Alaska Airlines Jettisons Paper Manuals For iPads 220
fullymodo writes "Alaska Airlines has become the first major US airline to hop on board the paperless bandwagon. While it's not quite ready to ditch paper navigation charts just yet (though that is under consideration), the airline has announced that it will be replacing its traditional flight manuals with iPads, which will be loaded up with the GoodReader app and PDFs of 41 different manuals and other materials.' So explain why I have to shut off my non-wi-fi-capable ebook reader during take-off and landing?"
Why no computers on take off? [Re:Misunderstan...] (Score:5, Insightful)
So explain why I have to shut off my non-wi-fi-capable ebook reader during take-off and landing?
Because computers have internal electronics that generate electric currents in the GHz range, and it is not impossible that these electrical currents could radiate enough energy to interfere with airplane electronic and navigation systems.
Presumably they have tested the particular devices that the pilots are using, and verified that these particular devices don't interfere. If they haven't tested your particular device, then they don't know that it won't interfere. Probably it won't. They don't know that for sure.
And, also, how do they know that it doesn't have wifi? Are they supposed to inspect all electronic devices on boarding? (Are you willing to be charged extra to pay for a person to do that?)
This is, undoubtably, absurdly over cautious. However, the penalties for failure are very large, and the cost for being overcautious (in the form of inconvenience) is paid by you, not by them.
Surely a Kindle DX would be better? (Score:4, Insightful)
anyway, as long as they don't start using Flight Control HD to land the damn things, I'll be happy.
Bullshit. (Score:3, Insightful)
They don't ban books, or conversations, or any number of other reasons we might ignore those announcements. Also, even if this were the case, it's a bit depressing that the only way they can make this happen is by lying to us on every single flight.
Re:the iPad is stowed dring takeoff and landing (Score:4, Insightful)
Hope they don't need to reference the manuals in an emergency takeoff or landing situation...
How do you think they used the paper manuals? Kept them on their lap during take off in case they needed them for an emergency?