Correct, Delta does not make the rules. Enforce, yes.

Last comment on FAA regs:

Cellphones are not permitted although many feel these are unlikely to interfere with flight instruments. There is a story I read somewhere in some file some time ago (can’t recall where).

Commercial flight some years ago (L1011) was on a standard approach into LAX (in aviation this is called a STAR – a predefined route into the airport.) Pilot typically knows which STAR to use at the time flight plan is filed. Although according to the instruments, the aircraft was tracking perfectly on the STAR, he noticed by viewing terrain out the window, that things didn’t look right. In reality, instruments were wrong. Terminal controller can tell if you’re off course – and they generally get pretty pissed off with pilots about stuff like that. They resorted to radar vectors (controller tells you turn left heading whatever, or turn right heading… whatever) to get him on the track.

They found that some passenger had been using his cell phone. And, although I believe it was inconclusive to whether or not this was a factor, FAA and the aviation community will always err on the side of caution. A contributing black-eye for permitting cellphone usage on commercial aircraft.

So what could have happened? Anyone who flies into LAX knows there is terrain to the east – the descent route is pretty specific. Pretty dangerous to not know where you are. Fortunately Capt. was in visual conditions. Fortunately he was very very familiar with the route – could sense they were not where they were suppose to be by looking around. If he were on instruments (no visibility) it would have been a lot more dangerous. Let’s assume for a second this occurred on final approach, while on instruments. When airplane busts out of low clouds, and the runway was not where it should have been – according to the localizer – what do you do? You execute a missed approach - right now. Power to T/O, flaps to T/O position, positive climb – up comes the undercarriage, go around. Assess what the hell went wrong. As a passenger, many experience fear – and there is another 20 minutes added to your flight!

TOGA=Power, flap, gear – we outta here! (not necessarily in that order though…)

So, moral of the story - despite the FAA being anal about stupid things – maybe we should give those folks a little credit. A plane never crashed only because of one error. It’s always a combination of stupid things that concurrently or in series occur.