Guys,

I went out and bought an iPod Nano several weeks ago and find it great to use when travelling. My question is this:

Is an iPod considered to be a piece of "electrical equipment" in the eyes of airlines?

Why do I ask? Well, I get bored pretty easily, and having seen the usual airline safety videos too often for my liking, I would like to sit back and listen to some music while reading (and waiting for the drinks to be served!)

I have been waiting until the seatbelt sign goes off and then turn it on - but is that necessary?

At the other end of the flight, I have tested the staff out several times - continuing to listen once the seatbelt signs come on - and have not been asked to turn the iPod off on any airline.

I would have expected QF (my regular airline) to be hot on this, but not so....not that I want them to start!!!

Any ideas/thoughts/discussion???

Cheers

GB

You've listened to the safety briefing? Apparently you've not actually paid attention...it's "electronic" equipment, not "electrical" equipment.

However...an iPod is a piece of electronic equipment that uses electric power. So yes, it is indeed "banned" until the plane has reached 10,000 ft. and once it has descended below 10,000 ft. If an FA hasn't asked you to turn it off, it's likely they've just not realized you're using it.

We can debate the necessity of this "ban" all day long...but strictly speaking, yes you are breaking the rules.

I find it hard to believe a Nano is "electronic equipement" for these purposes any more than a digital watch is electronic equipment. Hard drive based ipods are another story.

I wouldn't feel bad using the nano throughout.

OK, this I have to hear...why do you consider a HD-based iPod to be different than a flash-based nano? Moving parts? They're both "electronics".

Hard drive ipods could give off more interference than the flash based ones, due to the motors turning in the drive, but it probably would be very little. I agree I don't see why using a Nano is any different than a digital watch.

For a minute, let's set aside cell phones and other devices that actively transmit something more than just background electronic noise.

The regs are what they are, regardless of whether we like them/agree with them or not. And the regs are "no electronic equipment". iPods, whether they're Nanos or HD-based, are "electronic equipment". I agree that a watch is as well.

However, a watch does not prevent you from hearing crew instructions in the event of an emergency. A watch doesn't get wrapped around an armrest (like a headphone cord) if you're evacuating. Etc. I don't believe the concern is over emissions that could interfere with avionics. First, the airlines/FAA/FCC are already about set to allow cell phone usage. Second, if interference was the concern you wouldn't be able to use iPods, laptops, etc. at any point in the flight.

The only explanation for disallowing the use of electronics until you've reached 10,000 ft. and once you've descended below 10,000 feet is that take-off and landing are the most dangerous parts of air travel, and in the event of a catastrophe they don't want you zoning out to Enya and missing important stuff...and they'd prefer you not get tangled up in cords when trying to evacuate.

Again...I'm not disputing it's a little silly. But to try to say that Nanos aren't covered under those rules is ignorant.

I should have been a little clearer; I agree Nanos are considered electronic equipment, by the FAA rules. Therefore we are stuck with turning them off.

There a so many non-electronic devices that could be a lot more dangerous than an ipod. For example a lot of clothing and accessories like purses or umbrellas have straps that could easily get wrapped around an armrest. As far as the sound blocking out crew member instructions, I think the little girl sitting a row behind me shrieking would be a lot more distracting than the ipod.

Some FA's actually ask that any piece of equipment with an on/off switch be turned off. I think that's pretty clear?

Of all the silly airline rules, that is one of the least silly, so I don't much worry about it.

I got admonised by a FA last week for turning on my laptop when we crossed at least 25K feet, because the announcement hadn't been made.

I got the impression that it was reflexive on her part. :-)

Which is why bags, purses, etc. are supposed to be stowed under the seat or in the seatback pocket during takeoff and landing. Why umbrellas (if you could even get one on a plane these days) would be stowed in the overhead. And I completely agree with you about children...but I think it's safe to sat the airlines/FAA aren't going to ban children. Unfortunately.

My ipod doesn't have an on/off switch. When I am done using it, I pause or stop the current song and it will turn itself off over time.

It does -- you just haven't read the fine manual. Try holding down the play button.

Cool thanks, I didn't know that, but it works!

This is a guess, but if you open up your umbrella during takeoff or landing, the FA will probably tell you to put it away.

In that case, you probably wouldn't want to compound the problem by having the Ipod blasting in your ear