Mobile phone regulations?
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 539
Likes: 0
From: LGW
I am CC with EZY at LGW and whilst we mainly use airbridges for boarding the pax onto the aircraft, we still do not allow the use of mobile phones on the aircraft during boarding.
EZY aim for 20 minute turnarounds, so on occasions, we will be boarding pax whilst refuelling, and our policy is that no electronic devices, mobile phones, call bells, reading lights or toilets should be used whilst refuelling. This is because if fuel vapour managed to get into the cabin you do have the ever so slight possibility of the fuel vapour being ignited if the electronic device being used generated a spark of some sort. Petrol garages in the UK do not advocate the use of mobile phones whilst you refuel your car either.
And in case anyone is wondering why we do not allow the use of toilets whilst refuelling, no it's not in case we are worried that someone had a rather strong vindaloo the night before and could blow the aircraft to bits, its because the toilets are located near the emergency exits and someone being in the toilet could slow down an evacuation in the event that the aircraft having to be vacated in an emergency.
The only time that we will allow the pax to use a mobile phone on board is in the event that the aircraft is being delayed by 30 minutes or more, and the commander makes a PA to the pax that they may use their phones BUT as soon as the engines are started, mobile phones must be switched off immediately.
The pax should remember that they are guests onboard our aircraft and if we say your phone must be switched off, then you must switch it off. It really annoys me when you get the 'big shots' who will argue the toss with you and say 'the doors are still open, I can use it - BA (or whoever) let me use it when I fly with them' to which I always reply 'Yes, well you are travelly EZY today sir, and we have different rules to BA (or whoever)'. After all, if I was in their house and I put my feet up on the sofa, and they said to me to put my feet on the floor, they wouldn't like it if I argued and said other people allow me to put my feet up on the sofa'.....
EZY aim for 20 minute turnarounds, so on occasions, we will be boarding pax whilst refuelling, and our policy is that no electronic devices, mobile phones, call bells, reading lights or toilets should be used whilst refuelling. This is because if fuel vapour managed to get into the cabin you do have the ever so slight possibility of the fuel vapour being ignited if the electronic device being used generated a spark of some sort. Petrol garages in the UK do not advocate the use of mobile phones whilst you refuel your car either.
And in case anyone is wondering why we do not allow the use of toilets whilst refuelling, no it's not in case we are worried that someone had a rather strong vindaloo the night before and could blow the aircraft to bits, its because the toilets are located near the emergency exits and someone being in the toilet could slow down an evacuation in the event that the aircraft having to be vacated in an emergency.
The only time that we will allow the pax to use a mobile phone on board is in the event that the aircraft is being delayed by 30 minutes or more, and the commander makes a PA to the pax that they may use their phones BUT as soon as the engines are started, mobile phones must be switched off immediately.
The pax should remember that they are guests onboard our aircraft and if we say your phone must be switched off, then you must switch it off. It really annoys me when you get the 'big shots' who will argue the toss with you and say 'the doors are still open, I can use it - BA (or whoever) let me use it when I fly with them' to which I always reply 'Yes, well you are travelly EZY today sir, and we have different rules to BA (or whoever)'. After all, if I was in their house and I put my feet up on the sofa, and they said to me to put my feet on the floor, they wouldn't like it if I argued and said other people allow me to put my feet up on the sofa'.....
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Hampshire
The last AIC issued from the UK CAA sets Portable Electronic Devides (PEDs) in to two groups. Intentional Transmitters (Cell phones etc) and Non Intentional Transmitters (CD Players etc).
WRT cell phones, they say that they should be switched off when doors are closed and not switched on again until doors are opened. However, they can be used on the ground, after doors closed, at the commanders discretion, during delays getting on stand for example, as long as there is sufficient time for cabin crew to secure the cabin.
They have also mentioned that devices with a flight safe mode can be used in this mode as long as the cabin crew can identify these devices and confirm that they are not transmitting. BA currently allow the use of devices in flight safe mode.
This policy also captures the use of Wi-Fi devices under the same group as cell phones but in practice it is not easy spotting a laptop that is transmitting.
There are working groups in exsistance trying to address the issue of PED usage in both the US and Europe. But at the end of the day it is down to the airline as to what devices are safe to use on board their aircraft and not the likes of Nokia or Motarola et al.
WRT cell phones, they say that they should be switched off when doors are closed and not switched on again until doors are opened. However, they can be used on the ground, after doors closed, at the commanders discretion, during delays getting on stand for example, as long as there is sufficient time for cabin crew to secure the cabin.
They have also mentioned that devices with a flight safe mode can be used in this mode as long as the cabin crew can identify these devices and confirm that they are not transmitting. BA currently allow the use of devices in flight safe mode.
This policy also captures the use of Wi-Fi devices under the same group as cell phones but in practice it is not easy spotting a laptop that is transmitting.
There are working groups in exsistance trying to address the issue of PED usage in both the US and Europe. But at the end of the day it is down to the airline as to what devices are safe to use on board their aircraft and not the likes of Nokia or Motarola et al.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 691
Likes: 0
From: About 3000 below Midhurst SID I reckon
BA policy is mobiles may be used when engines are not running and refuelling not taking place.
On a recent A320 flight, taxying to stand, the Captain had to make a plea for the pax who had their mobile on to switch it off as it was causing inteference with the radio and screens. The cabin crew had already made two PAs.
On Airbus with the drop down screens, you can often tell if a mobile has been left on during flight as lines may appear on the screens in that area, if all screens are effected it may be nearer the video system.
On a recent A320 flight, taxying to stand, the Captain had to make a plea for the pax who had their mobile on to switch it off as it was causing inteference with the radio and screens. The cabin crew had already made two PAs.
On Airbus with the drop down screens, you can often tell if a mobile has been left on during flight as lines may appear on the screens in that area, if all screens are effected it may be nearer the video system.
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: UK
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The pax should remember that they are guests onboard our aircraft and if we say your phone must be switched off...
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A dash of seriously bad attitude... Perhaps worth another thread, but I cannot pass this bait up, the reality is that these GUESTS pay your salary, so these GUESTS are your EMPLOYERS...
The pax should remember that they are guests onboard our aircraft and if we say your phone must be switched off...
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A dash of seriously bad attitude... Perhaps worth another thread, but I cannot pass this bait up, the reality is that these GUESTS pay your salary, so these GUESTS are your EMPLOYERS...
Joined: Oct 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 8,201
Likes: 347
From: London UK
This thread keeps breaking away from the original subject, which was a very reasonable request for consistency across all carriers. And I do not worry so much whether phones are to be switched on on touchdown, or engine shutdown, or door open, or in the jetway (which is what I would prefer), but I would like it consistent across all airlines. Hopefully worldwide and a standard ICAO approach, but that's too much to ask for.
For an industry that has found SOPs are the way to go it's a shame this area is all fragmented.
For an industry that has found SOPs are the way to go it's a shame this area is all fragmented.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 35
From: Hong Kong
Anyone who wishes to use their mobile phone in the air should be allowed to do so outside the cabin. The wing would be a good place.
I frankly don't want to be listening to some prat discuss his holiday or his last business meeting....that impacts on my personal space...space I paid for when I bought my ticket for my seat........
I frankly don't want to be listening to some prat discuss his holiday or his last business meeting....that impacts on my personal space...space I paid for when I bought my ticket for my seat........
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: US
Everybody hates the idea of cells on planes. But this will in the end be about money and profit. Everything is, including the cramped seats--which pax don't like, but we have them anyway.
See the message above that says airline internet can earn $400 annually and cell phone use 4 times that. If the airlines get a cut of that, they'll go for it like a rat on cheese.
You have your answer. It will happen. We'll all be listening to 200 people on a flight of 350 simultanously talking to everybody they know because it's 8 hours (or 14 hours etc) and they can't stand to sit there bored. Business people will be on them the whole time. The ring tones will be a deafening cacophany.
And if they can't manage to turn off their mobiles at all; so enforcing a vibrating "ring" tone will be nigh impossible. Hey! I'm not usually this cynical! ha.
Can you just imagine????
See the message above that says airline internet can earn $400 annually and cell phone use 4 times that. If the airlines get a cut of that, they'll go for it like a rat on cheese.
You have your answer. It will happen. We'll all be listening to 200 people on a flight of 350 simultanously talking to everybody they know because it's 8 hours (or 14 hours etc) and they can't stand to sit there bored. Business people will be on them the whole time. The ring tones will be a deafening cacophany.
And if they can't manage to turn off their mobiles at all; so enforcing a vibrating "ring" tone will be nigh impossible. Hey! I'm not usually this cynical! ha.
Can you just imagine????
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 1
From: Ireland
Baggersup:
You may be right: money talks.
But wait! A further twist! The airline could let people use their cell phones on the flight (thus generating revenue)...and then also create a "quiet zone" for those who don't want to listen to the ring tones and conversations - but charge people £5 or £10 to sit there, just as some of the no-frills carriers do with extra legroom seats. I can see it now (and it's not a pretty sight...)
You may be right: money talks.
But wait! A further twist! The airline could let people use their cell phones on the flight (thus generating revenue)...and then also create a "quiet zone" for those who don't want to listen to the ring tones and conversations - but charge people £5 or £10 to sit there, just as some of the no-frills carriers do with extra legroom seats. I can see it now (and it's not a pretty sight...)
