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> There's this iOS app called Flightly I guess it's Flighty (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flighty-live-flight-tracker/id1358823008?platform=iphone https://app

> There's this iOS app called Flightly I guess it's Flighty (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flighty-live-flight-tracker/id1358823008?platform=iphone https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flighty-live-flight-tracker/id...) I love that people are into this. In the days before iPhones, I had "Microsoft Streets and Trips" + a USB GPS unit + Laptop. It was fun having it on a flight and seeing movement data in realtime. It was less fun answering questions from people who thought looking at the GPS data was somehow nefarious.

geostupid 3y ago
Ha! I've used a high-end GPS to see my location and other fun facts in flight. I learned to keep it in my pocket as despite my attempts to explain it was only a receiver, I was told by the flight attendant to "PUT IT AWAY." Not being one to push back as to be removed for that flight, I did just that. Streets and Trips was fun on a laptop for long car drives as you could live reroute in the car much like any old app can do these days but seemed somehow magical back then.
- joezydeco 3y ago
  FAs can be really strange about that kind of stuff, not just out of ignorance. My kid liked to suction cup his GoPro to the window to take a time lapse movie of the flight and one FA told him he had to take it off the window because he was, and I quote: "modifying the structure of the aircraft and that's not FAA-approved".
  - bunabhucan 3y ago
    Probably just didn't want kid spit on the window.
  - edrxty 3y ago
    Had this happen to me with some duct tape and a malfunctioning strobing light next to me on a red-eye. I'm an aircraft builder but she didn't want to hear my explanation about how TSOs and the FARs work. I just waited until they stopped paying attention.
  - wolverine876 3y ago
    I would guess that the flight attendant is doing their job. They do not have the authority or expertise to risk the airplane based on their own analysis, or based on some random passenger's explanation. The clearly correct solution is to remove the device and then there is no risk to the plane. I expect they are strictly required to respond that way and have no leeway.
  - buildsjets 3y ago
    There has been a lot of debate in the aviation maintenance community regarding the legality of attaching gopros etc. to aircraft with suction cups. Someone eventually wrote to the FAA chief counsel and asked. "Another consideration, in the case of this type of equipment, is the applicability of the term "alteration". FAA Order 8110.3 7E, defines an alteration as "a modification of an aircraft from one sound state to another sound state". The use of suction cups, or other temporary methods of attachment (not including permanent mechanical attachments to the aircraft), would not be considered a modification to the aircraft." https://mypilotpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/FAA-Camera-Memo.pdf https://mypilotpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/FAA-Camera... But still, the aircraft is the the airline's property, not yours. If they tell you not do something to it, you don't get a choice in the matter.
    - interestica 3y ago
      > installation of external mounts That memo is about attaching it externally. Attaching it to an internal window is probably a non-issue. I once had a security agent ask me to prove a GoPro was a camera because they didn't understand how there could be no screen or viewfinder. It was most frustrating because this was an area where they would have encountered it many times (lots of scuba divers).
zikduruqe 3y ago
I used to do that also. Way before cellphones, I'd bring my 2m radio on the plane and make contacts on simplex. That was fun to throw your callsign out and say "aeronautical mobile".
- kawfey 3y ago
  I still sneak in an HT to listen to VHF/UHF ham radio and airband. One flight, we were experiencing moderate turbulence and didn't get our drinks/snacks. The captain announced "we're asking for clearance to help us get to a smoother altitude..." meanwhile did nothing of the sort on the actual radio. Lol.
  - cromka 3y ago
    They use text for communication, too.

geostupid 3y ago

Ha! I've used a high-end GPS to see my location and other fun facts in flight. I learned to keep it in my pocket as despite my attempts to explain it was only a receiver, I was told by the flight attendant to "PUT IT AWAY." Not being one to push back as to be removed for that flight, I did just that. Streets and Trips was fun on a laptop for long car drives as you could live reroute in the car much like any old app can do these days but seemed somehow magical back then.

joezydeco 3y ago
FAs can be really strange about that kind of stuff, not just out of ignorance. My kid liked to suction cup his GoPro to the window to take a time lapse movie of the flight and one FA told him he had to take it off the window because he was, and I quote: "modifying the structure of the aircraft and that's not FAA-approved".
- bunabhucan 3y ago
  Probably just didn't want kid spit on the window.
- edrxty 3y ago
  Had this happen to me with some duct tape and a malfunctioning strobing light next to me on a red-eye. I'm an aircraft builder but she didn't want to hear my explanation about how TSOs and the FARs work. I just waited until they stopped paying attention.
- wolverine876 3y ago
  I would guess that the flight attendant is doing their job. They do not have the authority or expertise to risk the airplane based on their own analysis, or based on some random passenger's explanation. The clearly correct solution is to remove the device and then there is no risk to the plane. I expect they are strictly required to respond that way and have no leeway.
- buildsjets 3y ago
  There has been a lot of debate in the aviation maintenance community regarding the legality of attaching gopros etc. to aircraft with suction cups. Someone eventually wrote to the FAA chief counsel and asked. "Another consideration, in the case of this type of equipment, is the applicability of the term "alteration". FAA Order 8110.3 7E, defines an alteration as "a modification of an aircraft from one sound state to another sound state". The use of suction cups, or other temporary methods of attachment (not including permanent mechanical attachments to the aircraft), would not be considered a modification to the aircraft." https://mypilotpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/FAA-Camera-Memo.pdf https://mypilotpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/FAA-Camera... But still, the aircraft is the the airline's property, not yours. If they tell you not do something to it, you don't get a choice in the matter.
  - interestica 3y ago
    > installation of external mounts That memo is about attaching it externally. Attaching it to an internal window is probably a non-issue. I once had a security agent ask me to prove a GoPro was a camera because they didn't understand how there could be no screen or viewfinder. It was most frustrating because this was an area where they would have encountered it many times (lots of scuba divers).

zikduruqe 3y ago

I used to do that also. Way before cellphones, I'd bring my 2m radio on the plane and make contacts on simplex. That was fun to throw your callsign out and say "aeronautical mobile".

kawfey 3y ago
I still sneak in an HT to listen to VHF/UHF ham radio and airband. One flight, we were experiencing moderate turbulence and didn't get our drinks/snacks. The captain announced "we're asking for clearance to help us get to a smoother altitude..." meanwhile did nothing of the sort on the actual radio. Lol.
- cromka 3y ago
  They use text for communication, too.