Sen. McCaskill to FAA Chief: Fix Electronic Device Rules or Face Legislation

McCaskill's argument that allowing iPads into the cockpit means they should be allowed in the cabin seems weak to me, for two reasons.<p>First, if there are instrument malfunctions in the cockpit, the crew can turn off their own wireless devices to see if they were interfering. It's much harder to get 300 people to shut off their devices in a hurry, especially when some have tucked their devices in the seatback pocket and gone to sleep.<p>Second, it seems entire plausible to my (non-electrical-engineer) mind that 300 devices of a large variety of makes are more likely to cause interference than just one or two, both for the combined signal and the chance that one will be badly designed.<p>I used to be indignant about the PED rule as well. After reading a number of online discussions on it, I'm not convinced that it's obvious that they should be allowed.

It really is remarkable that the legislative option could even be considered as faster than just modifying the rule.

I don't have a problem with the rules as they are. The point of putting away devices for takeoff and landing is that they can go flying into people's faces if you hit a bad bump or the airplane has problems… which is most likely to happen at the start or end of the flight.<p>If the Senator wants to put her attention somewhere related to aviation, I would think there are more interesting issues surrounding airport security.

I guess I'll be that guy... what happens when it's a malicious device?<p><a href="http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2008/01/hacking_the_boe.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2008/01/hacking_the_bo...</a>

The Senator sure wants her iPad on the plane. But what is her position on indefinite detention of Americans, and even their assassination, without the faintest legal fig leaf?

Whatever is done I hope they never allow people talking on the phone inside airliners. We don't need more annoying people taking long conversations by phone in public enclosed spaces as they were in their living rooms. It's either that or I'll buy a gun!