Just throwing this question in…
I was wondering about this for the first time during pre-flight setup and switching through the no-smoking sign on the FBW A320. Why is this switch still there? Which airlines still have to bother about during which flight segment people can actually start smoking? Any modern-day experience? I’m genuinely curious…
In some more modern aircraft (like the neo) it is for showing the ‘No portable devices’ sign. I think some airlines also use it informally for signalling to the cabin crew various non urgent messages. But yes you’re right I highly doubt any airlines actually use it for indicating no smoking anymore.
Which airlines still have to bother about during which flight segment people can actually start smoking? Any modern-day experience? I’m genuinely curious…
All airlines have to deal with people who break the rules from time to time. So maybe some operators leave it there as a reminder, that it is indeed forbidden to smoke aboard. Hence aircraft still have ashtrays, so the cigarettes have a place to go in case someone decides to break the law.
At least in the US and the EU smoking in aircraft is banned as far as I know. Can’t speak for Asia or Africa, but when you fly from and to the above regions, smoking aboard is not permitted.
I think the no-smoking/personal devices switch also controls other things on the Airbus, like the emergency exit lights.
It boggles my mind that in 2021, there are still “no smoking” signs pretty much anywhere indoors, including planes. It’s been 20+ years now since people have been allowed to smoke indoors in any public setting. Seems to me like this is a bit redundant.
I guess if they removed the signs, the offender could claim they didn’t know they weren’t supposed to. Much of our life is controlled
by the outcome of lawsuits, past as well as future.
There is stored oxygen on board so I would think that the signs are about safety, not courtesy.
When I was flying with Lufthansa A380 back in 2014 I was wondering why on Earth do they have ashtray in the lavatory.
Where else would you spit your chewing tobacco?
Last time I was on an airplane that allowed smoking it was Turkish Airlines in 1989.
How many commercial airline accidents were due to onboard oxygen ignited by someone smoking onboard?
If it didn’t happen, it doesn’t mean it can’t happen.
For me it was a Quebecair flight back in June 1986.
That’s a terrible logical argument. You can’t include safety measures for every conceivable and inconceivable problem. You have to do a risk analysis to determine whether it’s worth the cost.
Same with not using phones on petrol station forecourts. I’ve never once heard of mobile phone signals igniting fuel on the floor or vapours, nor a dropped phone causing a spark.
Mythbusters, I think, did a test with a caravan filled with mobile phones as well as buckets of fuel, and calling them all at once didn’t set it off. Fuel+Oxygen, but no ignition source.
How many safety warnings are at all reflective of actual potential for risk?
Sounds like you agree with me that the “No Smoking” signs are not needed then.
But it’s a much more reasonable explanation that they are still around simply because there is no pressing need to remove them.
Except by that logic, none of the new aircraft should have them, yet they still do. Not that it matters. Neither of us know for certain why they still exist.
No, “removing them” on new planes would mean they have to redesign the plane. And there is no pressing need to do that.
I think the motivation for the OP question was, why are there No Smoking signs on A320 Neos that were built long after smoking on aircraft has been banned in the 1980/90s.
Also, no one talked about removing the switch but using it for something different, which is what happens.
Good point. I guess with new designs it’s just inertia. Over time it may evolve into some other function.