So I've noticed that there are variations to flight decks within the -200.  Mainly, there is either a seatbelt sign and no smoking, seatbelt and no electronics, or just a seatbelt sign.  I've noticed this in pax versions.  Is this designed like this intentionally, or is it an error?

 

Marc Eichler

 

It is an option in the aircraft settings. Some airlines have opted for the electronics sign and just have permanent no smoking placards in the cabin (because you will never turn off the no smoking sign).

The particular options probably depend on the age of the aircraft. Earlier 777s that were manufactured when smoking was still permitted on airline flights, would have the no smoking signs still installed, whereas newer airframes would not, since smoking has been prohibited completely for several years now on all commercial aircraft.

 

It would, of course, be possible to convert the older "no smoking" lighted placards above each row of seats, to "no electronics" placards, but that could be quite expensive and time-consuming if done just for its own sake. Most operators would probably postpone doing such a modification until such time that a complete upgrade of the aircraft interior is planned. Such upgrades will usually be accomplished at least once or twice over the typical 20+ year in-service lifetime of a commercial airliner - usually in conjunction with a major "D" check, where all the interior furnishings have to be removed anyway for inspection of the underlying structure.

Even the "No Electronics" sign is soon to be obsolete since the FAA, CAA, and most other regulatory agencies have relaxed the restrictions on the use of electronics during all phases of the flight. I flew on B777's from 3 different airlines in the last few weeks, and all of them permitted the use of approved electronics from gate to gate. I was able to keep my IPhone and Nook e-reader on during the entire flight, although the phone was in airplane mode. The only non-approved electronics are those that transmit a voice signal (e.g. cell phones that are not in airplane mode). If they haven't changed their policies yet, all airlines are likely to adopt the new policy soon. An example of that new policy can be found here for American Airlines, and here for British Airways.

The particular options probably depend on the age of the aircraft. Earlier 777s that were manufactured when smoking was still permitted on airline flights, would have the no smoking signs still installed, whereas newer airframes would not, since smoking has been prohibited completely for several years now on all commercial aircraft.

 

It would, of course, be possible to convert the older "no smoking" lighted placards above each row of seats, to "no electronics" placards, but that could be quite expensive and time-consuming if done just for its own sake. Most operators would probably postpone doing such a modification until such time that a complete upgrade of the aircraft interior is planned. Such upgrades will usually be accomplished at least once or twice over the typical 20+ year in-service lifetime of a commercial airliner - usually in conjunction with a major "D" check, where all the interior furnishings have to be removed anyway for inspection of the underlying structure.

I think even by the time the 777 was introduced in the mid 90s smoking was pretty much banned on all flights. I think the no smoking light was just installed out simply because it had been installed on every airplane prior to that. Look at the 737NG which was introduced in the late 90s, by then smoking had been banned on all flights and the 737NG doesn't have a no smoking light at all.

I think even by the time the 777 was introduced in the mid 90s smoking was pretty much banned on all flights. I think the no smoking light was just installed out simply because it had been installed on every airplane prior to that. Look at the 737NG which was introduced in the late 90s, by then smoking had been banned on all flights and the 737NG doesn't have a no smoking light at all.

Smoking was banned in all US domestic flights in 1988, but the ban didn't fully take effect on international flights until 2000.

 

Interestingly, even though smoking is completely banned on all commercial airline flights, (and most private charter operators prohibit it as well) all commercial aircraft, even brand-new ones, are required to have ashtrays in or adjacent to each lavatory. There is even an FAA airworthiness directive that mandates that the ashtrays must be inspected at regular intervals to insure that they are present and functional.

 

That AD arose because of a couple of serious inflight fires that occurred many years ago from smokers disposing of cigarette butts in the lavatory trash bins.