Beware the Inflight WWW
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StickyB
Like you I am guessing here but I suspect the reason that the cell base stations and rooftop pager transmitters are (hopefull!) several hundred feet away even if you are flying right over the top of them.
The received signal strenght from a transmitter diminishes as the SQUARE of the distance. So even a relatively powerful cell transmitter would be quite a weak signal by the time it reaches the aircraft flying overhead.
Your cellphone, stowed in your briefcase in the overhead, could be within inches of the wiring between the flight deck and aircraft controls at the rear (the quite important ones that make the aircraft go up an down!!)
As I said earlier, pax really must be made aware that "off" means "OFF" !
Like you I am guessing here but I suspect the reason that the cell base stations and rooftop pager transmitters are (hopefull!) several hundred feet away even if you are flying right over the top of them.
The received signal strenght from a transmitter diminishes as the SQUARE of the distance. So even a relatively powerful cell transmitter would be quite a weak signal by the time it reaches the aircraft flying overhead.
Your cellphone, stowed in your briefcase in the overhead, could be within inches of the wiring between the flight deck and aircraft controls at the rear (the quite important ones that make the aircraft go up an down!!)
As I said earlier, pax really must be made aware that "off" means "OFF" !
Guest
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I fly SAA and BA/COMAIR in the Southern African region as self loading cargo.
The above do not allow cd players at any time,allow laptops in cruise flight, but are quite causual about cellphones PRIOR to start up. I agree that cabin announcements should be modified and strengthened about switch off BEFORE you even enter the cabin. I intend to take this up the the Aircrew on the next flight with both airlines and see what they have been told is policy.
The above do not allow cd players at any time,allow laptops in cruise flight, but are quite causual about cellphones PRIOR to start up. I agree that cabin announcements should be modified and strengthened about switch off BEFORE you even enter the cabin. I intend to take this up the the Aircrew on the next flight with both airlines and see what they have been told is policy.
Guest
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Mobile Phones, the Italians love them, I've never seen a Country like it. And I really pity the Cabin Crew on an internal Flight, I've seen the F/A's trying to stop more than one passenger talking on the phone during the Flight never mind switching it off. The afore mentioned passenger needed telling more than once!!!!.
But I must say the Airlines need to tell the Self Loading Cargo the reasons that they are being asked to turn the phone off, as many people dont understand why they need to turn them off.
Posters at the gate/airbridge are a great idea perhaps the Airlines and Airports should get together on this one, sooner rather than later as Mobile Phones arn't going to go away.
But I must say the Airlines need to tell the Self Loading Cargo the reasons that they are being asked to turn the phone off, as many people dont understand why they need to turn them off.
Posters at the gate/airbridge are a great idea perhaps the Airlines and Airports should get together on this one, sooner rather than later as Mobile Phones arn't going to go away.
Guest
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The poster idea would certainly be the cheapest option.
For those that think using a mobile before pushback is ok, consider this -
On a short turnround the self loading cargo may be on board whilst the aircraft is being refuelled. It is theoretically possible for a mobile phone to cause a spark when transmitting or recieving and with that much fuel around does anyone want to test the theory!!
The only guaranteed way to ensure all phones are OFF is to remove them from the hands of untrustworthy pax before boarding and hand them back after the flight.
For those that think using a mobile before pushback is ok, consider this -
On a short turnround the self loading cargo may be on board whilst the aircraft is being refuelled. It is theoretically possible for a mobile phone to cause a spark when transmitting or recieving and with that much fuel around does anyone want to test the theory!!
The only guaranteed way to ensure all phones are OFF is to remove them from the hands of untrustworthy pax before boarding and hand them back after the flight.
Guest
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Still don't understand why CD drives are considered a hazard (by some airlines) but regarding phones, there is now a small device (available via the net) that cuts the phone dead. Great fun for walking around with, but maybe could be adopted for business class? Range is about 20' so seems ok for that
Guest
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Regarding the mobile phones........if cabin crew offer to stow the jackets and coats of pax, then why not keep the mobile battery and return it after landing, just like the jackets.
When pax can remember to give coats, I am sure they can be reminded to part with their mobile phone batteries for the duration of flight. This will even ensure those cases where passengers have "genuinely" forgotten to switch off their phones
Any comments
When pax can remember to give coats, I am sure they can be reminded to part with their mobile phone batteries for the duration of flight. This will even ensure those cases where passengers have "genuinely" forgotten to switch off their phones
Any comments
Guest
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CD players are bad because the digital scan rate they use to pick up the information off the disk is in the megahertz band.
On the subject of sensing phone transmissions, I've seen a device thats basically a light in a pen that flashes when a digital phone carrier signal is recieved. It was small enough to be fitted in the end of a functioning pen - perhaps the suggestion to fit sensors is a good one.
On the subject of sensing phone transmissions, I've seen a device thats basically a light in a pen that flashes when a digital phone carrier signal is recieved. It was small enough to be fitted in the end of a functioning pen - perhaps the suggestion to fit sensors is a good one.
Guest
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The thing about the CD players being banned but CD-ROM drives in laptops being allowed is a matter of headphone leads. You'll also find a ban on external mice on laptops, for the same reason.
What happens inside a CD player/ROM drive is that lots of energy is used at radio frequencies -- not normally directly on the aviation or nav bands, but with significant amounts of spillover there nonetheless. A digital signal at 1MHz will also have stuff going on at 2MHz, 3MHz... all the multiples of the basic frequency, in fact. Normally, this is shielded by the case and doesn't escape -- this is a condition of modern electronic equipment passing various interference regulations.
If you plug a lead in, though, it acts as an antenna and can couple the signals inside the case to the outside world. Headphone and mouse leads do this -- in theory, this shouldn't happen and there should be components in the CD that block the signals before the headphone/mouse socket, but in practice it's not so clear cut.
The more I think about it, the more it seems that making some form of hand-held/seatback sensor for emission detection would be very useful. If I could make one for £500 or so, would any airline buy it?
R
What happens inside a CD player/ROM drive is that lots of energy is used at radio frequencies -- not normally directly on the aviation or nav bands, but with significant amounts of spillover there nonetheless. A digital signal at 1MHz will also have stuff going on at 2MHz, 3MHz... all the multiples of the basic frequency, in fact. Normally, this is shielded by the case and doesn't escape -- this is a condition of modern electronic equipment passing various interference regulations.
If you plug a lead in, though, it acts as an antenna and can couple the signals inside the case to the outside world. Headphone and mouse leads do this -- in theory, this shouldn't happen and there should be components in the CD that block the signals before the headphone/mouse socket, but in practice it's not so clear cut.
The more I think about it, the more it seems that making some form of hand-held/seatback sensor for emission detection would be very useful. If I could make one for £500 or so, would any airline buy it?
R
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"Flight Attendant: Police, Babysitter or Secret Cell-Phone Snuffer?"....just a few comments regarding "posters, bells and whistles" regarding people and their phones.
1)Cell phones can be used up until 5 minutes before departure on American Airlines.
2) Flight attendants (at AA) are not paid (except "per diem") until after the airplane door closes. Unfortunately, the most hectic part of the job is often before that moment.
I think that the new rule (see #1, above)helps to pacify the cell-phone addicts, while not completely revoking their privelege at what can be the most frustrating moments..(i.e.:delays, etc.)
3)Do you REALLY believe that more announcements, posters, bells, and seat-pocket-magazine reading materials will help me to encourage a flight full of modern society to obey rules?
Consider this:
The door to the lav says "push".
The passenger pulls.
Here's an even better example:
"Fasten your seat belt."
The seatbelt exists...surely the passenger sees it or sits on it.
The flight attendant says "fasten it" before the airplane door closes.
The captain turns the "fasten seatbelt" sign on...(complete with 2 hands and belt picture), AND a bell rings at the same time.
It's embroidered on the back of the headrest directly in front of you.
It's written on the safety briefing card, and in the in-flight magazine. In many languages.
The agent reminds of it before the door is closed.
THEN......they even show you HOW to do it.
I know you've gotta be getting my point...Invariably, LOTS of grown, sober, sane men and women STILL don't do it.
Even though they've heard all the reasons.
Rules don't apply, because if they're followed, passengers have a tougher time sueing! (kidding) (kind of)
One more unnumbered point: AA does offer "approved" in-flight phones, for those desperate to phone. (Does anyone know why they're approved?)
Please wear your seatbelt and pack your phone in your checked luggage!
1)Cell phones can be used up until 5 minutes before departure on American Airlines.
2) Flight attendants (at AA) are not paid (except "per diem") until after the airplane door closes. Unfortunately, the most hectic part of the job is often before that moment.
I think that the new rule (see #1, above)helps to pacify the cell-phone addicts, while not completely revoking their privelege at what can be the most frustrating moments..(i.e.:delays, etc.)
3)Do you REALLY believe that more announcements, posters, bells, and seat-pocket-magazine reading materials will help me to encourage a flight full of modern society to obey rules?
Consider this:
The door to the lav says "push".
The passenger pulls.
Here's an even better example:
"Fasten your seat belt."
The seatbelt exists...surely the passenger sees it or sits on it.
The flight attendant says "fasten it" before the airplane door closes.
The captain turns the "fasten seatbelt" sign on...(complete with 2 hands and belt picture), AND a bell rings at the same time.
It's embroidered on the back of the headrest directly in front of you.
It's written on the safety briefing card, and in the in-flight magazine. In many languages.
The agent reminds of it before the door is closed.
THEN......they even show you HOW to do it.
I know you've gotta be getting my point...Invariably, LOTS of grown, sober, sane men and women STILL don't do it.
Even though they've heard all the reasons.
Rules don't apply, because if they're followed, passengers have a tougher time sueing! (kidding) (kind of)
One more unnumbered point: AA does offer "approved" in-flight phones, for those desperate to phone. (Does anyone know why they're approved?)
Please wear your seatbelt and pack your phone in your checked luggage!
Guest
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Did you know that systems are now being developed to allow the use of mobiles on board aircraft? They achieve this by creating a 'micro cell' inside the aircraft itself. I thought the idea was to ban the use of these things on board, not encourage it!
Guest
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I agree with "up2late".
People are just obnoxious and self-centred.
You can give them the information and the resources, and they will still do only as they please. The idea of keeping the batteries (as in the coats) is a really good idea. Maybe a sticker placed on their boarding pass when a mobile phone is detected in their on-board luggage (when going through X-ray/security). This way, when they board, we can see that they have a mobile on them. That will surely screw all those b*****ds that hide their phones for later use!
*feeling more and like a policewoman/babysitter everyday*
People are just obnoxious and self-centred.
You can give them the information and the resources, and they will still do only as they please. The idea of keeping the batteries (as in the coats) is a really good idea. Maybe a sticker placed on their boarding pass when a mobile phone is detected in their on-board luggage (when going through X-ray/security). This way, when they board, we can see that they have a mobile on them. That will surely screw all those b*****ds that hide their phones for later use!
*feeling more and like a policewoman/babysitter everyday*
Guest
Posts: n/a
I agree with "up2late".
People are just obnoxious and self-centred.
You can give them the information and the resources, and they will still do only as they please. The idea of keeping the batteries (as in the coats) is a really good idea. Maybe a sticker placed on their boarding pass when a mobile phone is detected in their on-board luggage (when going through X-ray/security). This way, when they board, we can see that they have a mobile on them. That will surely screw all those b*****ds that hide their phones for later use!
*feeling more and like a policewoman/babysitter everyday*
People are just obnoxious and self-centred.
You can give them the information and the resources, and they will still do only as they please. The idea of keeping the batteries (as in the coats) is a really good idea. Maybe a sticker placed on their boarding pass when a mobile phone is detected in their on-board luggage (when going through X-ray/security). This way, when they board, we can see that they have a mobile on them. That will surely screw all those b*****ds that hide their phones for later use!
*feeling more and like a policewoman/babysitter everyday*
Guest
Posts: n/a
Collecting mobile phone batteries with jackets sounds like a good idea, but we already have enough to do in business class before takeoff...collect jackets, hand out newspapers, preflight drinks...and the whole boarding procedure only takes 15 mins.
Also what about economy passengers? They have mobile phones too. Would you like to collect 220 batteries before takeoff and then hand them back at top of descent? On a 1 hour flight this would be impossible.
I find that people often use their mobile phone whilst the aircraft is taxiing. They get really annoyed when they are told to turn it off. I think it is something that the airlines should address, maybe if they charged a frequent flier with engangering the safety of an aircraft he would think twice about doing it again. Unfortunately the more likely scenario is that he would complain that the F/A was rude to him when she told him to turn his phone off. The company would send a letter of apology and something to compensate him.....
Also what about economy passengers? They have mobile phones too. Would you like to collect 220 batteries before takeoff and then hand them back at top of descent? On a 1 hour flight this would be impossible.
I find that people often use their mobile phone whilst the aircraft is taxiing. They get really annoyed when they are told to turn it off. I think it is something that the airlines should address, maybe if they charged a frequent flier with engangering the safety of an aircraft he would think twice about doing it again. Unfortunately the more likely scenario is that he would complain that the F/A was rude to him when she told him to turn his phone off. The company would send a letter of apology and something to compensate him.....
Guest
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Thank's for bringing up such an important issue for us cabin crew.
In the airline I work for we don't permit the use of any eletronic equipment during take-of ,approach and landing ,this includes ,lap-top's .videocam etc...
CD's and mobile's must be switched off inside the acft.
I allready had some bad experiences with electronic interferece whith the acft. systems
(I fly on Airbuse's and they give us more interference problems than Boeing's... any coment's on that??)
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"Cabin Crew does it better"
[This message has been edited by latin sky (edited 24 February 2000).]
[This message has been edited by latin sky (edited 24 February 2000).]
In the airline I work for we don't permit the use of any eletronic equipment during take-of ,approach and landing ,this includes ,lap-top's .videocam etc...
CD's and mobile's must be switched off inside the acft.
I allready had some bad experiences with electronic interferece whith the acft. systems
(I fly on Airbuse's and they give us more interference problems than Boeing's... any coment's on that??)
------------------
"Cabin Crew does it better"
[This message has been edited by latin sky (edited 24 February 2000).]
[This message has been edited by latin sky (edited 24 February 2000).]
