+1

As to inconsistency, I have noted that mainline FAs allow you to turn your phone on at touch down, while regional FAs often specify that the phone must remain off until you are on the taxiway, or even at the gate.

Can anyone propose a rationale for the distinction based upon the type of aircraft, or is it just different and/or inadequate training?

The plane I fly (a Delta Connection CRJ) was built before the BlackBerry was even conceived. It is impossible to test the aircraft's electronics with every possible portable electronic device, so the rule is not arbitrary.

This quote comes straight from the Pilot's Operating Handbook for my aircraft in reference to the cargo fire extinguishing system: "The use of cellular phones or mobile transceivers within close proximity to the smoke detectors can lead to false smoke indications." There is also evidence that cell phones interfere with the radar altimeters, the antennas for which are located beneath the last few rows of the cabin.

While an iPod player or a Bose headset are extremely unlikely to cause any interference, a smart phone running at max output (which it probably will be inside an aircraft, due to the low signal strength) of 2 or 3 watts can very well create problems.

I always follow the instructions as given, but when even a pilot sitting next to me on a recent flight didn't, it does make one wonder. Not only did he have all his electronics on from take off to landing, he was texting throughout the flight so he was 'transmitting' as well which, as I understand it, is expressly prohibited.

He probably read from an "expert" on FT (or the friend of an "expert") that this was not a problem.

Thank you for illuminating the discussion with some actual facts. ^

I can "second" the cell phone may interfere with the cargo supression system, as I have also flown that a/c. Also, I know for a FACT that the iphone when searching for a signal WILL interfere with our communications. There is an annoying and somewhat loud buzz and ticking noise in the background. This also happened with those annoying nextel walkie talkie phones.

The bottom line is... JUST FOLLOW THE RULES. And again... there may be slight variations to all the policies depending on which airline you're flying on. Again... with EIGHT connection partners and mainline, that brings NINE manuals and nine approvals from the FAA. They're not all exactly the same. So before you go blaming the FA for being lazy, overbearing or poorly trained think about the reasons behind why things are done. Or, just forget about WHY things happen and just follow the rules.

thats not specific to the iphone....any phone that operates on a GSM network produces that annoying sound

mine was built before cell phones were conceived

Our -1 doesn't say anything about portable electronic devices but our AFI does.

Curious if you can explain the technical "state" difference between powered-down and asleep. Because as much as I don't care for the "I'm smarter than the guy who made the rule" thing, it's safe to say that unless you work in consumer electronics or computers (and even then maybe not) you probably don't really understand the difference between these two.

My point is there's little point in getting snippy with someone who puts his laptop to sleep and puts it away. He's done what he needs to do in order to comply. I would challenge you to find a law that parses the difference.

I am duly, and appropriately, chastised regarding the FA training comment.

Thanks, too, for the inside technical perspective on the issue.

Unfortunately, between the self-absorbed folks, and those who cannot forgo a single moment of enjoying their latest Apple-produced device (techno-eroticism), compliance with this particular FAA requirement seems to be degrading.

At the risk of being chastised again, I have to observe that there is a wide diversity in the vigor with which FAs enforce the requirement... in terms of walking past someone obviously violating the regulation and not doing anything about it. It leaves me curious, how much emphasis does this matter receive within DL?

I think the thing that bothers me are the "frequent flyers" that think they are smarter than the experts or entitled to do whatever they want yet like little children "sneak" a peak at their phones like they are stealth little spies.

I have pointed out violators, and not discreetly. Why does 10-20 mins maked a difference except to make them feel more important

This seems to be the correct answer based on all the stuff I've read.

99.999999% it shouldn't interfere, but that one time...not worth risking a plane so somebody can stay on their ipad a little longer.

But they are very (self-)important people.

They were probably the ones passing notes in the back of the classroom when everyone else was studying.

I doubt one device would cause an issue but 100+ could easily cause a problem therefore all off is safer than all on.

Also, being in first class seems to make a difference, the FA's seem to be more tolerant of people delaying turning off devices prior to take off and landing in first compared to coach. Must be safer at the front .

I am glad your DL pilot friend told you this.

I have a question though. A few years ago when I had to do some EMI testing work WRT getting a product a through FCC approval I was stunned to see how most devices were fairly quite but some screamed all over. Even as high as 10 harmonics up or so (OK, our own product was one such problem child, but not the point of this post).

It is much harder to measure the flip side, but it basically is the same (from theory). Some equipment could be very vulnerable to small signalls at specific freqs. And there is no concept of "but it's a different freq" as we are talking clocks not comm channels.

But this was almost 10 years ago, and now electronics are much better designed. Nobody would be using a cheap Chinease clone phone that might be emitting +40db over allowed levels.

As someone who has spent a few decades sometimes haiving to diagnose why complex electronic equipment glitches and fails, I feel much better that these two pilots (yours and other post) tell me it is no issue.

P.S., Does this qualify me as making a DYKWIA post