Why You Still Cant Use Your Laptop During Takeoff And Landing

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This is one of the rules of flight technology that has survived even when others have fallen.

Since 2013, US government agencies have not required us to turn off our phones before taking off. Europe is going to allow 5G phone calls on airplanes. However, before takeoff and landing, flight attendants make a familiar announcement: turn off and store laptops and other large electronics.

According to veteran pilot and safety consultant John Nance, the laptop storage rule, like the cell phone regulation, arose out of concerns about radio interference, but advances in technology and RF shielding have greatly alleviated those concerns.

According to Nancy, these days it's more about physical security. your laptop could hinder an emergency evacuation or "hit people in the head" in a serious incident.

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"The main idea is to remove the clutter and not have the laptop on your lap because you have to do something with it if you're trying to get off the plane in 90 seconds," he said, adding charging cables. it should also be turned off during traffic to avoid the risk of tripping during takeoff and landing.

Large personal electronic devices must be retracted during takeoff and landing "to avoid danger during severe turbulence, emergency response or emergency exits," according to 2013 guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The agency added on its website that the rule is in place for the same reason that coffee tables must be removed and seats must stand; of the plane".

The agency's rules focus on takeoff and landing because these parts of the flight contain the greatest risk of error. Under these FAA rules, airlines can set policy details regarding large electronics.

United, for example, allows the use of computers at 10,000 feet and at the request of flight crew. Even "small portable transmitters" cannot be used unless cleared by the flight crew. United also bans devices with lithium-ion batteries larger than 100 watt-hours and lithium metal batteries larger than 2 grams.

Lithium-ion batteries, which are used in most consumer devices and can catch fire if damaged or manufactured incorrectly, are a big problem in the aviation industry, Nancy said. Airlines require all devices with lithium-ion batteries to be on board and untested so that fires can be detected early, he said.

"If the trunk bag catches fire, we will have a horse of a different color, and no one will see it, touch it, or step on it," he said.

No, bad passenger. you cannot physically open the plane door during flight

The requirement to store your computer during takeoff and landing may force you to put it in the back pocket of your front seat, Nancy says, but it can pose a similar risk during an evacuation.

According to the FAA, which issued seat bag guidelines in 2009 after a New York Times travel columnist was banned from carrying reading glasses, bags weigh a maximum of 3 pounds. Without breaking the weight and risking evacuation. The 3-pound limit includes items placed there by the airline, such as:

"If the seat bag is empty of its contents, the contents of the seat bag may cause emergency evacuation or impact and may injure the occupant," the FAA manual states.

"Small and light items such as glasses or a mobile phone can be placed in the seat bag without exceeding the total weight of the seat bag, or if the seat bag does not interfere with the evacuation of people from the row of seats, it may be safe," the agency added.

He handles the flight like a decent human being

As with electronics, airlines may set their own rules for carry-on bags, so your airline may have stricter rules. Some airlines are even switching to hard plastic or mesh bags to prevent passengers from keeping large devices in them, Nancy says.

The FAA specifically stated that there are no seatback baggage restrictions in flight. So if you decide to take a nap or use the bathroom, feel free to bring your laptop in if you remove it before boarding the plane.

"Nothing in the checked baggage policy prohibits a passenger from removing small personal items from an approved storage location and placing them in a seat pocket after takeoff or in approved locations prior to boarding," the FAA wrote.

However, you may want to think twice before using that backpack. A 2014 study found that MRSA bacteria can survive for up to a week in the fabric of an uncleaned backpack.

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