Illegal to Photograph Aboard Aircraft?

[Speedbird1]

I was reading an inflight magazine and it states that it is illegal to use any digital camera during take-offs and landings. If caught, you could be imprisoned for up to 5 years and receive a hefty fine. Is this true? Do all airliners have this restriction? I used to love taking photos with my old film-type camera Canon AE-1 and had no problems. Can film-type cameras still be used? How could my tiny palm-sized point-and-shoot camera cause aircraft equipment to be affected? This seems unreasonable. They have taken all the fun out of flying that's why I seldom fly and enjoy spotting.

[Gerard]

If I'm sitting by a window I'm usually taking pics unless we are over water or in clouds. I use my trusty little Canon PowerShot SD750 w 3X Zoom. Havent been hassled yet but I also
keep it down if I see a F/A in my vicinity.
And if you think about it the flight crew is buckled in during t/o and landings just like you so they really wont see what you are doing unless you are acting like a jerk or another
passenger complains.
Flying is still fun. Its the process of getting into the Terminal and on the plane that sux!!

[mirrodie]

Great thread. Brings back a vivid memory I had of a flight we took in August of 2001. In fact, as you read on, you'll get a glimpse of how it was pre-911.

Read the excerpt of a trip report I wrote many moons ago:

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...ead.main/11777

Our flight was then called and we walked to the plane. What a beauty! The engines whirred a welcome I’d never known before. I patted the engine and got on and asked to sit up front during takeoff but was told that it wasn’t an option.

We sat in row 15 and I immediately noticed a sign onboard saying that loud noises as the result of flap operation were normal. My g/f and I were both excited. The view out the window was perfect... we saw all flap operations and the view to the desert was unobstructed. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful curves on the pylons. The seats were a nice gray leather and very comfortable. As the announcements were made prior to t/o, I took out my camcorder to videotape what would most likely be my only time on this type of a/c. As we taxied out to the runway, I got ready to record and that’s when my girlfriend overheard the BIT$% to our left complaining to the FA that I was endangering her life (with my camcorder operating). (again, this was a few months prior to 9-11)

Well, I was shocked that the loser ratted on me.

But to my surprise, the FA told her that it wasn’t the problem and that she was safe!! That made the woman fume even more! She would constantly look at us during the flight and complain to her husband. I was so tempted to video her or even just turn the camera at her just to annoy her. It gets better though.

I taped the t/o and flap retraction and got great desert views. Then, after a Chicken salad sandwich and Tim Tams, the FA brought us more us more TimTams! Then she took me up into the cockpit for landing. (Can you picture the pissed off woman now?!?!!!)
I was strapped into the cockpit of the 142 and the pilots and I joked.

It was a great memory and I am sure many others here have similar. By the time all was done, I was fully strapped into the jumpseat and sat throughout the descent, landing and taxi and was the last person to deplane.

More to address your question, I do not think there is a law that confirms using digital cameras are illegal and can fine us and throw us in jail for 5 years.

If there is, I would love to see it. Further, if there was a law, then they could start on Airliners.net and literally can tag each in-flight photo taken along with date AND name, in most cases, which is proof positive that this "law" was broken.

If such a law existed, then Anet would be a goldmine for the federal government.


Speedbird1, can you perhaps scan and paste/show us the article? Or maybe give the magazine name and month and maybe someone else here can post it? I would LOVE to contact the author or magazine and see what is said.

[Matt Molnar]

I think the law they must be referring to is in regard to electronic equipment in general, not just cameras. That said, I've never heard of anyone being arrested for it, nor for using their laptop or iPod or that matter.

[T-Bird76]

Half the passengers flying today would be locked up concerning the electronic device rules...no one every shuts their Blackberry's off, they simply turn them onto plane mode.

[emshighway]

I think the law they must be referring to is in regard to electronic equipment in general, not just cameras. That said, I've never heard of anyone being arrested for it, nor for using their laptop or iPod or that matter.

Exactly!!!