Multi function cellular phones
I recently upgraded my cellphone/mobile - and now have a handset that has numerous functions and applications that are not involved in making or receiving telephone calls (or any other data transmission/reception).
I suppose it's a "PDA" (Palm Pilot, whatever) in a cellular phone.
According to the manual, the phone has "Airplane Mode" (which it says is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration - in which the transmission/reception functions are locked, but all the handheld computer functions still work.
If you were walking down the cabin, after having made the cabin announcement to turn off cell-phones, and saw me talking into the open flip-phone (leaving myself a voice reminder message), would you accept the argument that the equipment is FAA approved for use in flight??
I've never heard of "Airplane Mode" before. Are these things new or old news now?
Let me finish by saying that, as a pilot, if a crew member asked me to do ANYTHING (legal), I would do it without hesitation - and maybe then open discussion afterwards. It's your plane, not mine.
Would be interested in responses from crews both inside and outside Federal airspace.