Congress considers banning use of laptops in the cockpit
Filed under: Company News, Delta Air Lines
Airline passengers are used to being told by flight attendants that it's time to put away their laptop computers. Now, the pilots of American (AMR), Delta (DAL) and other airlines may hear a similar message from Congress, which is considering banning the use of laptops and other electronic devices in the cockpit.
The use of laptops is being blamed for an Oct. 21 incident in which a Northwest plane flew 150 miles beyond its Minneapolis destination before the pilots became aware that they had overshot their intended landing site.
In response to that incident, members of the Senate and House are actively considering legislation which would make it illegal for pilots to have any consumer electronics device in active use while they are flying a commercial plane. In a statement, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), chairman of the aviation subcommittee, told the press: "We now understand from this flight at least that this can happen and there ought to be a more clear understanding by everyone in the cockpit that there is a national standard that would prohibit this and that they need to take it seriously."
One would think that airlines would have been aware of the practice of pilots using laptops in flight, and would have banned it long ago. That doesn't seem like a lot to ask. But, as usual, it takes a near-catastrophe to focus attention on a dangerous situation, at which point an industry loses the ability to regulate itself and must instead submit to the standards set by politicians.
Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-03-2009 @ 10:11AM
john said...
FIRST- NO ONE believes this cover story since it is so completely outrageous. WHO could possibly miss there time by over an HOUR because they were on their laptop... oh yeah- more than ONE person at the same time... NO SHOT.... SECOND- WHY would pilots be doing anything accept flying plane? yes, autopilot- i get that... BUT that is there ONLY job, ever,... so isn't it a little outrageous to say put down your toys and do your jobs?? ps- they are unioned... this is within guidelines? this is approved? this is common and known?? stunned that we have LOWERED the bar to this level... can't wait to see them get their next raise because they are "overworked" now...
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11-03-2009 @ 10:41AM
fb said...
If anyone believes that these pilots missed about an hour and a half of calls and a hand because they were on a laptop and talking company policy could be sold anything.
As a pilot I believe that these guy's fell asleep and once their mistake was realized they then had to extend the flight out far enough so that the 30 minute flight recorder would re-loop and there would be no evidence they where asleep since the flight recorder in this plane only records the last thirty minutes. But that's only my opinion.
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11-03-2009 @ 11:35AM
MF said...
Pretty soon Congress will decide that they need to be the ones hiring pilots, not the airlines. This government oversight after every aviation incident needs to stop. They will end up doing much more harm than good.
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11-03-2009 @ 12:13PM
J said...
I also personally believe these guys fell asleep. I think they are overworked and they fell asleep and do not want to admit it. I wonder why they just didn't keep quiet (said no comment ) and discussed this with the union before coming up with the two conflicting stories they came up with.
I am a pilot and I am embarrassed by their dishonesty. It makes the rest of us pilots look bad.
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11-03-2009 @ 3:57PM
767 Captain said...
To bad these politicians don't know what an electronic kitbag does for pilots. See, a number of airlines use an electronic kitbag for aircraft manuals. We go onto our laptop to view important manuals on the aircraft systems and company flight regulations. This does not excuse us from flying the jet, and maintaining situational awareness. Once again, you have a bunch of uninformed politicians trying to set policy on something they know absolutely nothing about. Some airlines go so far as to have the actual approach plates that are required to navigate the airliner on a laptop. Good luck trying to regulate out the use of these important cockpit aides. If you haven't looked into a modern airliner, you would be surprised to see a number of onboard computers to control everything from aircraft systems to navigation and the autopilot. What is the purpose of banning the use of laptops? The real issue is maintaining cockpit discipline and awareness. That is already regulated by FAR's, and no amount of Congressional politics will change it.
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11-03-2009 @ 3:59PM
Bob said...
These two bozos from NWA make thousands of dedicated airline pilots, appear to be as irresponsible as they are. They have assaulted the image of their own profession. No amount of posturing or legislation from our political system will change the fact that some individuals choose not to follow the rules.
While not specifically prohibited, current laws are very clearly in place prohibiting the reprehensible actions of these two knuckleheads. I can't think of a more assinine waste of time and tax dollars than specifically outlawing laptops in cockpits.
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11-03-2009 @ 4:25PM
Frank said...
How exactly would tax dollars be wasted by such legislation?
11-04-2009 @ 6:30PM
Charlotte said...
If Laptops go, does it include the "Kindles" with approach plates that various companies are coming out with?
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11-05-2009 @ 1:52PM
Dave said...
Definitely were not on laptops. The pilots comments suggest they fell asleep, which seems plausible but an unlikely coincidence that could both fall asleep so soundly that they miss radio calls. Isnt it also likely that there was a medical or other incident which they wanted to hide? Possibly one of them had an epileptic seizure, which could jeopardize their job? I am totally speculating here. Many also believe there were more prurient activities involved...
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