Flight Safe Mode
 

Noticed this week and last on trips to GVA and MAD that when preparing the cabin for takeoff the personnel were stridently asking if phones and other devices were in Flight Safe Mode. Not once, but on every row. Even specifically asking one or two passengers if their phone was actually in the correct mode with a pointed finger and somewhat peeved tone.

An equally forthright approach was clear when it came to bags under the seat and handheld devices being disconnected from the seat power etc. Checking, repeating on every row.

I have no issue with this - I just wondered if it is a new policy or script. Some of the staff could nonetheless use a lesson or two in how to be polite but firm. Particularly on the MAD flight one member was almost barking it out.

Anyone else noticed a change? Have some specific events triggered this new approach? Or have I just bumped into some crews with a particular vibe?

TS

No idea, but IMHO that is something that should be enforced, albeit a tad more diplomatically.
And there are other things that could also do with ‘positive reinforcement’ by airline staff. Top of my list would be boarding, followed by enforcing hand baggage allowances/sizes and finally stowing bags on board (e.g. stopping people dumping them in CE when on the way to the back of the plane).

The only time I have seen this is when there is low/minimal visibility and the plane is auto landing (there is a correct term I just can’t remember). There’s usually an announcement from the flight deck as well.

There’s been heavy fog in Geneva this week with incredibly low visibility. On our flight in on Monday, and another groups later flight the pilot did announce we would be auto landing.

Exactly. If the flight deck or cabin crew tell you to do something, you must do it. If the US, this is reiterated in the safety announcements,

I've seen many BA passengers active on their phones before and during departures and landings. They could well have been in flight mode and playing a game stored on their device, but the pervasion of social media into peoples lives these days raises an element of doubt for me, at least.

Can anybody help explain what auto landing is? My search results come off as if this is an emergency thing, but maybe there is another auto landing being discussed here.

Well, it’s not up to date, but I do love this 1960s display of Autoland! Skip to the last few minutes for that. The rest of the film is just glorious!

A lovely reminder of just how advanced we were at the time. And, one only had to reach Kensington!

Basically it is landing on instruments in poor weather with low or no visibility, with the pilots supervising rather than actually flying. Rather than a longer explanation, here is this from Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoland

Agreed. Madrid however was as clear as a whistle and neither flight was an autoland.

So I wondered if it was just a new tactic. I’m all for reinforcement of something if it makes sense and is done properly.

Thanks for the insight.

Indeed. But I suppose it is easier to enforce something technical and flight-related than something that just comes down to company policy. People perhaps are more likely to pay attention if something might affect their physical safety.

I do agree, however, that people sticking their luggage in the CE overheads when they get into the plane before heading to the back is one of my major pet peeves. Other airlines seem to make a better stab at keeping that under control.

I would say your doubts are entirely legitimate and well-founded. In fact sitting next to me on the flight to Madrid, the person was already texting his phone as soon as he could, after the Wi-Fi had been switched off so presumably by capturing whatever weak network was available as we were on approach.

Something like this

I've only ever seen BA crew exercised by phones to that extent when about to execute a CAT3 auto land. I imagine that on every aircraft there will often be several phones not in flight safe mode, mostly because people forget, fall asleep etc.