Closing door and mobile devices
 

Had a fight last night out of MIA was running a little late which I was actually glad so got to watch the 4th quarter of the super bowl. When we boarded the game was going to overtime. Many were watching and monitoring the game on their mobile devices. When the door was closed someone asked if they could keep the device on till takeoff and the FA says no as interference from the device could cause the pilot to take off on the wrong runway. Did she actually mean that. When a plane lands you are allowed to use a mobile device in non airplane mode and the pilot still has to communicate with air traffic controllers till the aircraft gets to the gate. I assume the main reason why mobile devices have to be put in airplane mode when the door is shut as they want passengers to pay attention to the safety demonstrations. Yes this aircraft did have WiFi so you have monitored the game there.

This is not correct. You have to put mobile devices in airplane mode below 10,000 feet for both takeoff and landing.

After the plane has landed you are permitted to use the mobile device. They make that announcement, or at least they used to. I don't pay much attention any more and do not have a need to have it on immediately after landing.
That said, you are supposed to comply with the crew members instructions.

As discussed on a number of threads in different FT forums, the regulation is not an FAA safety regulation. It is a Federal Communications Commission regulation meant to protect the national cell system from disruption caused by phones rapidly switching towers. The FAA specifically states that it does not regulate the use of cellular phones. Though, it could be argued that airlines are required by the FAA to enforce their rules, and most airlines have a rule that you have to turn off cellular functions from when the door is shut until after the airplane has landed.

Here is the link to the FCC regulation:
http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx....1.1.2.8.27.12

There is a note that says that the FAA regulates the use of cell phones on the ground, but, in fact, the FAA does not actually have any regulations.

OP is incorrect both on AA's safety & security policy (which then becomes FAA rule once filed and accepted by FAA) and the underlying impact.

The safety & security policy is that small devices go into airplane mode from the "cabin door closed to 10,000" on departure unless the Captain permits or requires otherwise.

Needless to say, trying to get passengers to pay attention has nothing to do with this as passengers may still watch off-line video.

The failure to follow a crewmember instruction may constitute a criminal offense or result in a civil penalty of up to $11,000.

I cannot disagree with you about what the AA policy actually says, as I do not have access to it. However, I have never, on any airline, heard an announcement that it's OK to turn your phones on above 10,000', even though the FCC would allow it. I have heard many times that cellular functions must be turned off until "the plane has landed at our destination."

You won't get any cell service at 10k. It actually cuts out way lower than that. Airplane mode is acceptable however.

My read:

Devices must be put in flight mode, and large devices stowed, once you're underway from the gate. Small devices can continue to be used.

Large devices can be removed from storage and used above 10K. All devices must stay in flight mode.

Under 10K feet, large devices must again be stowed.

Upon landing, you can activate the cellular service on your small devices and continue to use them. Large devices must remained stowed through taxi to the gate.

If Captain/FA provides commands that contradict this, you must follow them, regardless of how dumb they sound (like "the Captain may take off from the wrong runway" :rolleyes:)

Airlines that have mobile service cells on board that allow phone calls in flight, do allow phones to be on. AA has no such service though

Oh, I didn't understand OP correctly and they meant while taxiing after landing.

However, I don't think the policy as posted by CPRich actually allows this. It seems to say that devices must be in airplane mode while taxiing on both ends of the journey, which means no football game.

Starting at 10K feet, large devices can also be used and small devices can have non-cellular wireless services like WiFi and Bluetooth turned on.

But I do agree in practice no one seems to care about how you use your phone while taxiing after landing.

Not true. I've left my cell on before and have received calls at 35k feet. Not great signal mind you, but it can come through.


It won't cause pilot to takeoff on wrong runway, but can cause issues during takeoff. The FA isn't going to know if you turned it off or not since they'll be buckled up. Thus they insist you do it before taxi. ]

I guess that depends how you define "service". The other month I forgot to put one of my cellphones in Airplane Mode between LHR and JFK and got T-Mobile welcome texts from Ireland and Canada.

Rules vary from country to country once the cabin door is closed. However, knowing the configuration of the two main runways at MIA, I'd say it would take a pretty confused flight deck crew to confuse which runway they're supposed to be heading to...just as at LAX when it's parallel runways on either side of the central terminal complex!

AA may not but with wifi calling nowadays it is possible to use your phone in flight. As I discovered accidentally when I didn't have my phone in airplane mode on a 32B the other day and someone called me.

I sat next to a commuting pilot (corporate jet charter, not AA) last week and asked him what the deal was with the claim that "cell phones could interfere with the flight navigation system". He laughed and said that it doesn't work that way. If there is a phone in cellular mode, and it's within the first few rows near the cockpit, the most they can get is a little interference or squawk in their headset. Navigation, or any other flight systems are unaffected.