CD, mp3 players

[PatTheRat]

Back in the day we were told that you couldnt use your personal cd player on an airplane as it interfered with signals etc. Was this actually true, or just a precaution? And are mp3 players ok nowadays, as they dont have the same type of laser/reader?

[Didwot]

I thought it was to do with the risk (however small) of electro magnetic interference with the aircraft's systems. For some reason they only ask you to turn of your personal stereo, computers etc during take off and landing.

[Hippy]

Take-off is dangerous as the plane is in contact with or near the ground and travelling very fast. Provided power to weight ratio and lift effort from aerofoils is right the plane gets into the air. Woe betide the plane whose power or lift fails during take-off, as an instant and probably less than perfectly controlled landing on a surface not designed for such (countryside, houses, trees, sea etc) may result.

 

Landing is nothing more than a controlled crash; thousands of Kg coming into contact with the ground at between 320 and 960 Kph. In contrast, flying straight & level is relatively safe. There's nothing to bump into, and height gives an advantage if power fails as cotrolled gliding is an option.

 

From a passenger's point of view, during these times of maximum dynamic change and potential danger, would you rather be alert to any life saving messages to be reacted to in an instant, or insulated by your blaring headphones or engrossed in your computer? Even if there is only a miniscule possibility of the computer interfering with plane control systems, I would not want it happening when we are so close to the ground.