Why do airlines still use dot matrix printers at the gate?
 

As I sit here listening to the dot matrix pounding away at gate A2 in STL this question crossed my mind. Surely there's a reason the airlines haven't moved to compact laser jet printers for printouts at the gate...is is just because the pages stay connected without a staple?

A quick search should help/

Dot matrix printers remain in use wherever multi-part forms are required (e.g., auto dealerships). I suspect that when the list of passengers is printed to give to the flight crew an exact duplicate is kept as a departure record by the airline. For all we know it may be an FAA requirement.

The main organization for bridge tournaments in the US/Canada is also one of the dot-matrix holdouts, used to print things like contestant list/brackets and results on wide-format continuous feed paper. They are also not known for having a forward-thinking technology arm.

Dot matrix printers are perfect for any application that benefits from continuous-feed paper.

Agree with above - it's the continuous paper - no lost pages, easy to fold, easy to separate for FA's, etc, etc.

They can't just transmit the list to the Pilots and FAs devices?

Not yet.

That would require the company to buy devices for all air crew. Dot matrix printers are cheaper.

Why spend $$$ fixing a system that isn't broken?

Dot matrix is the already installed system that works well, the supplies for it cost less than those for laser printers, definitely lower maintenance costs, does multi-part forms, and probably a whole lot more reasons to keep them.

Someone in this thread mentioned sending the info to crew devices. With all the fuss about using electronics on planes, concerns about confidentiality of data sent via wi-fi, whether or not the wi-fi works, the need to insure every device has sufficient battery power for the duration of the flight, etc. - what incentive does the airline have to move away from a printout on a clipboard? Easier and quicker to read/scan larger type on paper, and nobody will question whether it will interfere with the plane controls (see any number of threads about that here on FT).

Assuming you get the paper box positioned correctly paper jams are virtually unknown with dot matrix. I would fully expect a dot matrix to print it's entire box without a hiccup. (Get the box even slightly out of alignment and it's a very different story!)

Also, dot matrix wears out gradually. You'll never start a print job printing fine and have to stop halfway through to change the ink or toner.

The crew on UA have such devices.

The paperwork is done and handed over prior to departure. Interference with the plane controls is a total non issue.

Also those dot matrix printers are already installed at the gates, they're already paid for, and they're durable.

I know that.

However John Q. Public doesn't. Search the web and you'll find plenty of "Gasp! The cell phone will bring down the plane!" stories, blogs, etc. The perception that electronic devices interfere with plane controls is a PR issue, not a safety issue. If the FA walks down the aisle checking a handheld manifest (or whatever) there will be those who perceive that as risky, or who wonder why the FA is checking their email instead of working.