If you use your GPS on AA, be discreet about it

[FWAAA]

This moron used some kind of putty material to afix his antenna to the window. Not real bright, especially considering that AA expressly bans the use of GPS onboard.

Bomb scare diverts plane to Gander, N.L.

A bomb scare caused an American Airlines flight to make an unexpected stop in central Newfoundland over the weekend.

The plane — Flight 147, travelling from Paris to Boston — was forced to land in Gander at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Police said a 52-year-old man from Boissise-le-Roi, France, allegedly used a putty compound to attach a device to the inside fuselage of the plane. When flight attendants asked him to remove it, he refused.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labr...bscare-817.html

 

[Flyboy4u]

This moron used some kind of putty material to afix his antenna to the window. Not real bright, especially considering that AA expressly bans the use of GPS onboard.



http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labr...bscare-817.html

I would hope they would do more than just fine this moron. He should be thrown in jail. This is yet another example of the kinds of passengers flying today. Not to mention, his refusal to follow crew member instructions.

 

[eolesen]

I've used my laptop connected GPS on AA a dozen or so times with the Captain's permission.

Most are smart enough to realize that a receiver is not a transmitter.

 

[JFK Fleet Service]

This moron used some kind of putty material to afix his antenna to the window. Not real bright, especially considering that AA expressly bans the use of GPS onboard.



http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labr...bscare-817.html

What? The TSA missed the "Putty like material" this clown used to affix the antenna to the window?

How does that happen? Seriously, isn't that exactly what those mushrooms are supposed to be looking for? A putty like material of unknown composition but it sails right past the Keystone Kops? What are the odds of that happening?

Send both Pierre St.Frog and the TSA a bill for the interrupt.

 

[kirkpatrick]

I would hope they would do more than just fine this moron. He should be thrown in jail. This is yet another example of the kinds of passengers flying today. Not to mention, his refusal to follow crew member instructions.

I think this is an example of something that was allowed to be blown way out of proportion. Most foreign airlines allow numerous electronic devices, especially GPS's. We need to reevaluate the entire electronic device issue. It's way too dramatic.

MK

 

[FWAAA]

I avoid problems by not using GPS on my AA flights; instead, I play with it on Southwest flights, where the inflight magazine confirms that GPS usage is permitted.

 

[The Goose]

Perhaps I'm missing the point of all this, but why the need to fiddle with a GPS receiver on an airplane anyway unless, that is, you're flying the damned thing? It's not like one is going to knock on the cockpit door if the pilot misses a turn and let him/her know about it.

We had what we thought was excellent dope in the sixties but I'm not sure what people are smoking anymore to manage this behavior.

 

[FWAAA]

Current issue of American Way no longer expressly prohibits its use; for several years it's been listed among the prohibited PEDs on the Onboard page. So I tossed it in my bag this morning for my flight to ORD. Asked the FA to check with the Captain - response was positive. Played with it a couple times - even got the attention of my old geezer seat opponent (appeared a few years older than me), who said he'd bring his next time and select a window seat.

No offers of excellent dope, however.

Next up - inflight internet browsing on my MD-80 connecting flight.

Doug: I invented a program that downloads porn off the internet one million times faster.
Marge: Does anybody need that much porno?
Homer: Uuh-huuh-uuuh, one million times

 

[kirkpatrick]

Perhaps I'm missing the point of all this, but why the need to fiddle with a GPS receiver on an airplane anyway unless, that is, you're flying the damned thing?

You could say that about any activity. I'm a flight attendant, but a licensed commercial pilot as well. I'm always curious about where we are, especially in the approach phase in instrument conditions. What's our altitude? Where are we in relation to the airport? Are we turning? Is that the 30 degree intercept for the ILS to 22?

It may sound dorky to you, but if it doesn't hurt anyone, why not leave me alone? It's a lot more interesting than a professional football game.

MK

 

[Boomer]

Many laptops support programs that allow a laptop with a USB port to become a GPS with moving map. On GA aircraft, I've used the laptop in conjunction with supplied devices to better pinpoint positions while "en-route." The antenna plugs into the USB port but must have access to a "clear view" of the horizon to aquire the necessary satellites for the program to work.

Attaching, or applying, anything to the interior surface of an active aircraft needs to be specifically cleared prior to use.

In the early eighties, outsourced cabin cleaning crews were found to be using a cleaning agent on interior cabin windows that was not compatible with the composition of the acrylic; likewise, cabin cleaning crews have been found to attempt cleaning of cockpit windows with another unapproved cleaner.

Was the pax an @h0le for not shutting it down when asked to comply by uniformed flight crew: absolutely.

The real question was asked previously when the question arose as to the ability of a pax to enter a commercial airliner with a substance capable of adhering to the interior surface of the aircraft. Perhaps the French posess a system that identifies suspicious substances and/or passengers more effectively than ours.

In any event, a pax attached something to an interior of an airliner without permission and refused to detach it when requested by a member of the flight crew: for a US flagged air carrier, that is a violation of federal law and that individual is risking federal jail time and/or substantial legal fees and/or fines.

Like I used to tell my Union Guys when they complained about someone giving them orders: if the order does not compromise the safety and security of yourself and others; or, the order does not violate a fundamental tenant of your personal ethics, do what is ordered then we can grieve it.

Unfortunately, the airline industry as a whole gives more to the most squeaky wheels and abandons the compliant: we have engendered an entire species that gets more by yelling louder than anyone else. This guy is most likely a subset of a paradigm created by the desire of airlines to suck up for cash and ignore bad behaviour.

 

[eolesen]

Perhaps I'm missing the point of all this, but why the need to fiddle with a GPS receiver on an airplane anyway unless, that is, you're flying the damned thing? It's not like one is going to knock on the cockpit door if the pilot misses a turn and let him/her know about it.

Personally, I like to take photos while flying, especially if it's over landmarks. Watching the GPS gives me an idea what's coming up.

Case and point... On a flight west out of DFW, I saw we were on a track to overfly Guadalupe Peak, where we'd been camping the previous weekend. Knowing where we were gave me enough warning to get the camera ready, and I wound up with some great shots of the peak as well as Carlsbad Caverns.

On international or overnight flights which don't offer the moving map, it's nice to know much time is left before arrival, especially if you've been delayed on departure or enroute.

The Garmin Nuvi I have for the car gets pretty good reception on aircraft. The Delorme LT-20 I hook up to the laptop isn't quite so good, but the maps give me global coverage vs. just the US on the Garmin.

 

[The Goose]

Personally, I like to take photos while flying, especially if it's over landmarks. Watching the GPS gives me an idea what's coming up.

Case and point... On a flight west out of DFW, I saw we were on a track to overfly Guadalupe Peak, where we'd been camping the previous weekend. Knowing where we were gave me enough warning to get the camera ready, and I wound up with some great shots of the peak as well as Carlsbad Caverns.

On international or overnight flights which don't offer the moving map, it's nice to know much time is left before arrival, especially if you've been delayed on departure or enroute.

The Garmin Nuvi I have for the car gets pretty good reception on aircraft. The Delorme LT-20 I hook up to the laptop isn't quite so good, but the maps give me global coverage vs. just the US on the Garmin.

Never thought about that use but it would be almost impossible to set up any of my photo equipment on an aircraft - that's probably why.

 

[Ifly2]

I've used my laptop connected GPS on AA a dozen or so times with the Captain's permission.

Most are smart enough to realize that a receiver is not a transmitter.

/quote]

Wow...

First, I absolutely agree that the rules concerning inflight use of electronic devices are ripe for review and updating. However, they are what they are...

Second, know-it-all olsen... of course the Captains know the difference between a ransmitter and a receiver. Some of them also know AA's policy, which is that only devices specifically approved may be used inflight, and that GPS is not one of those devices.

So, what you gonna' do now that you know?

Comply, or go on doing what you want if you can get away with it?

 

[eolesen]

Guess you missed the part where AA had updated the policy?

And that, sir, might also imply that your name-calling me "know-it-all olsen" might actually be accurate in this case.

If customers don't draw attention to dumb policies, they'll never get fixed at AA.

According to y'all, AMR considers its employees a distraction, a liability and just another line item on their financial statements, so they won't listen to you...

 

[Mach85ER]

I'm not a liability, I'm a Cost Center. :blink: