V-Flyer

Does VS show anything on the screen during landing? When I landed in Hong Kong two weeks ago, the screen was blank.

No they don't. This has been discussed many times in the past and various reasons have been put forward by staffers, but none of the reasons explain why other airlines keep the screens on.

Nick

I would like to continue to watch the map at least. I particularly like finnair who show the actual landing camera view from the nose.

Originally posted by mysteryflyer
I would like to continue to watch the map at least. I particularly like finnair who show the actual landing camera view from the nose.

I personally think that the screens should be left on the map until the landing gear is down. Maybe they could rig gismo to work off data from the squat switch on the landing gear.

Now I think the screens are turned off is because Upper Class peeps would possibly want to extend their screen from the locked posiion. Having the screen out would block them if there was a reason to leave the aircraft quickly. Would work in economy/PE...

Pretty hit and miss I know as sometimes it works and sometimes not.... But on the Odyssey system it is possible to get the map back on by just pressing the channel button for the sky map.

Found it quite amusing on the flight into JFK last year to see the altitude going right down to below 100ft as the plane landed.

Would personally love to see the landing from forward cameras, but I can understand that many nervous flyers may find this an issue

Jon B

FWIW I've been told by USA airlines that the inflight entertainment is supposed to be turned off on approach/landing so that pax can give attention to flight attendants should there be an emergency.

Chuck-

Originally posted by ChuckC
FWIW I've been told by USA airlines that the inflight entertainment is supposed to be turned off on approach/landing so that pax can give attention to flight attendants should there be an emergency.

At least SAS keeps screens turned on, the selection is limited to the moving map and to the two cameras (forward and down). In business class you have to watch the landing from big screens because the personal monitors are stowed away if flying with old business seat; in new business class seats the screen is located in the seat front of you if I am not mistaken.

I don't think that SAS would violate US regulations so it must be something else than regulations.

DL keeps the large projection screen on in the 764 J cabin, showing the map and alt/speed information- both during takeoff and landing. The rest of the IFE is shut down, but the projection screen is left on.

There's even some rather cheesy animations of an aircraft deploying a landing gear, and an aircraft actually taking off, and landing, which is shown at the correct time during the flight.

JetBlue kept the IFE on for pretty much the whole time, including take off and landing.

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin

the squat switch

Hmmm...I used to date someone with one of these...[}:)]
GJ

I won't ask ...

A squat switch is a device that tells the flight crew that the landing gear is down and lock. It turns on the three (four maybe on the A340s) green lights and enables/disables some equipment and warning systems on the aircraft.

Originally posted by csparker
JetBlue kept the IFE on for pretty much the whole time, including take off and landing.

I hear they let you watch your own aircraft on the national news fly around off Long Beach, CA...

UA let you listen to ATC and the pilot. Very amusing when our 744 was stuck in DFW waiting for a parking space and marooned in a holding area I wish other airlines allowed it - its area insight to the journey hearing all the handovers en-route.

Originally posted by miikka
At least SAS keeps screens turned on, the selection is limited to the moving map and to the two cameras (forward and down). In business class you have to watch the landing from big screens because the personal monitors are stowed away if flying with old business seat; in new business class seats the screen is located in the seat front of you if I am not mistaken.

SAS also show the outside camera's on their shorthaul Airbus's - it's fantastic to see.

Originally posted by mysteryflyer
UA let you listen to ATC and the pilot. Very amusing when our 744 was stuck in DFW waiting for a parking space and marooned in a holding area I wish other airlines allowed it - its area insight to the journey hearing all the handovers en-route.

Yes, I've always enjoyed the UA cockpit feed. It's very interesting and normally very relaxing to hear what goes on.
I remember on one UA flight back from LA there were a couple of people with a stomach bug, and the crew were trying to use this as an excuse for a "straight in approach" to LHR. They got short shrift from ATC since no one was close to death... But we did all get quaranteened on the plane for 30minutes whilst they made sure we hadn't brought the great plague back with us!

Sadly VS have chosen not to fit the forward/downward camera system on any of their fleet.

The IFE being on or off is determined by the FSM, it has nothing to do with the aircraft being on the ground or in the air. Selection of the sky map or camera views on airlines that have that option, is selected via the IFE control screen.

As for squat switches, things have moved on a bit. On modern aircraft landing gear & gear door position, in common with many other systems, is determined by proximity sensors.

Originally posted by Denzil
Sadly VS have chosen not to fit the forward/downward camera system on any of their fleet.

Hmm odd i could have sworn the 346 hadnose gear and tail camera's as standard[:?] and i'm sure it's not hard to patch the camera's in to V port?

Phil

I can guarantee they have nothing in common with the camera's used for IFE. They are taxi aid camera's (hence the markings for NLG & MLG), the B777-300 has the same kind of system fitted (3 camera's, one in the leading edge of the l/h & r/h horizontal stab & the other under the forward fuselage.

The camera's for the IFE are mounted forward of the NLG with a round window approx 3 inch diameter. The housing contains a small forward & downward looking lens.

well i'm sure there could be an interface box made for the IFE i'm sure all the cameras use is a coax cable, after all it's not rocket science to tap in to the exsting camera's and even if it's only the tail or nose gear it's a start.

Not quite a matter of niping into B & Q for a coax splitter either!!

Firstly the taxi aid camera is an airworthiness item (in that it is an minimum equipment list (MEL) item) & you want to minimise any disruption of that system.

Secondly, you can't just tap into one system & connect it up to another, this would be classed as a modification & would require the approval of the makers of the aircraft, the camera system & the IFE & the approval of the CAA/EASA.

Thirdly, if VS thought the pax really wanted it, they could fit the original system designed to fully interface with the IFE.

i really hope they do put camereas on VS flights, would be so cool![}:)]

Indeed, whereas I normally fly with VS, I was thinking of manipulating my flights and choosing a different airline so that I could experience the IFE showing take off and landing.

heehee, wonder if you could ask the co-pilot to videotape it [:?][}:)]:D

I'm sure VIR have forward/downward camera (TFT) system installed in their fleet, however I'm not sure why they are not showing it but I agree with what ChuckC said "attention to flight attendants should there be an emergency." This might be the reason ....

VS definitely have the technology installed, however only choose to utilize it on the flight deck for ground movements as Denzil has previously stated...

Originally posted by tallprawn
VS definitely have the technology installed, however only choose to utilize it on the flight deck for ground movements as Denzil has previously stated...

AFAIK, and confirmed by Denzil in this post, the cameras that the cockpit have (and that are fitted as standard) are NOT for IFE use but aircraft manoevering. A separate camera is used for IFE, when fitted.