Hi all,

Have a question. While this is probably not just a DL question, since it happened on DL, I thought I may ask it here. About a month ago we were sitting at CVG for 3 hours in the plane waiting to be deiced. While they allowed the use of the cell phones, laptop use wheren't allowed. Just out of curiosity, I asked a FA to explain the reason for this, and she gave me "FAA regulation" answer. I thought to ask the pros here on this forum. Why laptop use is not allowed while the plane is still on the ground? Is there a security concern. I figured since cell phones are allowed, laptops should be allowed as well...

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Whatever the answer, it begs for more explanation, other than the age old All-American response of "Better safe than sorry".

Those of us with a bit of tenure remember when you could use your laptop on the ground, during takeoff and the climbout. We could get lots of work done those days. Then one day Northwest came along and started this new rule on no laptops until 10,000 foot. As the other airlines watch their planes continue to fall out of the sky while NW kept flying, they followed along.

The only SMALL rationale I MIGHT accept would be the danger of flying laptops in the event of an emergency. But then again, as someone pointed out once when reminded they should always wear clean undies in case you are in an accident. If you are in an accident (or emergency), you will probably $hit your pants anyways, so whats the point?

FAA regulations Link

As this topic is really not specific to DL, I am moving the thread to Travelbuzz. Please continue to follow it there.
Thanks,
Obscure2k
DL Moderator

This regulation basically doesn't address the issue...except for a few specific categories of devices that are always allowed (portable voice recorders, hearing aids, pacemakers, and electric shavers: one wonders how this list was assembed), it leaves the determination to the airline.

Last month, the AA flight I was on had a 2+ hr ground hold in DFW waiting for an EWR takeoff clearance. During the hold, we were allowed to use all PEDs including cell phones and laptops. As we got closer to our time slot, the FA asked us to put away our laptops so that we could expedite the departure. Cell phones were allowed until we began the taxi to takeoff.

I've also had no problems using my laptop on AA while at the gate.

Any restriction on use of laptops while the aircraft is parked, taxiing etc. have little or nothing to do with electronic emissions issues and everything to do with the requirement that all luggage be "properly stowed." Anything as large and heavy as a laptop has to be in an approved storage location during ground movement and takeoff and landing.

This at least makes some sense. @:-)

This makes sense -- but does not apply when parked with the engines shut down, which is probably the case during an extended wait for deicing.

Electric shavers are allowed?

Wow, sanity! Cheers to the AA crew. ^

I wish we could just have reasonable rules all the time. While on hold, use devices, put them away as departure gets close. Is that really that hard?

I wish it were possible to prosecute a FA for claiming something is federal law when it actually isn't.

But if you think about it it has nothing to do with the engines. It has to do with the process it would take for many people to get to their laptops (in the overhead bins) and how long it would take for everyone to power down and restow their laptops (again in the overhead bins often). I had asked a pilot about this one a couple months ago (as I too was curious why the phones were ok after landing and not the laptops) and it was exactly the time and movement issues. It is time consuming to get everyone to log off their puters and put them away.

Agreed, it probably takes several minutes: a very small fraction of a three hour deicing delay. Fortunately, I've only been in a few very long ground holds like this. My recollection is that the airlines in question did allow us to pull out the laptops.