Rules for ATC audio over in-flight entertainment system

[rhesebag]

Hello liveatc.net Community!

As a kid I remember it being fairly common for the pilot to turn on the ATC audio over one of the in-flight radio channels. I listened every time and loved knowing before anyone else why things were delayed, when exactly we were going to take off and on which runway.

It seemed to not happen nearly as often if at all over the last 10 years or so until this past Christmas, when a United pilot turned it on (and I ribbed him a little on the way out for telling us the 20 minute delay in taking off was due a clearance delay when I knew he had actually forgotten to fill out some  paperwork).

Then I was on two American flights this past weekend and was brushed off (quite rudely, might I add) when I asked two flight attendants if they could ask the pilot to turn the ATC audio on.

So what's the most recent rule? Is it actually not allowed? Is it up to the pilot's discretion? Will I have more luck asking the pilot right when I step onboard rather than asking a flight attendant?

[tyketto]

Hello liveatc.net Community!

As a kid I remember it being fairly common for the pilot to turn on the ATC audio over one of the in-flight radio channels. I listened every time and loved knowing before anyone else why things were delayed, when exactly we were going to take off and on which runway.

It seemed to not happen nearly as often if at all over the last 10 years or so until this past Christmas, when a United pilot turned it on (and I ribbed him a little on the way out for telling us the 20 minute delay in taking off was due a clearance delay when I knew he had actually forgotten to fill out some  paperwork).

Then I was on two American flights this past weekend and was brushed off (quite rudely, might I add) when I asked two flight attendants if they could ask the pilot to turn the ATC audio on.

So what's the most recent rule? Is it actually not allowed? Is it up to the pilot's discretion? Will I have more luck asking the pilot right when I step onboard rather than asking a flight attendant?

Hmm.. to my knowledge, only UAL has Ch. 9 (which is part of the IFE on all mainline UAL flights), that pipes into their radios for the feed. No other carrier in the US has it (that I know of). As pre-9/11, it has always been at the pilot's discretion, but was less under scrutiny before 9/11. It's still available now. but it's a feature UAL only has.

BL.

[Caleb]

Wow. I didn't know that. I never fly UAL though.

Next time I fly UAL, I'm certinly gonna ask. Better than having flight attendents pouncing all over you to turn your scanner off.