Are the pilots of Instagram violating rules of the air?

© Instagram

© Instagram

 

The pilots of Instagram are internet famous. Their stunning photos of the skies, captured from their unusual perspective inside the cockpit, garner hundreds, sometimes thousands of likes from fans.

Yet website Quartz has run an article suggesting that all this isn’t quite legal. ‘Taking photos, or using most any electronic device, while piloting a commercial aircraft is prohibited by American and European regulators. Pilots for airlines large and small, flying planes of all sizes, seem to be violating the safety rules, taking photos with their phones as well as GoPro cameras mounted inside the cockpit. Some also appear to be flouting even stricter regulations for takeoff and landing, when not even idle conversation is allowed in the cockpit.’

Since 1981, an FAA regulation has required pilots to refrain from non-essential activities during critical phases of flight, normally below 10,000 feet. A number of pilots’ own pictures suggest they are routinely snapping away during the most crucial phases of a flight, to post on Instagram and personal blogs. Whats more, earlier in 2014 the FAA banned the use of personal devices while on duty in the cockpit.

Quartz has taken it upon itself to explore the rise of the cockpit selfie, as well pictures which appear to be taken during landing and take-off, explaining, ‘To gauge the extent of violations, Quartz has monitored hundreds of Instagram accounts over six months and collected a trove of photos and videos taken by people clearly sitting in the pilot or co-pilot seat on commercial flights. Many images appear to have been captured during critical phases of flight, like take-off and landing.’

Quartz also contacted airlines that appear to employ pilots whose photos are used in this story. See what they had to say and read the full article here.