FAA Says No More Minesweeper Or Solitaire In Cockpit

If you like to pass the time playing minesweeper, or checking your Facebook updates while piloting a 900,000-pound aircraft 400 mph, you won't like the latest FAA decision. The agency has asked airlines to create policies to minimize cockpit distractions, including pilots' use of personal electronic devices. "There is no room for distraction when your job is to get people safely to their destinations," said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. "The traveling public expects professional pilots to focus on flying and on safety at all times."

Re:They need something to do

[raddan]

My thoughts exactly. If the FAA is going to ban things that keep pilots awake, they need to offer an alternative. Maybe 900,000 lb aircraft should come with games built-in? Something that turns itself off during critical moments. Seriously, did they do a study before they made this ruling?

I have a lot more faith that a seasoned pilot playing minesweeper knows what he's doing than I do in some lawsuit-averse bureaucrat. That pilot is fully aware that errors will result in not just the deaths of everyone on board, but of himself too.

Re:They need something to do

[ircmaxell]

So long as one of the pilots is actively engaged in monitoring, why can't the other do something less intensive? The work load is only high enough to really warrant 2 pilots when they are close to the ground (under about 18,000 feet, so during takeoff, climb, late decent and landing). During cruise, I'd rather have them not focus, so they can remain rested for when their attention is really needed. When you have pilots who fly for 8 hours over a 12 hour day with no lunch and nothing more than a bathroom break, playing mine sweeper is the least of my worries. So by this rational, are they going to ban eating in the cockpit as well? What about going to the bath room? Like anything, there will be abusers, but for the vast majority of cases, distractions may actually promote safety by letting pilots get some much needed mental rest (so long as only one pilot is distracted at a time)...

Re:They need something to do

[joocemann]

"focus on flying and on safety at all times" is staring at a big blue sky of nothing for hours on end. That will put anyone to sleep. Let them keep their minds doing something, who really cares what they do.

What you wrote relates to something I was thinking about this... I realize they must pay attention and that lives are at stake... and I understand the purpose of what they are trying to do here. But what I don't see is any evidence that we have distracted pilots resulting in death to travelers...

I have yet to hear of a single incident where some distracted pilot crashed and killed people. And so I am forced to ask if this ban/rule ACTUALLY makes any sense. In theory it seems good; but if nobody is actually dying from distracted pilots, wtf? Really.

Re:They need something to do

[Wyatt Earp]

The B-2 crews get to switch off with one sitting in a lawn chair behind the seats napping or listening to music, why are the commercial flights any different?

Re:They need something to do

[joocemann]

My thoughts exactly. After take-off they turn on the autopilot and there's not much to do until landing. It would put anybody to sleep, which isn't good if something should suddenly happen. Maybe they should alter the rules so that at least one of the pilot / co-pilot has to be paying attention at all times, or at least ease the ban for very long flights.

As I wrote/asked in another reply... where are the people dying from these supposed distracted pilots? I've yet to hear about them.

I have not seen a need for this law. The reason I'm replying to you specifically is that your approach has an implicit degree of acceptance to there being a need; can you give me evidence of this need? I just want to see some form of proof that we need this law/rule/ban in any shape or form.

Re:They need something to do

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually according to most people I know, yeah, that's better than dealing with the TSA every time you want to make a flight in or out of the US, getting stripsearched or at least groped up, and having your lip gloss thrown away for being a 'liquid'.

So yeah I'd rather see 3 planes due to 'freedom' than I would get groped up to save them, or me.

But given the past 9 years I guess I'm in the minority.

Re:They need something to do

[rilian4]

Amen. This one mistake will now cost every other commercial pilot in the country. It's the same thing with gun laws. Punishing the innocent instead of the guilty. Punish the pilots who screwed up...not the entire remaining staff of pilots who didn't. This is a stupid and ultimately harmful answer to what happened.