Mobile phone se on board before the door is closed?
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Mobile phone se on board before the door is closed?
For business travellers, the last few minutes before the door is closed are often used to tie up lose strings with the office or a client before the flight takes off and we go incommunicado for the length of the journey. This period of time is often long in Europe owing to the near certainty that you will sit at the gate until well after your appointed time.
There is no consistent pattern between the airlines on the question of whether you can use your cell phone (or for that matter, your laptop)once on board, but BEFORE they close the door to begin to pull away. Certain airlines yes, others make you turn it off the minute you cross the threshold.
Questions:
(1)Is there an international standard?
(2) Do the carriers have the discretion to adopt another practice?
I am curious as I still can't understand the relevance of potential interference with navigation instruments when the plane is parked at the gate.
There is no consistent pattern between the airlines on the question of whether you can use your cell phone (or for that matter, your laptop)once on board, but BEFORE they close the door to begin to pull away. Certain airlines yes, others make you turn it off the minute you cross the threshold.
Questions:
(1)Is there an international standard?
(2) Do the carriers have the discretion to adopt another practice?
I am curious as I still can't understand the relevance of potential interference with navigation instruments when the plane is parked at the gate.
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Possibly a valid point about the nav instruments when parked - but these days there's all sorts of digital signals buzzing around the a/c. (Thinks of mobile phone ringing and the emergency floor lights flashing on and off in time with my speech 
)
But do you really need to make calls in that last half hour? I make a point of turning off mine as I walk down the ramp - every time. If somebody has to call me back in an hour or two, is it such a problem?
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What goes around . . .
. . often lands better!
)But do you really need to make calls in that last half hour? I make a point of turning off mine as I walk down the ramp - every time. If somebody has to call me back in an hour or two, is it such a problem?
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What goes around . . .
. . often lands better!
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Preference would be to chuck the phone altogether (at times), but yes there are times when being able to continue on a business call is necessary / helpful and the incidence of protracted waits (one good one last week was 2 1/4 hours!) on the tarmac make the policy bothersome. For example, BA, CX and SQ to name a few, allow phone use up to the door closing, whilst IB for example won't.
Back to the question: answers anyone?
Back to the question: answers anyone?
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MIB, I witnessed an incident on SQ out of Jakarta recently where an obnoxious passenger sitting next to me was using mobile whilst at gate waiting to leave, door open. He refused crew request to turn it off, only when other pax got involved did he grudgingly submit.
We now have a problem on our golf course where mobiles can be heard ringing, club is going to ban the use of mobiles on course and execs are whining about "how are they going to conduct business without them"
My question is what did people do before mobile phones!!!!!
We now have a problem on our golf course where mobiles can be heard ringing, club is going to ban the use of mobiles on course and execs are whining about "how are they going to conduct business without them"
My question is what did people do before mobile phones!!!!!
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These days it often happens (well with BA anyway) that you get boarded so that they can report "fully ready" to ATC hoping for an improved slot. It's only once you're aboard that the Captain informs you of this and if no earlier slot materialises you can be sitting at the gate for anything up to one hour. At Brum we even taxyed to the loop by runway 15 and shut down whilst awaiting our slot. Under these circumstances I can understand pax wishing to make a quick call with a revised ETA. Same happened in the USA when we had to hold off gate due to a groundhold imposed on traffic inbound to our destination. Engines were shut down and the Captain explained the problem and then went on to tell the pax that they could use their mobils until the engines were re-started.
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Here is a question?
If you are that important, should you really be that contactable??
Anyway, those points aside, would you really like to phone the other end and tell them you are going to be 45 mins late, risking possible malfunction of aircraft equipment (YES- We do things before moving from the gate, such as aligning the Inertial Reference System - used for navigation, etc)
or would the office junior they send to pick you up at the other end be happy enough to wait 45 mins, so long as it means you get there ok??
Just a few thoughts
ODL
If you are that important, should you really be that contactable??
Anyway, those points aside, would you really like to phone the other end and tell them you are going to be 45 mins late, risking possible malfunction of aircraft equipment (YES- We do things before moving from the gate, such as aligning the Inertial Reference System - used for navigation, etc)
or would the office junior they send to pick you up at the other end be happy enough to wait 45 mins, so long as it means you get there ok??
Just a few thoughts ODL
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ODL,
I don't understand your first question. I tried to read it standing on my head but still no joy! Am I thick?
You should have aligned the IRS long before the pax board. And what about all the radios and mobiles ground crews use??? Come off it mate, you're going to have to do better than that
I don't understand your first question. I tried to read it standing on my head but still no joy! Am I thick?
You should have aligned the IRS long before the pax board. And what about all the radios and mobiles ground crews use??? Come off it mate, you're going to have to do better than that
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Hi there, MIB - It actually is a pain, when pax uses cell-phones onboard. First of all it can interfere with the nav.computer, I`ve experienced a shutdown just minutes before commencing take-off roll and then having to reset the entire route and performancefigures, before we could take off. It also interferes on the VHF-COM radios, just as you have probably noticed when you are driving in your car and receive and incoming call, a strange rumble in the loudspeakers.
An finally, but absolutely not least, my company has had false cargo bay fire warnings caused by a combination of too sensetive fire detectors and incoming signals to cell-phones !!! I tell you, you wont be very popular if your phone triggers a firewarning, and thereby leading to an evacuation of the aircraft on ground
Having said that I agree with you that the airlines should have uniform procedures on this issue, and it must be pretty hard for passengers to find out when it is ok and when it`s not
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In thrust we trust
An finally, but absolutely not least, my company has had false cargo bay fire warnings caused by a combination of too sensetive fire detectors and incoming signals to cell-phones !!! I tell you, you wont be very popular if your phone triggers a firewarning, and thereby leading to an evacuation of the aircraft on ground
Having said that I agree with you that the airlines should have uniform procedures on this issue, and it must be pretty hard for passengers to find out when it is ok and when it`s not
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In thrust we trust
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Cell phones should be switched off on boarding. Not only on safety grounds but also for the convenience of other pax. Who enjoys sitting next to someone who is engaged in a cellphone call? Bloody inconsiderate!
22nd March SQ from KL-Singapore (Forgot the flight no.) With about 3 miles to touchdown, on the ILS, hanging out there over the bay with full flaps and wheels down, seat 48K`s handphone rings and he starts a conversation! Finally switched it off only after pax next to him shouts at him.
Is there really any chance to enforce the handphone ban?
22nd March SQ from KL-Singapore (Forgot the flight no.) With about 3 miles to touchdown, on the ILS, hanging out there over the bay with full flaps and wheels down, seat 48K`s handphone rings and he starts a conversation! Finally switched it off only after pax next to him shouts at him.
Is there really any chance to enforce the handphone ban?
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British Midland oops!, BMI, let you gas on the phone until the door is closed. People on phones dont bug me, its people who try to fully open large newspapers whilst sitting next to you. Or even worse, the people sitting behind who rest the newspaper on the top of your head.
As regards mobile phones I'm all for it, it is truly amazing the business info you can pick up from people in business lounges on mobile phones. Some people have not yet clicked to the idea that most of the people around them are in business too, and some are in the same business.
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To the gymnastics expert (aka standing on his head), the first question was has IATA or some similar body issued a directive or other notice on the subject (clear now????)
On the questions orginally posed - putting aside the issues of telephone courtesy, security, etc. - is there an international directive or other notice on the subject and what discretion do the airlines have? Or why do CX allow you to use the phone until the door closes as opposed to Iberia who won't allow a phone on even walking down the corridor to the airbridge?
On the questions orginally posed - putting aside the issues of telephone courtesy, security, etc. - is there an international directive or other notice on the subject and what discretion do the airlines have? Or why do CX allow you to use the phone until the door closes as opposed to Iberia who won't allow a phone on even walking down the corridor to the airbridge?
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I may be corrected on this but :
I do not believe their is any international standard on this subject.
I do believe the airlines have the right to adopt whatever practice they feel is prudent. Their Captains would be required to enforce such a practice generally. Since it is a legal requirement to obey all lawful commands given by the Captain the rest is academic.
It may also be a consideration that aircraft are often being refuelled during pasenger embarkation and that might influence the decision of some carriers to restrict the use of mobile phones during ground operations. My local gas station restricts their use on its premises !
Love Marge
I do not believe their is any international standard on this subject.
I do believe the airlines have the right to adopt whatever practice they feel is prudent. Their Captains would be required to enforce such a practice generally. Since it is a legal requirement to obey all lawful commands given by the Captain the rest is academic.
It may also be a consideration that aircraft are often being refuelled during pasenger embarkation and that might influence the decision of some carriers to restrict the use of mobile phones during ground operations. My local gas station restricts their use on its premises !
Love Marge
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Marge..thanks for the clear response. This makes sense as there is not a consistent approach amongst the carriers and there have been times when the chief will advise the pax that "the captain has allowed...".
Out of curiousity....can an innocent little cellphone ignite fuel?
mib
Out of curiousity....can an innocent little cellphone ignite fuel?
mib
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Don't really have an answer for you mib, but as I recall most petrol/gas/filling stations where I live (Central Florida) have warnings against cell phone use while standing at the pump.
For years my state professional association has had a policy that cell phone/pager ringers are to be switched off while in continuing professional education (CPE) courses. It's amazing how many of these so-called professionals are the sort of complete idiots who's phones ring during the session. (Even worse if the idiot starts talking before he/she leaves the room.) I can think of only one CPE course in the past eight years that has not been interrupted by the sound of someone's mobile or pager ringing/beeping - and this was after I (feeling a bit bolshie that day) added to the "restatement of policy" delivered by the instructor by telling all and sundry that their phones surely have a silent and/or vibrating mode, so why don't they use it?
pax d (grumpy old lady, knows how to set her phone to silent mode, so it flashes instead of rings and she can get up quietly and walk outside the room to take a call - rare, because she tries to run a department without crises, so no one should need her that desperately)
For years my state professional association has had a policy that cell phone/pager ringers are to be switched off while in continuing professional education (CPE) courses. It's amazing how many of these so-called professionals are the sort of complete idiots who's phones ring during the session. (Even worse if the idiot starts talking before he/she leaves the room.) I can think of only one CPE course in the past eight years that has not been interrupted by the sound of someone's mobile or pager ringing/beeping - and this was after I (feeling a bit bolshie that day) added to the "restatement of policy" delivered by the instructor by telling all and sundry that their phones surely have a silent and/or vibrating mode, so why don't they use it?
pax d (grumpy old lady, knows how to set her phone to silent mode, so it flashes instead of rings and she can get up quietly and walk outside the room to take a call - rare, because she tries to run a department without crises, so no one should need her that desperately)
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Allright MIB - hereīs a few facts for you...
Presently there is no IATA-rule against cell phones, however a number of states within the EU has local laws . According to the information on the subject in my Flight Manual (SAS) the use of cell phones onboard aircraft is prohibited in Finland and Germany and allowed only with the doors open in Italy and Switzerland. In the rest of the EU there isnīt any local laws against cell phones.
However many airlines have companyrules which are more strict than local law require and these rules must be obeyed while onboard the aircraft. I remember having read somewhere about a flight returning to the gate recently to kick off a passenger who refused to turn-off his cell phone before the aircraft was on the take-off roll. He was pretty heavily fined
In my opinion cell phones should be forbidden whenever onboard the aircraft: they are a pain to fellow travellers, they can have an influence on the Flight Management System, they can (and does) disturb VHF-communication , incoming signals to cell-phones which are turned on is known to have triggered firedetectors and finally it is still not clear if it was cellphones or not which lead to tragic Crossair SAAB 340 last year.
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In thrust we trust
Presently there is no IATA-rule against cell phones, however a number of states within the EU has local laws . According to the information on the subject in my Flight Manual (SAS) the use of cell phones onboard aircraft is prohibited in Finland and Germany and allowed only with the doors open in Italy and Switzerland. In the rest of the EU there isnīt any local laws against cell phones.
However many airlines have companyrules which are more strict than local law require and these rules must be obeyed while onboard the aircraft. I remember having read somewhere about a flight returning to the gate recently to kick off a passenger who refused to turn-off his cell phone before the aircraft was on the take-off roll. He was pretty heavily fined
In my opinion cell phones should be forbidden whenever onboard the aircraft: they are a pain to fellow travellers, they can have an influence on the Flight Management System, they can (and does) disturb VHF-communication , incoming signals to cell-phones which are turned on is known to have triggered firedetectors and finally it is still not clear if it was cellphones or not which lead to tragic Crossair SAAB 340 last year.
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In thrust we trust
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MD90...thanks. Clear and interesting.
To set the record straight for my friends in the audience: I probably have had need or desire to use my phone during the boarding / unboarding phase of the flight 1 time out of 20, if that much and do realize and respect the need for courtesy to one's fellow passengers and caution when discussing sensitive topics around the competition. However, I have found in Europe since we moved here after many years in Asia that the incidence of unscheduled and protracted delays on European flights (far more numerous than in Asia) necessitate advising clients and office of delays, etc. and the inevitable use of the phone!
To set the record straight for my friends in the audience: I probably have had need or desire to use my phone during the boarding / unboarding phase of the flight 1 time out of 20, if that much and do realize and respect the need for courtesy to one's fellow passengers and caution when discussing sensitive topics around the competition. However, I have found in Europe since we moved here after many years in Asia that the incidence of unscheduled and protracted delays on European flights (far more numerous than in Asia) necessitate advising clients and office of delays, etc. and the inevitable use of the phone!
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as a controller at an airport, we are not really told why the mobile phone rule is in force. However, a departing plane recently reported hearing a distress call on his frequency (as a morse code signal) and asked us if we knew anything - we didn't. After quite a few telephone calls to neighboring units and the distress and diversion cell we ascertained that there was no distress traffic in the area. A few minutes later the pilot called us again to report that a mobile phone on the plane had beeped "message received" using a long series of beeps (that we would all recognise). The phones actually beep SMS in morse code but this is only one dash different from SOS. This caused us a lot of work at the time when our attention could have been spent elsewhere - getting better slots etc!!!!
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The big problem with any portable electrical device (PED) is that it generates an electromagnetic field which then intereferes with the aircarft systems. The telephone, when it checks in with the nearest base station, produces a search signal which is audible through our headsets. Laptop computers genertae enormous EM fields; the 2 computers the jet uses to continuously monitor the aircraft systems is particularly susceptible to interference. This produces false warning signals which can result in unnecessary delays, if on the ground, while we resolve them or inconvenience for you and the other pax if we have to divert.