Joe... wanna play an IR game?"

"Houston... we have a problem!"

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Lincoln,RI,USA
Posts: 51

I think a lot of the policies stem from the unknown versus the proven. Do you really think that an airline would allow someone to even carry something on-board that has the potential to interfere with the aircraft? I don't believe that airlines have proven these devices interfere with anything, and are taking a better-safe-than-sorry approach.

As far as phones go, I believe there was a report not too long ago by one of these 20/20-type shows that proved that the only reason that airlines ban the use of cell-phone is that since you're so high in the air, there is no way to tell where your cell signal is coming from. Therefore the carriers can't bill you (free phone service). Plus, the airlines have agreements with the in-flight phone vendors (GTE, etc...) to provide the service at a premium (which I'm willing to believe the airlines get a cut).

BTW - I always use my PDA on Southwest (latest trip was last week - about 20 round trips per year) without issues... just have to keep it off during take-off and landing.

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Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

Northwest was fine with me using my Visor. You should maybe check out Southwests website and wee if they have anything on their abotu that "new" policy

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-miradu

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

I am an airline pilot. I use my visor to get satellite pictures and radar pictures for up to the minute weather briefs before we leave the gate. I do not use it in the air. We have heated windows and it would not receive due to the interference.

The problem with electronics in the air is real. The problem was first discovered in a 757 when navigation problems could be linked to Gameboys. You would see a "map shift" of a mile or two and walk in the back and see 3 kids playing Tetras. Up at altitude a mile is not a problem. Not all aircraft are affected, but the safe course of action seemed appropriate. Some airplanes like the older 727 or newer 777 are probably not affected.

Cell phones were first banned because airlines were making money on the air phones while at the gate. Businessmen, read money, complained and the restrictions on cell phone use at the gate were lifted. One reason you cannot use them while taxiing has to do with safety in case of an evacuation. In the air they don't work. You move through "cells" to quickly. I have heard in some cases where they have worked, but it is rare.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

Palm pilots may not be on the current list of "approved electronic devices." However there is no reason or specific policy I know of that would prohibit there use. If the flight attendent gives you grief call it a portable computer.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 165

Well, that was an alarming post for me to read, since I'm going to be flying cross country on Delta next week! I was relieved to find this page:

http://delta.com/travel/during_flight/empower/index.jsp

I guess I should e-mail them to make sure PDA's are allowed since they're not explicitly mentioned on the site, but if they offer laptop chargers to business class passengers I can't imagine that PDA use would be a problem. I would be royally p*ssed if that were the case... I certainly won't be flying Southwest anytime soon if that's actually their policy. I can't find anything on Southwest's site about PDA/Laptop restrictions, BTW.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 50

quote:

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Originally posted by Usonian
Well, that was an alarming post for me to read, since I'm going to be flying cross country on Delta next week

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 8

Hey Helen...

I have had that experince also... Going from SF to MO

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Thomas Musante
Founder / CEO / Head Bottle Washer
DevMinds Inc.
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Registered: May 2000
Location:
Posts: 209

If you haven't done so, call or write to Southwest.

214-792-4223

Customer Relations
Southwest
PO Box 36647
Dallas TX 75235

Make sure you have the flight number and the day(s) of travel handy.

Like any policy, it can be misinterpreted or require further clarification (and I would highly recommend that the phrase, "clarification" be used to get the best results). The in-flight Southwest magazine does state that PDAs are acceptable once the flight crew has determined the aircraft has reached a safe altitude (and if you've seen that section in the magazine, it really details what can and can not be used). Although those magazines have a lead time of about 2 months for printing and distribution, a new policy could have been implemented.

I was on Southwest last Wednesday and the Saturday before that without any incident with my Visor (although I wished I had your Flight Attendant working the isles as there was a ding dong who kept using his cell phone as we pulled away from the gate, in-flight and while landing. It isn't the emissions I'm concerned about-- it's that his phone can be a nice moving object if the plane has to make an emergency stop from, oh, say 100 MPH, and his phone keeps flying).

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Birmingham, AL, USA
Posts: 32

Zero--

Thanks for the info. I'm going to give them a call, and report back on what they tell me. I'm hoping that my experience was just an aberration...

Eric

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pembroke,MA
Posts: 307

I'm leaving for the Keys in the morning on Delta and was hoping to play Galax and Zap!2016 on flight. 'Erm, I mean transcribing a few hand notes to WordSmith, yeah, that's right....

I'll be bumming if they make me put my VPR away. I'll report back tomorrow, posting wirelessly (hopefully, if Sprint coverage is any good there) on my VPR whilst sipping coladas @ Sloppy Joes...

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 21

SAS just announced in-flight wireless web access with 802.11b support. Hmm, doesn't that 802.11b card have a radio in it...

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Burlington, VT, USA
Posts: 127

Actually, the cell phone prohibitions do have some basis as a safety issue. Check out the following story:

http://www.airdisaster.com/news/0101/12/news.html

In early January, a European airliner had to make an emergency landing due to a fire alert. It turned out to have been a false alarm that they said was triggered by a cell phone in the luggage compartment that was turned on...

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 21

quote:

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Originally posted by dennya
Actually, the cell phone prohibitions do have some basis as a safety issue. Check out the following story:
[clip]

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