“Connectivity or Distractibility: One Pilot’s take on Smart Devices in the Cockpit”
By Shanon Kern
As a “Millennial,” my generation has grown accustomed to seeking out and purchasing the latest and greatest smart technology.
We are a connected generation who depend on technology to pay for our coffee, buy our music, reserve an airplane, and control the appliances in our homes. The cockpit, for me, provided a new space to connect with my devices. With a phone and a tablet, I had instant en-route access to my connected world. In theory, I could book a plane, check the weather, and navigate across the country with the same device I use to write this article. Until recently, the use of connected technology in the cockpit seemed like a no-brainer. I found a plethora of different “apps” that allowed me to do almost everything flight related digitally. Soon, I had no need for my analog E6B flight computer. My tablet was much lighter and easier to manage in-flight than sectionals, approach plates, and AFDs. My access to information seemed to be limitless.
For me, the problem began while flying on a short cross-country flight. The device I was using to help navigate began receiving text messages and phone calls from my mother-in-law who was supposed to be picking up my children from pre-school. Somehow, I had forgotten to put my device on airplane mode. Now, I was left wondering if there was an emergency. I began to rationalize that responding to her text would give me peace of mind and would only take a few seconds. For the next hour, I had to fight off a primal urge to respond to her text. My fears were amplified by the realization that I lacked the ability to remedy the situation if there was an actual emergency. What could I possibly do 100 miles away?
Shortly after landing, I found out that she was calling to confirm that she had picked up the kids. My connected device with seemingly limitless amounts of information had become a distraction to my ability to focus 100 percent on flying the airplane.
Others who have become distracted by there devices have not been so fortunate. According to an NTSB report, On May 31, 2014, a Cessna 150 departed for a local night flight in IMC conditions with two persons on board. After departing, the Cessna made a tight left turn at 741ft AGL, which resulted into a power-on-stall and spin. The plane descended at 1,900 ft per minunte and crashed into a field, resulting in two fatalities. A Go-Pro found near the accident site was recovered and showed the pilot and passenger taking “selfies” with their cellphones during the take off roll and climb out. The NTSB ruled that, “Cell phone use during the accident flight distracted the pilot and contributed to development of spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control.”
For me, the joy of flying is to disconnect from the earth and the distractions around you. There is freedom that comes with flying, a freedom that I am able to appreciate more when I leave the “smart devices” on the ground.
