Digital Photography On Aircraft Not Permitted on Take Off or Landing

I was on an Air New Zealand flight a while ago, and I started to take a few
pics (from my digital still camera) as the aircraft took off. An air hostess
politely told me that the use of electronic devices was not permitted during
take-offs or landings. I told her that I was using a dedicated still digital
camera and not a camcorder, but she still asked me to turn it off. About 10
minutes later, when land was well out of sight, we were able to turn on our
"electronic devices". But about 10 minutes before landing, while still over
the sea, all electronic devices had to be turned off again. The only
worthwhile photography from this flight was during the first and last 5
minutes of the flight, and this would apply to many other flights that I
have been on.

Now I know that the use of camcorders has been banned during take-offs and
landings, but I didn't know that digital still cameras now suffered this
fate. My digital camera can't take movies, but I know that a lot of digital
still cameras can also take movies. From a practical point of view, does
anyone know whether digital cameras really CAN interfere with an aircraft's
navigation systems? Are airlines being a little too cautious with regard to
the use of digital cameras and camcorders?

About 5 years ago, nobody cared when I used my camcorder or digital still
camera during take-offs or landings, and there were no reports then of
interference with the aircrafts' navigation systems! So what has changed
during the last 5 years?

Podge

"Podge" wrote in message ...
I was on an Air New Zealand flight a while ago, and I started to take a few
pics (from my digital still camera) as the aircraft took off. An air
hostess politely told me that the use of electronic devices was not
permitted during take-offs or landings. I told her that I was using a
dedicated still digital camera and not a camcorder, but she still asked me
to turn it off. About 10 minutes later, when land was well out of sight, we
were able to turn on our "electronic devices". But about 10 minutes before
landing, while still over the sea, all electronic devices had to be turned
off again. The only worthwhile photography from this flight was during the
first and last 5 minutes of the flight, and this would apply to many other
flights that I have been on.

Now I know that the use of camcorders has been banned during take-offs and
landings, but I didn't know that digital still cameras now suffered this
fate. My digital camera can't take movies, but I know that a lot of
digital still cameras can also take movies. From a practical point of
view, does anyone know whether digital cameras really CAN interfere with
an aircraft's navigation systems? Are airlines being a little too cautious
with regard to the use of digital cameras and camcorders?

About 5 years ago, nobody cared when I used my camcorder or digital still
camera during take-offs or landings, and there were no reports then of
interference with the aircrafts' navigation systems! So what has changed
during the last 5 years?

Podge


I am really doubtful there would ever actually be a problem but just in case
there might be I personally am prepared to comply with the wishes of the
crew "just in case".

Podge wrote:
I was on an Air New Zealand flight a while ago, and I started to take a
few pics (from my digital still camera) as the aircraft took off. An air
hostess politely told me that the use of electronic devices was not
permitted during take-offs or landings. I told her that I was using a
dedicated still digital camera and not a camcorder, but she still asked
me to turn it off. About 10 minutes later, when land was well out of
sight, we were able to turn on our "electronic devices". But about 10
minutes before landing, while still over the sea, all electronic devices
had to be turned off again. The only worthwhile photography from this
flight was during the first and last 5 minutes of the flight, and this
would apply to many other flights that I have been on.

Now I know that the use of camcorders has been banned during take-offs
and landings, but I didn't know that digital still cameras now suffered
this fate. My digital camera can't take movies, but I know that a lot of
digital still cameras can also take movies. From a practical point of
view, does anyone know whether digital cameras really CAN interfere with
an aircraft's navigation systems? Are airlines being a little too
cautious with regard to the use of digital cameras and camcorders?

About 5 years ago, nobody cared when I used my camcorder or digital
still camera during take-offs or landings, and there were no reports
then of interference with the aircrafts' navigation systems! So what has
changed during the last 5 years?

Any digital device can easily interfere with avionic systems.

They all contain square wave clock oscillators and logic circuits which produce
broadband radio noise which can easily land on critical frequencies for things
like precision approach, radar or communications systems.

Analogue radio equipment can also interfere unintentionally but this is much
less likely as the oscillators generate sine waves and thus only produce
signals on one frequency at a time. Purely analogue electronic devices are
getting pretty rare these days.

Mark Robinson wrote:


Any digital device can easily interfere with avionic systems.

Not true. It's only true if it radiates a lot.

Most of these regulations are silly. For example, some
airlines allow GPS receivers, some don't. I can see
why transmitters are not allowed. Not cameras. Well,
I can see why cameras are not allowed ... its just
to be as nasty to paying customers as possible, a
trademark of airlines.

Doug McDonald

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:09:36 -0600, lid wrote in
:

Mark Robinson wrote:

Any digital device can easily interfere with avionic systems.

Not true. It's only true if it radiates a lot.

Most of these regulations are silly. ...

On the contrary -- it's just not worth even a very small risk for the
entertainment of a few inconsiderate passengers.

--
Best regards,
John Navas
Panasonic DMC-FZ8 (and several others)

On 2008-01-14 11:37:36 -0800, John Navas said:

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:09:36 -0600, lid wrote in
:

Mark Robinson wrote:

Any digital device can easily interfere with avionic systems.

Not true. It's only true if it radiates a lot.

Most of these regulations are silly. ...

On the contrary -- it's just not worth even a very small risk for the
entertainment of a few inconsiderate passengers.

And now we see why we have these regulations. They are being written by
people like Mr. Navas. Clueless, haven't a single idea of what they are
talking about, have no evidence to support their position, nevertheless
they consider any rule to be a good thing whether it actually improves
safety or not.
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:12:57 -0800, C J Campbell
wrote in
2008011412125731729-christophercampbell@hotmailcom:

On 2008-01-14 11:37:36 -0800, John Navas said:

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:09:36 -0600, lid wrote in
:

Mark Robinson wrote:

Any digital device can easily interfere with avionic systems.

Not true. It's only true if it radiates a lot.

Most of these regulations are silly. ...

On the contrary -- it's just not worth even a very small risk for the
entertainment of a few inconsiderate passengers.

And now we see why we have these regulations. They are being written by
people like Mr. Navas. Clueless, haven't a single idea of what they are
talking about, have no evidence to support their position, nevertheless
they consider any rule to be a good thing whether it actually improves
safety or not.

Thank goodness for that! Beats the heck out of regulations formulated
by rude know-it-alls that actually don't have a clue about real-world
risk management.

--
Best regards,
John Navas
Panasonic DMC-FZ8 (and several others)

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:12:57 -0800, C J Campbell
wrote:

On 2008-01-14 11:37:36 -0800, John Navas said:

On Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:09:36 -0600, lid wrote in
:

Mark Robinson wrote:

Any digital device can easily interfere with avionic systems.

Not true. It's only true if it radiates a lot.

Most of these regulations are silly. ...

On the contrary -- it's just not worth even a very small risk for the
entertainment of a few inconsiderate passengers.

And now we see why we have these regulations. They are being written by
people like Mr. Navas. Clueless, haven't a single idea of what they are
talking about, have no evidence to support their position, nevertheless
they consider any rule to be a good thing whether it actually improves
safety or not.
Lordy...If the Bunyip ever comes over here...LOL

Roger (K8RI)

Everybody particating has been in an airplane.
Everybody owns a digital camera and other electronic devices.
Ergo everybody is an expert.

On Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:20:53 -0800, irwell wrote in
:

Everybody particating has been in an airplane.
Everybody owns a digital camera and other electronic devices.
Ergo everybody is an expert.

Just like Dr. Science. http://www.ducksbreath.com/pictures.html


--
Best regards,
John Navas
Panasonic DMC-FZ8 (and several others)