Just returned from a quick flight from IAD-CHI and I was amazed at how many people ignore the FA warnings to turn off their electronic devices including cell phones. We could actually hear people still talking on the phone during takeoff!! Has anyone else seen this as well?

I have also seen this. In theory your mobile phone can affect computers and such on the plane. Now you may or may not believe this however in the interest of my personal safety pls turn off your phone if you're on a plane with me. I'd rather be safe than sorry. Also, I value all of my passengers, crew and equipment so if you don't mind, don't take the chance.

While on the subject of phones do you guys (mostly) and gals realize how sensitive today's cell phone microphones are? When you call us we can hear everything going on. So please, if you're in the proverbial John, don't call me. Thanks

There was a pre-takeoff scuffle on a recent BD domestic flight LBA to LHR - due to mobile phones.

The weather was bad, so our slot into LHR was pushed back, so we sat on the tarmac, awaiting push back. The crew had already asked passengers to turn off phones. Then the pilot addressed us all, informed that there would be at most a 20 min delay, but we were going to leave now and see what holding pattern we got into at LHR.

One of my fellow passengers decided to call his wife or partner at the point we were taxiing up the runway to whinge about the delay.

Needless to say, despite polite requests from passengers he didn't turn it off. So the crew were called over, and a short wrestle later - the phone had been taken from his hand and shut down.

Nice direct action ! In the end we landed not that much later than original forecast.

In the words of Mark Twain:
"I'd rather be safe a thousand times than dead once".

I was on a flight once sitting up front and as we were taking off, you could hear a phone ringing in one of the overheads. Lots of heads started looking around to see if they could spot the offender. The minute we hit 10,000 feet, a guy got up, opened an overhead, turned off his phone and sat down again without saying a word. I would have been mortified were it me. Talk about closing the barn door...

Several times I've seen and heard people takinking on their Cell Phone using a headset. They think they no one will notice what they're doing. NO call is that important.

It was interesting that in recent testimony to a congressional subcommittee, experts testified that it is very remote cells phones will have any negative impact on airplane navigational equipment. They went on to state that they have tested the effect of over one thousand cell phones operating at 100 times their power (all simultaneously) and that there were no reportable or measurable effect on airline navigational equipment. Of course there were airline shills saying that although they have no direct evidence, that we should err on the side of caution. It was also mentioned that the only reason they prohibited (or at least a major reason) is that the airlines want the revenue from their own inflight phones. The denied that this plays any part into their decisions.

I just think that there is more to this than meets the casual onlooker. I believe that profit is a big motive for the airlines, and that cell-phone use is no danger to airplane safety. (as long as the pilot is not talking on one while trying to land or take-off)

Just my $.02

I think people tend to forget that this is an FAA regulation for the protection of all passengers. Anyone that uses an electronic device because THEY think it isn't going to affect anything is possibly risking MY life. This would NOT be a good idea. I've sat at the gate or on the taxiway(engines down) more times than I care to remember and have never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes(if that long) before the pilot said it would be okay to use a phone. Just ask an FA to check if nothing is said. If you see someone using something without the okay, don't hesitate to say something right away. You'd be surprised how many people, who were afraid to say something themselves, will be behind you. Believe me, you are not so important(as some think of themselves) that whoever you are talking to can't wait 10 minutes to hear from you.

There was a thread on the subject a couple of months ago on the PPRuNe BB. (Professional Pilot's Rumor Network)

http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/Ultimate.cgi

It included reference to cell phones accidently left on in crew luggage in the cockpit, they appearently do have an effect on aircraft instrumentation, which can be noticed a moment before the offending phone rings for an incoming call! Digital phones have the potential to cause more problems then analog.

Went back and found the thread:

http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/For...ML/009824.html

[This message has been edited by Old Gold (edited 11-10-2000).]

Four important points to understand about cell phones on planes:

1) Of course a cell phone about to ring next to cockpit equipment will cause interference. If one is next to your speakers at home, it does the same thing. This effect does not effect equipment more than 3 meters away however...

2) The Skyphone people (GTE, ATT, etc.) do not want passengers to use them as they would destroy revenue. The technology used in the US is nothing more than cell technology, just multiplied by many times and using different frequencies (as opposed to overseas flights which use a sat based system). Contrary to popular beliefs, these phones only use different frequencies and are unshielded as many believe.

3) Airlines, don't want cell phones as they cause great annoyance to passengers who don't use them and would incite air rage if put into use.

4) Depending on its position over Europe, as an example, a cell phone at 30,000 feet above Europe can be available to as many as 2,500 cell stations at one time (normally your cell phone is available to 1-10 stations at a time and generally from one operator in one country), therefore a a user on a plane cruising at 550MPH has the capability to actually blow out large parts of cell networks in several countries just by having his phone on! The same principal applies just about everywhere. In recent years the software has improved and has the tracking and this risk has become more remote, it is still however a small possibility.

This is the biggest reason for not using them on planes.

Is there any web site that spells out FAA regulations banning the use of cell phones on board commercial aircraft?

Airlines say it is banned under federal regulations, but I though they are FCC regulations, not FAA's.

The cellphones thing is nonsense. So is the "portable electronic devices" mantra. It is just plain silly. Remember the WSJ article about cellphones last year?

I have seen many pax who went to the john and used their cellphone...I am sure of it. It doesn't cause any problems, that is BS.

That said, I do what I am asked to do on a plane, what the rules say. In the long run I think it works out better.

Virgin Atlantic offers mobile phone lovers the opportunity to keep talking throughout the flight:

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/main....1.2.2.1&id=353

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Old Gold:
[B]Virgin Atlantic offers mobile phone lovers the opportunity to keep talking throughout the flight:

Yikes! Sounds like a nightmare to me. On a recent 2.5 hour layover at LAX I ended up moving 3 times because someone would sit down next to me and start yelling into their cell phone for an extended period of time. And all I wanted to do was enjoy the latest Tom Clancy novel. At least I could move.

Then, when I boarded my plane, the FA had to tell the loud guy in 3C to turn off his cell phone 3 times before the guy finally complied. I shudder to think what the flight would have been like if this guy could have continued his sales calls the entire time.

So even if the powers that be decide that cell phone use on a flight is OK safety-wise, I hope that the airlines I fly continue to ban it.

Just my opinion.

It is FCC regulations. Cellular systems are designed to automatically reduce the power of the mobile/portable in order to minimize interference with nearby cells. An airborne phone will hit many, many cell sites and cause interference to or block terrestrial based phones.

I believe the FAA leaves it up to the individual airlines to set their own policy on electromagnetic radiationdevices. That is why you see some variation among airlines on the operation of devices such as radio pagers.