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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: eagl on October 26, 2009, 04:04:16 PM

Title: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: eagl on October 26, 2009, 04:04:16 PM: CNN is reporting that the two pilots in that northwest airlines flight that ignored ATC and procedures for an hour were on their personal laptops, researching stuff related to their discussion about airline policies and an upcoming merger.

And... hilarity ensued. Here's my contribution:

It used to be that distracting inflight "laptop" activities involved cute stewardesses in the cockpit...
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: sluggish on October 26, 2009, 04:54:09 PM: "Stewardess" is such a sexist term. We prefer "flight attendant" now.
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: JB88 on October 26, 2009, 04:55:35 PM: sky wench.
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: Tac on October 26, 2009, 04:55:57 PM: nonsense.. they were playing WOW... fess up pilots!
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: Ack-Ack on October 26, 2009, 05:28:08 PM: I thought laptops weren't permitted to be turned on while inflight because of potential interference problems? So much for that theory...

ack-ack
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: soda72 on October 26, 2009, 05:36:10 PM: Quote from: JB88 on October 26, 2009, 04:55:35 PM
sky wench.

oh that's so 1700'ish..

:P
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: soda72 on October 26, 2009, 05:38:48 PM: Quote from: Ack-Ack on October 26, 2009, 05:28:08 PM
I thought laptops weren't permitted to be turned on while inflight because of potential interference problems? So much for that theory...

ack-ack

They only make you put it away during take off and landing, during flight you can use it if you want..
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: Ruler2 on October 26, 2009, 05:57:10 PM: /\ must have been the pilot :joystick:
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: eagl on October 26, 2009, 06:24:30 PM: Quote from: sluggish on October 26, 2009, 04:54:09 PM
"Stewardess" is such a sexist term. We prefer "flight attendant" now.

"Used to". Sheesh, read the effing post :mad:

:neener:
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: MORAY37 on October 26, 2009, 06:26:05 PM: Quote from: Ack-Ack on October 26, 2009, 05:28:08 PM
I thought laptops weren't permitted to be turned on while inflight because of potential interference problems? So much for that theory...

ack-ack

Haven't you watched "MythBusters"?

:aok
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: eagl on October 26, 2009, 06:29:12 PM: Quote from: Ack-Ack on October 26, 2009, 05:28:08 PM
I thought laptops weren't permitted to be turned on while inflight because of potential interference problems? So much for that theory...

That's never been true.

Laptops and personal electronic devices that have not been certified for inflight use by the FAA can not be used during takeoff, approach to landing, or landing. During other times, the only restriction has been to shut off anything that transmits (like wifi). Even that's changed however, as airlines are getting their planes certified for flight in the presence of wifi networks, and are offering inflight wifi.

As for pilots using laptops, "electronic flight bags" are nothing more than certified laptops with different levels of software and features. Some laptops are nothing more than data carriers, holding things like tech references, checklists, company-specific info such as flight plans and gate info, etc. Some EFBs are certified for use as electronic checklists in lieu of other checklists, and some are even certified to be plugged into aircraft systems (like GPS nav) and can be used to monitor instrument approaches overlayed right on top of the approach plate. It's all very nifty, but even the most gucci and highly certified EFBs are really just laptops certified for various levels of reliabilityand compatibility.
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: rogwar on October 26, 2009, 06:45:19 PM: Has anyone ever considered maybe they were in love?

All that travel and time together in the uh cockpit...it's a possibility.

As far as laptops in flight, I was working on mine while flying to Portland and even hooked up on the internet. Made a post on here even.
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: Meatwad on October 26, 2009, 06:54:28 PM: Quote from: sluggish on October 26, 2009, 04:54:09 PM
"Stewardess" is such a sexist term. We prefer "flight attendant" now.

Flying skirts :aok
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: 68ZooM on October 26, 2009, 06:55:42 PM: They were playing AcesHigh gezzz :cheers:
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: saggs on October 26, 2009, 07:05:20 PM: I don't buy the laptop story, I thing still thing they were both fast asleep. I mean even while distracted on a laptop you would notice ATC screaming in your ear "WHAT THE CRAPS GOING ON?" I can only imagine what the poor controllers must have been thinking, hijacking, another 9-11, cabin depressurization.

My brother is an airline pilot, he's told me about pilots he knows, when they fly it's "wheels up, auto pilot on, lights out"
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: -tronski- on October 27, 2009, 02:35:13 AM: I fall asleep on long trips too...but I'm not the captain of an A320 short of an excuse

Tronsky
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: Jayhawk on October 27, 2009, 04:30:22 PM: Last time I fell asleep in a vehicle I got to my destination a lot faster actually, and got a ride, and it had sirens!
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: eagl on October 27, 2009, 05:02:40 PM: Update on the story - CNN reports that the FAA pulled their licenses. No details of course, so it's hard to tell what exactly got revoked. But I bet they're done flying heavy passenger commercial...
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: rogwar on October 27, 2009, 06:04:19 PM: Remember the movie Airplane?

Maybe they were working on the autopilot...

:x
Title: Re: NorthWest pilots on laptops - CNN reports
Post by: falcon23 on October 27, 2009, 06:17:48 PM: I read something a few years ago that said ONE hour of flight time is equal to THREE hours of driving time..