B6A322 From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 287 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 4713 times:
After the Christmas Day incident, why did the TSA decide that In Flight Entertainment had to be switched off when entering or within U.S. Airspace? I can understand a mandate requiring Livemap services to be switched off, but all IFE in general? I understand that it was kind of a knee jerk reaction...but if anyone could offer insight it would be much appreciated.
As an example, I was on two LH flights last month on which, an hour before entering US airspace, they switched off the entire IFE system. I just don't get it. Can't people tell where they are by looking out the windows? sheesh, if anything movies should distract the people from looking out the window.
The content I post is solely my own opinion. It is not an official statement by/of/for nor representative of any company
RoseFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8739 posts, RR: 52 Reply 1, posted (3 years 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 4656 times:
The problem with some IFE systems is that they cannot disable certain features since they were not designed that way. The moving map may only be disabled by disabling the entire system.
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
mcdu From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 1278 posts, RR: 17 Reply 2, posted (3 years 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 4646 times:
The LH switching "off" of the IFE must be a LH policy. Not doing it at my carrier, we did initially after the Christmas attempt but the TSA changed the policy within a few days. I think the reason the whole IFE was turned off was the TSA wanted the maps off, but there is not a "Map" switch. It is all tied into the same system. To turn off the map, required turning off the entire IFE.
As to why the TSA wanted the maps off? Your guess is as good as anyone's. The TSA like most government agency operations are reactive. They produce very little forward thinking and operate as a knee jerk authority. To say I see very little good come from the TSA in my interaction on a daily basis is an understatement. They have some of the most bizarre policy implementations that seem to detract from security vs enhance, with how they choose to operate. It is a jobs agency and I hold them in slightly less contempt than the ICE members. Sorry for the soapbox but the agencies that I work with at the airport remind why many passengers find angst when dealing with either group.
B6A322 From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 287 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 years 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 4598 times:
Quoting mcdu (Reply 2): The LH switching "off" of the IFE must be a LH policy.
A recent one, too. IIRC the TSA policy change left it up to the carrier ... so I guess the other part would be...what advantage would an airline see to keeping it off? Or did the policy change just affect US carriers?
The content I post is solely my own opinion. It is not an official statement by/of/for nor representative of any company
exFATboy From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 2974 posts, RR: 9 Reply 4, posted (3 years 2 weeks 2 days ago) and read 4125 times:
Quoting mcdu (Reply 2): As to why the TSA wanted the maps off? Your guess is as good as anyone's.
The rationale (I hesitate to use the word "logic" in this context) was that putative terrorists like the "underwear bomber" want to set off a bomb at a specific point in a flight, to be visible to Americans on the ground and/or to maximize the possibility of debris landing on people or buildings, in order to get the most psychological impact out of the event...that's why it's called "terrorism", after all.
In theory, they have a point. As a practical matter, though, turning off the maps makes no difference, as critics started pointing out within, oh, five minutes of the TSA policy implementation - it's really not that hard, using a watch and a map, to figure out approximately where you are, especially if the terrorist has done a dry-run or two. And planes have these accessories called "windows" that let the terrorist see, using the good ol' Mark One Eyeball, where they are relative to cities, etc.
Thus the rule was quietly modified, although on my last JetBlue flight I noticed the maps seemed significantly less detailed than in the past.
AeroWeanie From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 1600 posts, RR: 52 Reply 6, posted (3 years 2 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 3764 times:
And, whats to stop someone from having a handheld GPS, like my Garmin eTrex Legend? Or, using the GPS on an iPhone?
Supposedly the 9/11/2001 hijackers brought GPS units with them and used them to navigate to their targets. Hence, Al-Qaeda is familiar with using them...
DAL763ER From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2008, 404 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (3 years 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 3362 times:
Quoting AeroWeanie (Reply 6): And, whats to stop someone from having a handheld GPS, like my Garmin eTrex Legend? Or, using the GPS on an iPhone?
Correct. I've used a PDA with GPS on flights and boy is it awesome! Much more accurate, obviously.
With regards to the iPhone GPS, how did you manage to use it in-flight with the Airplane mode on? I haven't managed to use it on any of my 15 flights within the last 18 months. I've an iPhone 3G.
Where aviation is not the side show, it's the main show!!!
FlyASAGuy2005 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 6517 posts, RR: 11 Reply 9, posted (3 years 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3168 times:
Quoting flypba (Reply 7): turning off a video map will not do anything to deter terrorism. What's next? blanking out the passenger windows?
It's funny you said that because I was thinking the same thing!! A new requirement for all N registered commercial a/c is to have all windows have the ability to make the windows opaque at the touch a an F/A control.
CAM2:"Lightning coming out of that one." CAM1: "What?"
AirCanada014 From Canada, joined Oct 2005, 1492 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2865 times:
As far as I know AC will allow the IFE be on from gate to gate. First time ever in Canada but don't know if this is the first time AC being the only legacy carrier all over the world? This is something new AC decided to offer to passengers. Here's the link if it helps you. http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/arti...ew-entertainment-from-gate-to-gate
StarAC17 From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 3211 posts, RR: 9 Reply 13, posted (3 years 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 2154 times:
I flew YYZ-LAX on AC in January and the map was working fine gate to gate. As well as it worked on FJ from pushback from LAX to NAN.
Quoting sovietjet (Reply 12): I never knew about this. Can someone fill me in? You can't use IFE until you are out of US airspace? What caused this?
It started with the Christmas day bomber for fears that the map feature could be used by a terrorist in some way and if a certain IFE system can't just disable the map then the whole thing has to be shut off. I thought that this was dropped after the incident but I guess not.
Quoting DAL763ER (Reply 8): With regards to the iPhone GPS, how did you manage to use it in-flight with the Airplane mode on? I haven't managed to use it on any of my 15 flights within the last 18 months. I've an iPhone 3G.
My guess is that people would turn airplane mode off. The FA's don't check to see if you actually listen when they tell you to turn all electronic communications devices.
Quoting flypba (Reply 7): turning off a video map will not do anything to deter terrorism. What's next? blanking out the passenger windows?
LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 14, posted (3 years 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1797 times:
When I flew MEX-FRA on LH, they left the IFE on while in US Airspace (it was just overflying Florida and maybe some of the Carolinas if I remember the airshow correctly), but they did turn it off at least one time, though that was while we were already out of US Airspace. So they don't have to be in US Airspace to turn it off.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 287 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2008, 404 posts, 
From Canada, joined Oct 2005, 1492 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Dec 2003, 11310 posts, 
From Bulgaria, joined Mar 2003, 2339 posts, 
From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Apr 2000, 643 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
