How Airlines Prevent People From Stealing Provided iPads? (Technical)

They're built in....

Those are not Ipads actually. Those are named AVOD - Individual Seatback Monitors.

Ipad are this...

So what?....build them into the plane seat back...

There's really not much you can do from a technical standpoint to prevent the physical theft of a device. You can install all the software/tracking/lockout systems invented and yet to be invented to help discourage theft, such as "If stolen, this device will be locked and unable to be used/sold" type of thing. But that still can't totally prevent a determined klepto from walking off the plane with it. The device can be prepared to be locked out remotely, even tracked, and this will discourage most, but can stop none.

What is probably the case, is that the flight attendants/cabin crew are responsible for preventing the theft. Probably another item on their checklist of things to do on the landing phase.

• Ensure all passengers are buckled and have their seats in the upright position
• All trays are in upright position. Garbage/snacks collected
• All iPads returned to flight crew

First of all, thank you for your kind response!

Yeah, I had the same idea that you provided. I just thought maybe there is any other technical solution for this. Thanks again!

Surely the easiest method is the way the Apple shop stops people half inching the demo models. Attach them to something immovable with a retractable cable.

If that tool is longer than 7 inches, it's not allowed in carry-on luggage.

I have some knippers like that from my father, but those are about 20 inches long designed to cut the wire rope rigging on a sailboat if you lose your mast. The jaw design on these types of cutters are very effective on wire rope.

What! You're suggesting they threaten to cut their b***s off.

To prevent the theft of the devices, do not distribute them in the first place.

Perhaps return to a time tested technique of passing the time while traveling: Visit with your seatmate. If that doesn't pan out, you can read the provided dogeared four year old copy of TIME magazine. or peruse the airline generated catalog of overpriced crap that nobody ever buys, or look out the windows, or take a nap.

Yes, Doorman Curmudgeon Mode (DCM) is engaged today, and not likely to improve anytime soon.

Apparently the 29th was Curmudgeon day:-

https://www.vocabulary.com/articles/wl/the-cranky-lexicon-of-curmudgeons-day/

Well, I guess that I, amongst others, come by being curmudgeonly honestly.

Maybe I'm just sheltered but, the only place I've ever seen I-pads on airplanes is in the cockpit in the hands of airline employees.

I'd think a "deposit" of a significant amount would deter theft if the person who "rented" the device did not return it. Say, add the cost of the device to the ticket price when purchased or, as Southwest Airlines does with first to board charges, "rent" the device at the counter and pay the full cost of replacement, if not returned.

Our family travels with their own devices.

This seems a little strange in this day and age. Modern planes have built in entertainment systems as others have mentioned, and many people using planes already have smart phones and tablets. Is there a market for this really?

Physically mounting is really the ONLY way, but even then there is still going to be an issue with people trying to steal them. You cannot put software code in to prevent it from only being usable on the plane to deter theft as it is just too easy to bypass.

Modern entertainment systems on planes use a central hub with the display interface terminals on the seats just being dumb terminals, there is no point in stealing them because they are a proprietary piece of hardware and useless on their own as the data is streamed to them not stored onboard like an Ipad.

Don't even THINK of trying to tether the Ipad to the seat somehow using a wire rope or chain as this could easily cause injuries and lawsuits. Automatic self retracting, possibly, but expect a much higher rate of damage to the Ipads.

There is a further issue that these devices are not really designed for commercial use and wear and tear (constant recharging, screen abuse, people fiddling with the operating system requiring reprogramming, etc)

A real can of worms this one unfortunately. Some small airlines in certain countries may not have as much of a problem with theft and damage so it may be practical, but this more comes down to a cultural thing and is the exception rather than the rule. Perhaps if everyone is ALWAYS given one and so everyone has to hand it back in.

One other option may be to fit an RFID or similar tracker inside the Ipad that is monitored so it sounds an alarm if someone tries to take it off the plane, but this system would be very expensive to implement, test and get approved for use in an airline environment (don't underestimate the costs and difficulty when wireless communications are involved in a commercial aviation environment)

What exactly are the application details? Perhaps I have missed something.

I had an idea something like this when I was in high school. Our school had a big problem with bicycles being stolen.

I proposed installing some type of explosive device within the bicycle itself. The bike would have a receiver installed and it would not activate unless it got outside of a range. My friend talked me out of this idea by reminding me that a spurious signal could activate the device while the decoy was being placed and although theft is a crime, criminals have an expectation that they should be allowed to steal something and not be unknowingly injured in the process.

Yea there are a number of problems with your idea, but that is what a reality check from a second person is for. It helps us re-evaluate an idea or concept before it goes to far the wrong way.

The first line of defense: personal in the plane notes down seat number where device was distributed. It will be collected before landing.

Second line of defense could be a chip similar to those buzzing at the exits of shops and a reader at the door ways.

But honestly the first line of defense should be enough.

I have only been one time in a plane where IPADs were distributed. It was extra service for money. Nowadays everyone has their own device for planes where it is not inbuild in the seats. This is usually only for flights under 4 hours.

Technically I would look into the shop security system.

Good luck!

I recently flew on a flight where the handheld entertainment devices are passed out to those who ask. If I'm not mistaken, you have to give a credit card. I also read in one of the flight magazines where airlines are opting for the handhelds instead of the seat back units. it is probably cheaper.

This method has worked successfully for years :