Mobile phone usage aboard.

[Davef68]

This morning EZY EDI to Stansted, delayed due to a late arriving (or standby) flight crew member. Pilot announces delay (To surprisingly muted response) and says feel free to use your mobile devices to let people know you are going to be late, I'll bet when I go back, we'll get the usual 'Airport regulations don't permit until inside the terminal etc'

[fa2fi]

I assume that was because you were onboard the aircraft. Being onbiard and using PEDs are not the issue. It's walking to and from the aircraft that is the problem.

[Abonae]

Really hard to believe that it's walking to and from the plane that's the problem for three reasons:
1. There seems to be no prohibition on using phones when boarding
2. Not all airlines insist on not using phones until inside the terminal building
3. Widespread use of phones by workers airside

Inconsistent "rules" like this tend to reduce compliance with all rules.

[Davef68]

I'd imagine it's the fire risk mentioned above, plus the fact that you are crossing an operational zone, so they want you to have your full wits about you and not be distracted talking on the phone.

[fa2fi]

Abonae it happens during boarding too. And at all of the bases I've worked at I honestly can't say that mobile phone use is common with ground crews.

[notjustanotherpilot]

"I'd imagine it's the fire risk mentioned above"


With regard to that as has been mentioned previously, unproven. I think it is one of those "let's ban everything if we don't know any better" scenarios.
Have we seen the Mythbusters episode where as hard as they tried they were unable to cause an ignition from a mobile phone?
The RF emissions in themselves may cause interference to other gear but the RF shielding these days is better than it was so as to be of a decreasing to negligible factor (no doubt depending on the age of the aircraft and systems).

[ExXB]

Originally Posted by ExXB

Flew Squeezy-UK last night into GVA. They still do not allow PEDs gate-to-gate. In fact we were over 20 mins out when they told everyone to turn-off.

I was intrigued by the announcement they made just before opening the door. Something like 'airport regulations prohibit the use of mobile telephones until you are in the terminal building'. Really? I have never heard of such regulation and I doubt if airports would be allowed to regulate something like this.

And it does seem to be at odds with those airlines mentioned above that allow telephones to be used on the taxiways.

Is there really such a Regulation?

Well, here is the reply I got from Squeezy:

We have received a confirmation from the airport that due to security and regulations, the airport staff announced that all passengers need to switch off their mobile phones until they are inside the terminal building.

Note that on this particular flight the exit from the aircraft was via air bridge (as most DZ/U2 flights are at GVA) and did not involve walking on the ramp.

[LadyL2013]

Whether it's OK or not I don't get what is so vitally important that you cannot wait 10 minutes more whilst the aircraft taxis to the gate to make a call.

I'll always remember a passenger who kept standing up during taxi to the gate and was asked several times to sit back down. Aircraft had to stop suddenly, he went flying face first into the seat across the aisle, leaving him with a rather nasty cut lip and lost tooth. No one needed to say anything, the shock any embarassment on his face said it all. Then we all had to wait whilst he was seen to....

[chrisstiles]

It's basically down to the death of civility everywhere - social conventions used to regulate such things - now unless we have draconian punishments people feel free to flout any rules.

[fa2fi]

At GVA some flights are remote and use busses. I remember back to when I was crew in some stations you'd get an air bridge and a few minutes later the rear doors would be opened for disembarkation via steps and other times it would open just so you can out the rubbish out. What I'm trying to say is you never know what's going to happen.

So if it were an air bridge then possibly they are saying it just in case as you are not necessarily informed of whether the rear door is to be opened or not and when you're saying bye to pax you won't know the rear door is opened necessarily as the indication panel is out of view.

It's probably just back covering just like how you're always asked to put your seat upright on every flight despite most EZY seats now being non-recline.

Anyway, we're talking about a 30 yard walk to the terminal. I'm sure it's not the end of the world if we need to put our phones down for the seconds that it takes to walk.

[ExXB]

fa2fi

Thanks and don't disagree with any of that, but

- Why don't they make the same announcement before boarding the aircraft/bus? I.e. On departure?
- Why don't other airlines make the same/similar announcement?
- how can BA, for example, allow use once off the runway when Squeezy requires you to hold off until after you are in the terminal? It's the same airport, isn't it?
- Why don't bus drivers make same/similar announcements?
- Do airports (and it's not just GVA) really have the authority to regulate telecommunications?

IMHO Squeezy makes these announcements for their own purposes but end up looking silly. Particularly in an era where their competitors are allowing PED use gate-to-gate.

And this isn't about "Can't I wait 10 minutes", as I can, and do it's about a business trying to avoid criticism by blaming somebody else. Just like those that blame Elf and Safety for just about anything.

What they should do is to say "Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to Geveva; blah, blah, blah; in order to speed the your exit, and for the convenience of other passengers, we ask that you wait until you are in the terminal building before turning your portable telephone on."

Oh, and why can't Squeezy hire CS people that can write in English?

[fa2fi]

I believe PEDs gate to gate will come to EZY in a few weeks time for all periods except during low visibility approaches.

Electronic devices may be used on easyJet on the ground currently when the door is open

In terms of the gate staff I have seen them ask people to stop their phone conversation whilst walking to the aircraft and that was on a UK domestic flight by non-easyJet employees. I don't think they would enforce this on just EZY pax.

As for Facebook it'll come down to cost I should imagine. In fairness to them they do allow you to post direct messages and post to their wall if you have a query and you get a quick response normally. A few airlines allow neither.

Edit: ok, I've found a reference (it's a dated manual but I assume it's still current). I can't post what it says however it's all in the semantics. Instead of the crew saying "prohibited" I think "restricted" would be more appropriate. I hope that makes sense! :-)

Additionally although fuel is loaded on he STBD side I know that the airbus classes the port wing (and an area defined around the wing by a few metres) as part of the "refuelling" zone. As EZY could potentially be boarding or disembarking during refuelling I'd imagine they and and the fuelling agent do not want mobile phones used as there is a potential for a fire hazard. I know for fact refuelling trucks have a No Phones sign on them so they must be perceived as a fire risk, otherwise why would they have the sign on the trucks?

Also see the following guidance from Airbus. See page 5. It states mobile phones be turned off as a precaution when refuelling with passengers onboard.

http://www.airbus.com/fileadmin/medi...HAND-SEQ01.pdf

[Rawtenstall]

At LCY, boarding a British Airways flight means walking over the tarmac. The gate staff always announce the requirement to turn off mobile phones before leaving the terminal building.

Now for those passengers who have downloaded their boarding passes onto their phones do they:

(a) switch off the phone, then switch it on again 10 seconds later at the door of the aircraft, and wait a couple of minutes for the phone to boot-up in order to show the electronic boarding pass to the cabin crew greeter, or

(b) ignore the request, to be able to show their electronic boarding pass to the cabin crew 10 seconds later?

There seems to be a disconnect between the need to turn off mobile phones and the need to show electronic boarding passes at the aircraft door.

[SpringHeeledJack]

That's a good point, and as you point out not really joined up thinking regarding those needing to show an electronic boarding pass. I'd say that the main focus is to deter those who will continue to to talk on said phone between terminal and aircraft when the edict was thought of.

[KBPsen]

Surely with so much apparent angst and hand wringing the screen on the phone will be cracked beyond making any possible boarding pass readable.

[gurrala74]

Using mobile phones should be spared !!

After reading so many views, I think the mobiles to be shut off during the flight take off and landing, but can be used during cruise within a flight mode where it disconnect any signals being transmitted. As present generation smart phones have videos,songs and other work related things in them so keeping them in a airplane mode is good enough

[GrahamO]

When I arrive at LHR or BHX on Emirates flights (which I do each month) and many many flights on Emirates, the announcement is always the same - 'we have now left the runway and its now safe to use your phones'.

I am guessing those that say differently simply have different lawyers.

[llondel]

Arriving on United at SFO last month, we were told it was OK to use phones once we'd cleared the runway and were taxiing. It was the first time I'd ever felt the need to do so, given that I had to let my lift know I'd arrived. Even then, due to traffic on 101, I got to the pick-up area outside the terminal first by 15 minutes or so.

[Davef68]

Easyjet have changed their policy yesterday - flew down to London on Tuesday, same all electronic devices must be switched off, phones off until in terminal.

Return trip home yesterday, handheld electronic devices ( in flightsafe mode if applicable) allowed to be used on landing/takeoff and on leaving runway informed that you can now use your phones/messaging devices.

[ExXB]

Flew GVA-BRS Wed. Recorded announcement in French retained directive to turn off PEDs, spoken briefing in English same same. But, having heard squeezy's announcement I left my iPad, in flight mode on and in my lap. Cabin crew certainly saw my device was on and said nothing as they did pre-take off checks.

I suppose they will get their stuff updated in due course but ...

I continue to be shocked that they can play the recorded French safety briefing without doing the demonstration, and then insist on full attention when they do it in English. Unprofessional and, IMHO, dangerous.