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Comment by tjohns | Hacker News Reader

Something about this article rubs me the wrong way:

- Name dropping a couple random pilots (who are probably going to be fired), when it sounds like this is a systemic issue.

- Implying that using a GoPro camera during flight is illegal, since "most" devices have WiFi. Maybe true for newer devices, but none of my older GoPro cameras have WiFi. And I especially don't see the problem if recording was started before flight began.

- Glossing over the fact that all of this is legal, if done with a conventional (non-WiFI) camera when sterile cockpit rules aren't in effect.

Ya, using a laptop while flying is probably a bad choice. But I fail to see why it's okay to take a photo with a complicated DSLR camera, but not to take a quick snapshot with any other device. Especially considering that pilots are already allowed to use tablets as electronic flight bags now.

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If the other guy has the controls it's not like you're going to grab them away from him without clearly communicating anyway... Plenty of time to drop the camera while you say "I have the controls" and he says "you have the controls".

Edit: They're trying to make this seem like it's texting and driving. The stakes are much higher and it's clearly not.

Yeah, this is horsehit. I can mount my iPhone to my window and have it record high def video. Then I can go back into the video and pull a couple nice Instagrams after having not interacted with the device for hours.

> Something about this article rubs me the wrong way

Indeed. While I agree about the importance of discipline and safety in the cockpit, this article is slimy. This journalist gives off a mega sleazeball vibe.

They might be hinting about the issues that the Honeywell displays in the cockpit of some Boeing airliners supposedly have issues with WiFi interference. Complaining about the GoPro because of the WiFi is a stretch. http://aviationweek.com/awin/faa-mandates-fix-avoid-wi-fi-in...

Also, some newer airliners including the 787 use WiFi for the dispatcher datalink at the gate.

Edit: The WiFi issues with the display is overstated.

This is just a giant rumor... Honeywell isn't making (for a plane or not) anything that can't hold up to wifi. The EM interference at altitude makes wifi look like a joke.

The FAA directive is real. The "issue" is based on lab tests, and I haven't heard of WiFi causing a display to go blank in flight.

I talked on a cell phone in a cirrus with a glass cockpit, guess what happened? Nothing. I've also done the same with streaming music. If the displays stopped working because of wifi they would always be left trying to navigate taxiways without them... And that would be a very real problem.

> photo with a complicated DSLR camera, but not to take a quick snapshot with any other device

I think it all comes down to distraction potential. DSLRs don't have apps and games etc on them.

>DSLRs don't have apps and games etc on them.

A pilot that lacks the discipline and or professionalism to stop himself from playing Flappy Birds instead of doing his job isn't going to magically become fit-for-purpose just because you took his toy away.

+1 there are lots of moving screens and distractions in the cockpit... A lot of being a good pilot is dealing with a ton of input and paying attention to the important things.

I don't necessarily agree with the rules, I am just looking at possible reasonings for them.

As to professionalism and temptation, they do come in shades of grey.

But that's not how the rules are written, what with the prohibition on wireless communication capability regardless of whether it's enabled. If the rules can't be honest about what they're really trying to regulate and why, then they are not deserving of respect. Politicized bullshit rules in the cockpit are way more dangerous than any personal electronics.

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