Why is the IFE turned off so early?

Coming to NYC on VS9 last night, the IFE was turned off a full 50 mins before landing. Can anyone explain why, when other airlines turn it on before take off, and leave it on right to the end? Even for VS this was on the early side. Exasperating when you have 10 minutes more of a 2 hour movie left to watch!

Incidentally UC was maybe 70% full, but EC was 30%. a really quiet flight.

Oh someone will trot out some line about safety, blah blah blah, but I agree, VS errs to much on the side of "get em strapped in no matter what time we land".

In reality it sounds like you got a bad, switch-happy FSM.

Many airlines now keep the IFE running during take off and landing and I don't think they are compromising safety.

I thought it was obvious why they turn
IFE on so late and off early.

It's so they get a rest from the complaints that it's not working or needing to do resets

An hour before landing on my flight from CPT I over heard the FSM say to another crew member to start collecting headsets as they had worked hard during the flight and should have a rest before landing.

Many airlines now keep the IFE running during take off and landing and I don't think they are compromising safety

Yes American Airlines are one of them, thank goodness!

In April 2009 we were taking off from JFK. Push back was right on time at 10.30pm. We then taxied for what seemed like miles and miles. Finally after being held in a long queque, we took off at one minute to midnight! During this whole time the IFE was running which kept the restless adults (me included) and bored kids occupied.

An hour before landing on my flight from CPT I over heard the FSM say to another crew member to start collecting headsets as they had worked hard during the flight and should have a rest before landing.

and some of us are using our own headsets!

I don't see why this can't happen when the fasten seat belt sign comes on - that's always a good 20+mins before landing. why make people sit there getting nervy and sweaty-palmed as we start descending, when you can keep them distracted. Better for everyone.

Think this is UK CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) thing. They are very hot on us all being alert/like crew during take off and landing phase. Think you will find BA are similar.

AS a pilot I am all in favour; the most challenging part of any flight is take off and landing. I want to be focussed during that bit not behaving as if it's my living room.

I never remove my shoes until the belt signs go off. Don't want to be wandering around a cabbage patch at the end of the runway in my socks.

Think this is UK CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) thing. They are very hot on us all being alert/like crew during take off and landing phase. Think you will find BA are similar.

AS a pilot I am all in favour; the most challenging part of any flight is take off and landing. I want to be focussed during that bit not behaving as if it's my living room.

I never remove my shoes until the belt signs go off. Don't want to be wandering around a cabbage patch at the end of the runway in my socks.

Your last comment I agree with and usually copy - e.g. keep normal clothes on, shoes on etc.

But really, there is a difference between 50 minutes before landing and 15 minutes before landing.

Think you will find BA are similar.

I tend to disagree with that as the IFE on BA has been quicker on, and typically much later off 15-20 minutes before landing, atleast on my flights anyway, whereas VS have consistently turned off the IFE virtually an hour to fifty minutes before landing on atleast 20 off my last sectors which really peeves me as its blatantly obvious the cc want to walk straight off the flight when it lands, what ever happened to pax getting the service they paid for??

cheers

alex y)

Interestingly (or maybe not, and I am just a geek); on my flight back to LHR this Saturday, the FSM must have forgotten to turn off the IFE as I could watch movies (albeit with no headset) & view the map all the way through landing and until the gate (bar the standard change-for-children-and-hi-I-am-Steve-Ridgway videos). First time that has ever happened for me with VS, normally it's the 30-50 mins before landing routine.

I know from flying Delta & Continental (both internal US & TATL) that they will keep the IFE on both throughout boarding, take-off and landing so always assumed that this was due to the age of VS's IFE - the other two having spiffy touch-screen-type stuff. Do VS still do this on the new planes out of LGW - be curious to know?

Drew

PS;:does anyone else notice on the aforementioned video that Steve Ridgway gets to wear an open neck shirt in the no doubt extortionate heat in Africa, but all the cabin crew have to wear full uniform, including red jackets, even while dancing? Just saying.... ?|