Ottawa to allow electronic devices during all phases of flight
May 28, 2014, 3:35 pm
#46
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 270
As zorn suggests, there are two advisory circulars that, when taken together, would likely result in an air carrier establishing policies to limit the type of headset used during critical phases of flight to only ear bud type:
Advisory Circular 0124R - Passenger Use of Personal Headsets and Protective Hearing Devices
Advisory Circular 0252 - Safety Considerations of Corded Electrical Devices in the Passenger Cabin
I recall a lot of discussion about over-the-head type and ear bud type headsets when air carriers first began offering gate-to-gate IFE.
Advisory Circular 0124R - Passenger Use of Personal Headsets and Protective Hearing Devices
Advisory Circular 0252 - Safety Considerations of Corded Electrical Devices in the Passenger Cabin
I recall a lot of discussion about over-the-head type and ear bud type headsets when air carriers first began offering gate-to-gate IFE.
May 29, 2014, 10:35 am
#47
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YQR
Programs: AC*E35 and decreasing
Posts: 664
AC's announcement on their Facebook page:
We’re happy to announce that as of this morning, all customers travelling on Air Canada, Air Canada Express and rouge can use their personal electronic devices at all times during flight, including taxi, take-off and landing, as long as they’re not transmitting or receiving data.
May 29, 2014, 11:12 am
#48
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Titanium, National Executive
Posts: 1,586
AC's announcement on their Facebook page:
May 29, 2014, 12:29 pm
#49
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: I'm From Here
Programs: AC*SE & MM/*Wood Gold/HHonors Diamond/Marriott Silver/AirMiles Gold
Posts: 4,567
May 29, 2014, 8:51 pm
#51
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Why? Why? Zed! / Why? You? Elle! / Gee! Are You!
Programs: Irrelevant
Posts: 3,543
We've waiting this long - what's a few more weeks?
May 30, 2014, 6:16 am
#53
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Why? Why? Zed! / Why? You? Elle! / Gee! Are You!
Programs: Irrelevant
Posts: 3,543
May 30, 2014, 6:29 am
#54
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YYT/YYZ
Programs: AC*SE, AC*MM, SPG Gold, FPC Plat, HHonors Diamond, PC Plat Elite, R&C Club 5C, Hyatt GP
Posts: 2,201
Did nobody challenge this? Was the SD just ignorant of the new policy, or did AC's communications team just jump the gun with their announcement?
May 30, 2014, 6:48 am
#55
Formerly known as tireman77
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,525
Even if you bring the press release or the rule, I wouldn't want a SD changing an official procedure without getting the information through official channels.
The appropriate answer should be: 'Wow, that's great news! I'll check with OPS as soon as I can to confirm that, but in the meantime, I'm going to have to ask you turn off the device...'
May 30, 2014, 6:54 am
#57
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YYT/YYZ
Programs: AC*SE, AC*MM, SPG Gold, FPC Plat, HHonors Diamond, PC Plat Elite, R&C Club 5C, Hyatt GP
Posts: 2,201
Are AC OPS using snail mail to communicate policy with their staff? Or carrier pigeon, perhaps? This is 2014. It's possible to update all staff on policy changes at the press of a button. That's the way it works in my organization.
May 30, 2014, 6:57 am
#58
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: YEG
Posts: 186
You would think it would be covered in the FA briefing before the flight.
May 30, 2014, 8:08 am
#59
Formerly known as tireman77
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,525
But is this really an important issue? Does this merit a call to arms across the board? UGRENT: People can now keep using electronic devices from gate to gate!!! Don't think so... AC is going to have to change the safety video, so until that video is modified and loaded into the entire fleet, it might be hit and miss.
May 30, 2014, 8:25 am
#60
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: YYT/YYZ
Programs: AC*SE, AC*MM, SPG Gold, FPC Plat, HHonors Diamond, PC Plat Elite, R&C Club 5C, Hyatt GP
Posts: 2,201
It is typical of AC that they would make a public fanfare about this, raising expectations, only to have their FAs deny knowing anything about it. Another PR black eye for AC.
The last time I flew BA, the SD said that PEDs could be used in all phases of the journey, and to ignore the safety video, which hadn't been updated to reflect the change in policy. So an airline can handle this perfectly well if they can be bothered to do so.