Mobile Phones
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Mobile Phones
Anyone else fed up with exasperating arguments with pax over the use of phones aboard? What exactly is the OBSSESSION with having to text or phone on the plane?!
Our airline, like many others I assume, bans their use completely at all times except in the case of a long delay where Captain has final say.
There have been 2 incidences in which phones have interfered with the flying of the aircraft at our airline, so whatever anyone else says, there is definitely a case for them being switched OFF!
Sorry for the outburst, but we had a major argument with a stupid passenger on a flight to Madrid the other day - she had to be threatened with being offloaded before she switched the damn thing off!
The senior took down her name & address after informing her she had been in breach of CAA and airline regulations - I think she set an excellent example to the other passengers.
ok, rant over...
Our airline, like many others I assume, bans their use completely at all times except in the case of a long delay where Captain has final say.
There have been 2 incidences in which phones have interfered with the flying of the aircraft at our airline, so whatever anyone else says, there is definitely a case for them being switched OFF!
Sorry for the outburst, but we had a major argument with a stupid passenger on a flight to Madrid the other day - she had to be threatened with being offloaded before she switched the damn thing off!
The senior took down her name & address after informing her she had been in breach of CAA and airline regulations - I think she set an excellent example to the other passengers.
ok, rant over...
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dear AJ
have a look at this document which may give you a further knowledge about whatever problem arises on board. You could use your knowledge to confront reckless passengers.
Hope it helps
http://www.jaa.nl/section1/jars/443844.pdf
what you mentioned is on page 9, the document itself is quite thick but it deserves to be read by now and then just clarify that pax quite often make up their on rules either mentioning your collegues on other flights with the same airline or a different one.
Airlines in europe are almost standardized to the same regulation however some company policies i have not heard of someone permitting the use of mobile phone yet.
Certainly your senior acted professionally and surely gave a clear example of how much we are into safety and security.
PF
have a look at this document which may give you a further knowledge about whatever problem arises on board. You could use your knowledge to confront reckless passengers.
Hope it helps
http://www.jaa.nl/section1/jars/443844.pdf
what you mentioned is on page 9, the document itself is quite thick but it deserves to be read by now and then just clarify that pax quite often make up their on rules either mentioning your collegues on other flights with the same airline or a different one.
Airlines in europe are almost standardized to the same regulation however some company policies i have not heard of someone permitting the use of mobile phone yet.
Certainly your senior acted professionally and surely gave a clear example of how much we are into safety and security.
PF
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another one that gets me going!!
the minute the wheels touched down and all you can hear is the beeps , 'your on holiday , i thought it was meant to be getting away from it all,' i think to myself.
it really annoys me when you ask a passenger to switch their phone off and they reply "it is" and then give you death glares for daring to ask them to not use their 'precious' or they are actuually chatting away and you ask them to stop , and they say ok, and carry on, telling the person thay are talking to that the nasty lady has made them stop.
and if they look further, when you buy a phone, the little handbook that comes with it actually states it is illegal to have it switched on on board an aicraft.
so i think you can gather i'm with you on this one AJ!
the minute the wheels touched down and all you can hear is the beeps , 'your on holiday , i thought it was meant to be getting away from it all,' i think to myself.
it really annoys me when you ask a passenger to switch their phone off and they reply "it is" and then give you death glares for daring to ask them to not use their 'precious' or they are actuually chatting away and you ask them to stop , and they say ok, and carry on, telling the person thay are talking to that the nasty lady has made them stop.
and if they look further, when you buy a phone, the little handbook that comes with it actually states it is illegal to have it switched on on board an aicraft.
so i think you can gather i'm with you on this one AJ!
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Also, what is the deal with these new exciting phones that have a standby function?
I've lost count of the amount of times I've spied someone tapping away inflight and confronted them, only to be told by some spotty oyk that "it's on flight mode!"
Does that mean that there is no interference to the a/c systems?
I've lost count of the amount of times I've spied someone tapping away inflight and confronted them, only to be told by some spotty oyk that "it's on flight mode!"
Does that mean that there is no interference to the a/c systems?
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Hi guys
Thanks, good to know it wasn't just me (and the senior) being hard-nosed. What really wound us up was:
1) All passengers are asked to switch their phones off at the gate
2) The Senior who first encountered this lady asked her to switch it off as she walked down the aisle. She complied with this request.
3) When I walked past her about 2 minutes later, she had switched the phone back on, and was furiously "texting" away, completely oblivious to the fact that she had already been asked twice to switch it off.
4) Last but not least, we've had two real incidences of radio interference in the flightdeck during descent - both were traced to mobile phones that, although not in use, had been left on and might possibly have been receiving voicemail or messages at that point.
Regarding the "flight mode" function, our rules remain unchanged - all phones have to be switched off at the gate. Cabin Crew cannot verify for sure whether a phone is compatible in some way or not. I suspect a minority of passengers would use the 'flight mode' explanation as an excuse in any case. It just ain't worth the aggro - a major argument ruins the day for me. And it's embarrassing for the other passengers too.
cheers
Thanks, good to know it wasn't just me (and the senior) being hard-nosed. What really wound us up was:
1) All passengers are asked to switch their phones off at the gate
2) The Senior who first encountered this lady asked her to switch it off as she walked down the aisle. She complied with this request.
3) When I walked past her about 2 minutes later, she had switched the phone back on, and was furiously "texting" away, completely oblivious to the fact that she had already been asked twice to switch it off.
4) Last but not least, we've had two real incidences of radio interference in the flightdeck during descent - both were traced to mobile phones that, although not in use, had been left on and might possibly have been receiving voicemail or messages at that point.
Regarding the "flight mode" function, our rules remain unchanged - all phones have to be switched off at the gate. Cabin Crew cannot verify for sure whether a phone is compatible in some way or not. I suspect a minority of passengers would use the 'flight mode' explanation as an excuse in any case. It just ain't worth the aggro - a major argument ruins the day for me. And it's embarrassing for the other passengers too.
cheers
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AJ, instead of the standard company spiel, I insert the following into my welcome PA. It's not 100% failsafe, because there will always be people who don't speak English or who never listen, but it has a very high success rate in getting pax bums off seats, fumbling in overhead bins to switch off their mobile phones . 
Perhaps some of your No1s would be interested?
Ladies and Gentlemen, your mobile phones. (pause) If your phone is still on standby, it will search for contact with a ground station even if you are not talking into it. This can interfere with the systems in the cockpit, especially during take off and landing. These are the busiest times for our pilots and hearing beep-beep beep-beep in their headphones can be very distracting. That is potentially dangerous and does NOT help them get us safely on the ground.
So please make sure that your mobile phone is switched of completely!
I've gotten a lot of positive feedback from pax about this. They say they like getting the explanation of why they have to switch it off, rather than just being given the order.
Pax are just like normal human beings really.
Perhaps some of your No1s would be interested?Ladies and Gentlemen, your mobile phones. (pause) If your phone is still on standby, it will search for contact with a ground station even if you are not talking into it. This can interfere with the systems in the cockpit, especially during take off and landing. These are the busiest times for our pilots and hearing beep-beep beep-beep in their headphones can be very distracting. That is potentially dangerous and does NOT help them get us safely on the ground.
So please make sure that your mobile phone is switched of completely!
I've gotten a lot of positive feedback from pax about this. They say they like getting the explanation of why they have to switch it off, rather than just being given the order.
Pax are just like normal human beings really.
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Here's some other information from earlier this year...
PluggedIn: Stow luggage, not phones, while in flight
AMSTERDAM, April 13 (Reuters) - The next time a flight attendant asks you to switch off that handheld computer phone, keep smiling -- and pull out a copy of the latest plane safety guidelines.
Clever computer and handset makers offer an option called "flight mode," which disables the radio. As a result, the British Civil Aviation Authority has decided passengers in planes under its jurisdiction should be allowed to use these portable devices as a calendar or photo viewer because they do not interfere with the electronic circuits and radio systems used by the pilots.
The CAA says airlines should let travelers write messages, read documents and perform all other nonphone functions on phones that double up as computers, just as they can now work on a laptop, play on a GameBoy or listen to music on an iPod at cruising altitudes.
But some flight crews still fume when they spot a passenger toying with a computer phone. Airlines from no-frills JetBlue to United and British Airways have their crews scanning the aisles for them.
"How do we know which mobile is on, and which isn't?" a British Airways spokeswoman said. "It's not for our crew to decide which mobile can be switched on and which not."
In fact, the CAA says it is. Airlines would do well to train their crews to make sure "intentionally transmitting devices" like cell phones, remote control toys and two-way pagers are operated in their "safe" modes, the agency said in a recent circular.
"Any operation of these devices when the transmitter has not been turned on, should be controlled in the same manner as for any unintentionally transmitting device," the CAA added.
Unintentionally transmitting devices like radios, laptop computers and pacemakers emit negligible signals from electronics circuits.
The CAA does demand that electronics companies make it clear when the radio is turned off. Sony Ericsson's P900 smart phone, for instance, has "FLIGHT MODE" plastered over its display.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration did not return calls requesting comment.
NO REASON TO FEAR CELL PHONES
In any case, flight crews are fighting a losing battle against cell phones.
About half of the world's largest airlines plan to offer wireless Internet and mobile phone access on board within two to four years, according to a survey commissioned by WirelessCabin. This consortium of large European technology companies and the German Aerospace Centre is working to bring these services to planes.
"We will do a test flight (with a wireless network) on an Airbus A340-600 this summer," said Axel Jahn, a spokesman for WirelessCabin, which expects a trial run on a commercial airline next year.
Boeing Co.'s (nyse: BA - news - people) Connexion is working on a similar system.
It may be 18 to 24 months before planemakers and airlines offer such services, Jahn said, as the technology still needs licenses and approval from aviation and telecommunications regulators in Europe and North America.
The imminent approval of mobile phones on flights prompts the question whether the decade-long ban against them was ever justified.
Aviation authorities admit that mobile phone radiation poses only a modest threat. The worst incidents include setting off a false smoke alarm in the baggage compartment or interrupting communications in the flight crew headphones.
"...Many (including pilots) ... question whether a genuine problem exists," the CAA says in a cell phone safety study.
However, at maximum distance from a radio base station, say 30,000 feet (9.1 kilometers) above the Earth, many mobile phones will transmit at maximum power to make contact. This can disrupt a compass or a positioning system if it is 12 inches (30 centimeters) away from the phone.
The WirelessCabin systems remove that risk by putting a radio base station on board the plane. Because of its close proximity, it will force cell phones to "whisper" at 1,000th their normal output power.
"With this approach," Jahn said, "we minimize interference with the aircraft and even terrestrial networks."
As a result, flight attendants may soon shift their attention to passengers who shout into their mobile phones, interfering not with the pilot's radio system but with their fellow travelers' privacy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here are some more links with views from both sides:
Boeing: Interference from electronic devices
TCCA Advisory Circular - Use of Portable Passenger Operated Electronic Devices Onboard Aircraft and Occurrence Reporting
US House of Representatives - Portable Electronic Devices: Do they really pose a safey hazard on aircraft
Boeing Service Letter - Passenger Carry-on Electronic Devices - 9 March 2001
Aviation Safety Network - Portable Electronic Device Articles
Airborne Operation of Portable Electronic Devices
Wired.com - Is phone interference phoney?
PluggedIn: Stow luggage, not phones, while in flight
AMSTERDAM, April 13 (Reuters) - The next time a flight attendant asks you to switch off that handheld computer phone, keep smiling -- and pull out a copy of the latest plane safety guidelines.
Clever computer and handset makers offer an option called "flight mode," which disables the radio. As a result, the British Civil Aviation Authority has decided passengers in planes under its jurisdiction should be allowed to use these portable devices as a calendar or photo viewer because they do not interfere with the electronic circuits and radio systems used by the pilots.
The CAA says airlines should let travelers write messages, read documents and perform all other nonphone functions on phones that double up as computers, just as they can now work on a laptop, play on a GameBoy or listen to music on an iPod at cruising altitudes.
But some flight crews still fume when they spot a passenger toying with a computer phone. Airlines from no-frills JetBlue to United and British Airways have their crews scanning the aisles for them.
"How do we know which mobile is on, and which isn't?" a British Airways spokeswoman said. "It's not for our crew to decide which mobile can be switched on and which not."
In fact, the CAA says it is. Airlines would do well to train their crews to make sure "intentionally transmitting devices" like cell phones, remote control toys and two-way pagers are operated in their "safe" modes, the agency said in a recent circular.
"Any operation of these devices when the transmitter has not been turned on, should be controlled in the same manner as for any unintentionally transmitting device," the CAA added.
Unintentionally transmitting devices like radios, laptop computers and pacemakers emit negligible signals from electronics circuits.
The CAA does demand that electronics companies make it clear when the radio is turned off. Sony Ericsson's P900 smart phone, for instance, has "FLIGHT MODE" plastered over its display.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration did not return calls requesting comment.
NO REASON TO FEAR CELL PHONES
In any case, flight crews are fighting a losing battle against cell phones.
About half of the world's largest airlines plan to offer wireless Internet and mobile phone access on board within two to four years, according to a survey commissioned by WirelessCabin. This consortium of large European technology companies and the German Aerospace Centre is working to bring these services to planes.
"We will do a test flight (with a wireless network) on an Airbus A340-600 this summer," said Axel Jahn, a spokesman for WirelessCabin, which expects a trial run on a commercial airline next year.
Boeing Co.'s (nyse: BA - news - people) Connexion is working on a similar system.
It may be 18 to 24 months before planemakers and airlines offer such services, Jahn said, as the technology still needs licenses and approval from aviation and telecommunications regulators in Europe and North America.
The imminent approval of mobile phones on flights prompts the question whether the decade-long ban against them was ever justified.
Aviation authorities admit that mobile phone radiation poses only a modest threat. The worst incidents include setting off a false smoke alarm in the baggage compartment or interrupting communications in the flight crew headphones.
"...Many (including pilots) ... question whether a genuine problem exists," the CAA says in a cell phone safety study.
However, at maximum distance from a radio base station, say 30,000 feet (9.1 kilometers) above the Earth, many mobile phones will transmit at maximum power to make contact. This can disrupt a compass or a positioning system if it is 12 inches (30 centimeters) away from the phone.
The WirelessCabin systems remove that risk by putting a radio base station on board the plane. Because of its close proximity, it will force cell phones to "whisper" at 1,000th their normal output power.
"With this approach," Jahn said, "we minimize interference with the aircraft and even terrestrial networks."
As a result, flight attendants may soon shift their attention to passengers who shout into their mobile phones, interfering not with the pilot's radio system but with their fellow travelers' privacy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here are some more links with views from both sides:
Boeing: Interference from electronic devices
TCCA Advisory Circular - Use of Portable Passenger Operated Electronic Devices Onboard Aircraft and Occurrence Reporting
US House of Representatives - Portable Electronic Devices: Do they really pose a safey hazard on aircraft
Boeing Service Letter - Passenger Carry-on Electronic Devices - 9 March 2001
Aviation Safety Network - Portable Electronic Device Articles
Airborne Operation of Portable Electronic Devices
Wired.com - Is phone interference phoney?
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hi CD
thanks for the precise information you've given us. I was aware of some sort of programme related to the internet uses and cellular phone but to be honest i'm quite impressed by your detailed explanation and links.
Take this occasion to thank you for sharing your knowledge.
PF
thanks for the precise information you've given us. I was aware of some sort of programme related to the internet uses and cellular phone but to be honest i'm quite impressed by your detailed explanation and links.
Take this occasion to thank you for sharing your knowledge.
PF
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Hear Hear, agree 100% wiht Pink Flamingo!
Good stuff CD. When that happens, it will certainly save us & the pax a lot of aggravation.
Bring it on I say.
Will read your links this weekend at leisure, looking forward to that.
Thank you for taking the effort and posting all that on the forum for all of us to better our understanding of this thorny problem.
PS: Most welcome Tri, happy flying to you as well.
Good stuff CD. When that happens, it will certainly save us & the pax a lot of aggravation.
Bring it on I say.
Will read your links this weekend at leisure, looking forward to that.
Thank you for taking the effort and posting all that on the forum for all of us to better our understanding of this thorny problem.
PS: Most welcome Tri, happy flying to you as well.
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flaps - nice PA, and your point that if people understand they might be more likely to comply is valid. Hope you don't mind, but I'll nick it and adapt it for my own use! I won't give you direct credit, but instead, I'll ask the pilots to include your user name as a cockpit check on final approach - that way you'll live for ever!
However - The rules may change in the future, but until they do, I will require my passengers to comply with the existing procedures. My employer does not ask me to interpret the rules, according to my own understanding, but to apply them according to theirs. The point is that until the rules are changed, we don't know for sure that phones are safe to use, although we might suspect otherwise. If we are wrong even once the consequences could conceivably be catastrophic, and with that in mind, I'll back the opinion of the "experts".
I agree with AJ - the use of the phone sometimes verges on the obsessional and I don't understand it. To me, not using a mobile phone seems a relatively minor imposition, especially since the existing concerns are safety related. As so often, I seem to be out of step with the majority... (Sigh)... must be my age!
However - The rules may change in the future, but until they do, I will require my passengers to comply with the existing procedures. My employer does not ask me to interpret the rules, according to my own understanding, but to apply them according to theirs. The point is that until the rules are changed, we don't know for sure that phones are safe to use, although we might suspect otherwise. If we are wrong even once the consequences could conceivably be catastrophic, and with that in mind, I'll back the opinion of the "experts".
I agree with AJ - the use of the phone sometimes verges on the obsessional and I don't understand it. To me, not using a mobile phone seems a relatively minor imposition, especially since the existing concerns are safety related. As so often, I seem to be out of step with the majority... (Sigh)... must be my age!
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Some airlines as Iberia allow passengers to use their cell phones on board whilst on the ground and doors are open. As every airline has different rules, pax dont understand this and get angry
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Xtra crew yes you are right. On the Qantas website it does say that Frequent flyers are allowed to use their phones or something until the aircraft doors shut whilst it's on the ground...but I notice that the PA announcement say otherwise??
Sometimes when the aircraft are stuck out on the tarmac waiting for a gate to open the Captain makes announcements that they are allowed to use their phone.
Sometimes when the aircraft are stuck out on the tarmac waiting for a gate to open the Captain makes announcements that they are allowed to use their phone.
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Hi
Thanks for all the useful information.
My main gripe here was not so much the actual use of mobile phones in public ( I guess I don't like mobile phones anyway, but that's a different story...)
The main problem for me was 1) Ignoring safety-related PAs both at the gate, and aboard the aircraft before departure 2) Simple passenger disobedience.
I realise different airlines have different rules, but that's precisely why we keep reminding passengers that use of mobile phones is not permitted.
If I see a passenger using a mobile phone, I will kindly ask them to respect the rules, and turn it off. The problem (with a small percentage of passengers) is that they either point blank refuse to comply with your request, or comply with your request and then, like a 6-year old brat, disobey you as soon as you turn your back. That's when you get off!
regards
Thanks for all the useful information.
My main gripe here was not so much the actual use of mobile phones in public ( I guess I don't like mobile phones anyway, but that's a different story...)
The main problem for me was 1) Ignoring safety-related PAs both at the gate, and aboard the aircraft before departure 2) Simple passenger disobedience.
I realise different airlines have different rules, but that's precisely why we keep reminding passengers that use of mobile phones is not permitted.
If I see a passenger using a mobile phone, I will kindly ask them to respect the rules, and turn it off. The problem (with a small percentage of passengers) is that they either point blank refuse to comply with your request, or comply with your request and then, like a 6-year old brat, disobey you as soon as you turn your back. That's when you get
off!regards
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As a dispatcher, I take great pleasure in bellowing across the tarmac with accompanying pointing finger for the hard of thinking, at the miscreant with their phone -
"EXCUSE ME, YES YOU, TURN YOUR PHONE OFF PLEASE. THAT BIG YELLOW TRUCK THERE IS A 20 TON FUEL TANKER AND YOUR PHONE IS A FIRE HAZARD!"
Not sure if the embarassment of being publicly highlighted to the other punters as a moron is the catalyst for action, or the fear of dying horribly. Or maybe it's just because I'm a big, ugly, bad-tempered, hairy-arsed bloke with a "don't even think about it" expression.
Works every time.
"EXCUSE ME, YES YOU, TURN YOUR PHONE OFF PLEASE. THAT BIG YELLOW TRUCK THERE IS A 20 TON FUEL TANKER AND YOUR PHONE IS A FIRE HAZARD!"
Not sure if the embarassment of being publicly highlighted to the other punters as a moron is the catalyst for action, or the fear of dying horribly. Or maybe it's just because I'm a big, ugly, bad-tempered, hairy-arsed bloke with a "don't even think about it" expression.
Works every time.
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Except with people who understand that the fire hazard is in fact negligible, and point out that if this were not the case you would not be able to walk around with a radio on your belt all the time, demonstrating in fact that you are the one who is just blindly obeying rules without understanding why they are there.
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dual standards
My only gripe is the "no phones on ramp" type arguement.
When I am "on the ramp", working, my phone is ON and operational. As is 99.9% or all airport workers. So why is it dangerous for a passenger to have the phone switched ON and a ramp worker who has their phone ON.
Recently had to ask, in a sarcastic way, of an orange airline cabin crew, why I could not use my phone whist waiting at the gate....I was given the usual banter...interupted by her phone ringing.....her face matched her coverall.....end of discussion.
what more can I say...
When I am "on the ramp", working, my phone is ON and operational. As is 99.9% or all airport workers. So why is it dangerous for a passenger to have the phone switched ON and a ramp worker who has their phone ON.
Recently had to ask, in a sarcastic way, of an orange airline cabin crew, why I could not use my phone whist waiting at the gate....I was given the usual banter...interupted by her phone ringing.....her face matched her coverall.....end of discussion.
what more can I say...
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Be that as it may gentlemen, if you're flying with XYZ airlines, you stick to the rules of XYZ airlines, regardless of your personal opinions on the negligible (or otherwise) risks.
A sarcastic reply might result in yourselves being offloaded, especially if the crew have had to deal with similar clever-dicks on previous flights that day.
Take that as sound advice.
A sarcastic reply might result in yourselves being offloaded, especially if the crew have had to deal with similar clever-dicks on previous flights that day.
Take that as sound advice.
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So why is it dangerous for a passenger to have the phone switched ON and a ramp worker who has their phone ON.
Intrinsically safe can be described as “electrical equipment that is incapable of releasing sufficient electrical or thermal energy under normal or abnormal operating conditions to cause ignition of a specific hazardous mixture and air”. These devices may be used in hazardous areas as they are designed with additional shielding and safeguards to reduce the risk almost completely.
However, normal consumer electronics and cellular telephones are not required to be certified as intrinsically safe and are not constructed or manufactured to this higher standard.
It is also interesting to note that in December 2003, the UK CAA published updated guidance related to passenger use of cellular telephones during aircraft refuelling:
1 USE OF CELLULAR TELEPHONES DURING AIRCRAFT REFUELLING
1.1 FODCOM 17/2003 highlighted CAA Paper 2003/3, which contains the full results of the research carried out to identify the susceptibility to interference of vulnerable avionic equipment from commonly used transmitting devices.
1.2 Following the publication of this CAA Paper, an enquiry has been received requesting clarification as to whether it is now acceptable for cellular telephones to be used on board aircraft during refuelling operations, contrary to the guidance given in CAP 74 – “Aircraft Fuelling: Fire Prevention and Safety Measures.”
1.3 The CAA is satisfied that fuel vapour ignition, due to the use of cellular telephones on the aircraft, is unlikely when passengers are onboard during fuelling operations. This position takes account of the energy levels of cellular telephone transmissions, absorption and attenuation of that energy within the cabin, and the separation that would exist between an onboard cellular telephone and an external fuel vapour source.
1.4 It is proposed to combine CAP 74 and CAP 434 – “Aviation Fuel at Aerodromes” into a new document, and to remove the text relating to the use of telephones by passengers on board during refuelling operations. Pending this revision, operators may relax their current restriction and permit the use of cellular telephones inside the aircraft during fuelling operations.
1.1 FODCOM 17/2003 highlighted CAA Paper 2003/3, which contains the full results of the research carried out to identify the susceptibility to interference of vulnerable avionic equipment from commonly used transmitting devices.
1.2 Following the publication of this CAA Paper, an enquiry has been received requesting clarification as to whether it is now acceptable for cellular telephones to be used on board aircraft during refuelling operations, contrary to the guidance given in CAP 74 – “Aircraft Fuelling: Fire Prevention and Safety Measures.”
1.3 The CAA is satisfied that fuel vapour ignition, due to the use of cellular telephones on the aircraft, is unlikely when passengers are onboard during fuelling operations. This position takes account of the energy levels of cellular telephone transmissions, absorption and attenuation of that energy within the cabin, and the separation that would exist between an onboard cellular telephone and an external fuel vapour source.
1.4 It is proposed to combine CAP 74 and CAP 434 – “Aviation Fuel at Aerodromes” into a new document, and to remove the text relating to the use of telephones by passengers on board during refuelling operations. Pending this revision, operators may relax their current restriction and permit the use of cellular telephones inside the aircraft during fuelling operations.
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you wont believe it but it happened to me about 9yrs ago.the cell phones had just started in my region and one day in the holding pattern i put my phone on and called my wife. we were at about 10000ft. it was ok for about a minute then suddenly all my screens went blank and the flight computers failed , i immediately put my phone off and things started to come on. i was the captain of the flight and the industry was not really aware about the results of such actions. i didnt report it as such but quietly spread the word around through anon means.
so please make sure they put their phones off.
cheers and happy landing
ps i have never put mine on again in flight[the phone]
so please make sure they put their phones off.
cheers and happy landing
ps i have never put mine on again in flight[the phone]