Was on NW flight from DTW to SEA today, and during taxi, take off, and then finally descent/landing, I noticed this guy across the aisle jamming to his iPod the entire time. Moreover, when we were taxiing for take off, he was just leisurely texting on his Blackberry. First off, do cell phones and these electronic devices really interfere with navigation systems? Moreover, why does this guy think he's too cool for the rules? I think it's a bit absurd and ridiculous that he thinks that somehow he can do whatever he wants.

I know there are clearly more pressing issues that would irk me, but I just can't stand it when someone gets away with something that is supposedly imposed (i.e., no electronics during certain periods) for safety reasons. Do you all on FT break these rules .

Hope you all are doing well. I'm in WC in DTW right now. It's cold outside. Brrrrr...

Proboly some business person that thinks because the title he hold at his job and he is a gold or platinum that he can do whatever he want.

It's this sense of privilege and entitlement that makes me mad.

There is a faction of folks that move through life challenging barriers.

For that select few, this behavior actually provides their income.

Be it the guy cutting in front of you in line, taking your slot at the 4 way stop, disregarding FA instructions, or bending other rules to hone his edge, he survives (and thrives) by taking the risks that the rest of us will not. The stuff we witness as a bystander are momentary sparks of reflection escaping from their psyche without a specific target or motivation. Imagine the experience if this guy wanted to put a particular person behind the eight ball...if your or I were his personal target.

Most ignore it. Some resent it.

I am the kind of guy that will drive a block to re-enter traffic on a light to ensure my right of way. I don't take the risks, I cherish control. When I enter traffic without a light, I bear the burden of the yield...on the light I wield command.

His sense of privilege is justified and empowered by lack of challenge from the human detritus he bears with as his societal tithe.

These people are different than the rest of us...they are better. Their time is worth more than ours, and the penny for their thoughts will cost you a quarter. If you doubt this, all you have to do is ask and they will be happy to tell you all about it.

On an aircraft, challenges can be problematic due to a variety of true wild cards. The view really is not worth the climb.

On the ground however...on a more stable playing field and legal environment, challenge is the key.

i swear, i never heard the terms "privilege" and "sense of entitlement" in my 22 years than in the 3 months i've been on FT

CDMA phones (Verizon, Sprint PCS, Alltel, and U.S. Cellular) won't cause any interferance due to their network setup. (CDMA is based on spread spectrum, and looks like background noise)
GSM Phones (AT&T, T-Mobile) can depending on what frequency set that the carrier is using at that location. (is based on packet info, and will cause bursts to occour)
Still though, i'd rather someone not talk or text, until the taxi back to the gate.

I don't think (but I might be incorrect) that the issue hinges on justification of which electronics will interfere with flight operations. I think the issue is someone disregarding the rule/regulation prohibiting passengers from using these devices during specific periods in flight.

It would be similar to a guy getting a speeding ticket at 95 mph, then claiming that because he is in a McLaren, the rule should not apply since the McLaren clearly has better handling characteristics and so at 95 he is as safe or safer then the driver in the Taurus SHO driving 65...be it a true fact or not.

Oh i completely agree with you.
However at the time AMPS (the old analogue system that was recently turned down) and D-AMPS/TDMA pumped out a whole lot more power, and could interfere with the avionics. Newer phones (aside from some GSM handsets) don't have this issue (or could its just never been proven)
So just keep them off.
On a side note i was on a CO flight and the pilot threatened to return to the gate unless someone who was using their blackberry put it away. They did and away we went to have our delay on the runway.

Interesting!

I wonder if this was prompted by feedback from an FA, or the cockpit has some type of detection device, or he actually observed (or heard) interference?

I get annoying buzzing from anything with a speaker on it from my phone during data bursts (email). I will hear it from my computer speakers, telephone, and even sound systems embedded in conference rooms if the phone is sitting near anything.

which means you've got AT&T or T-Mobile (or a gsm carrier) a CDMA phone wouldn't do that.

AT&T it is!

IMO NO they wont interfere with navs or bring a plane out of the sky. In reality if these devices coud alter an aircrafts system they would be required to be checked baggage. The FAA wouldnt allow such devices on aircraft if they had any potential to be dangerous

Yes, it is a rule and yes the rule is absurd. There have been a number of studies showing this. I follow the rules to a point. For example why can you phone be on but not your computer? To me it is about consistency and reality. The reality is the FA will get in serious trouble if they do not enforce the FAA stupidity. Therefore once the door shuts no matter how stupid the rule is I follow it. I leave my computer on until the door shuts, if I am asked to turn it off personally I do. I believe the reason of the difference between phones and computers is attention. I remember back in the early 90s I had a personal rule that I would finish my expense report on my laptop before wheels up. I am still alive to tell about it.

This belongs in the TS&S forum, not the NW forum -- so over it goes!

Xyzzy
NW forum moderator

Correction. They only think they are better. However they certainly are different, and not in a good way.