'Newlywed jailed for using mobile on flight'
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'Newlywed jailed for using mobile on flight'
From Ananova News
Newlywed jailed for using mobile on flight
"A newlywed who played a game on his mobile phone during the flight back from his honeymoon has been jailed for four months.
After sentencing Faiz Chopdat, 23, of Blackburn, Lancashire, the judge called for all mobiles to be confiscated as passengers board an aircraft.
Judge Timothy Mort, sitting at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, said the switching on of a mobile during a flight could prove fatal.
It could cause the autopilot to malfunction and affect the communications system, said the judge.
Passing sentence, Judge Mort said he had the power to jail the 23-year-old for a maximum of two years.
Chopdat was returning from Luxor in Egypt to Manchester Airport on September 10 last year when he was seen with his mobile switched on.
It is believed he was playing a game on his mobile called Tetris while sitting next to his wife, the court heard.
He had been warned twice by cabin staff and once by a passenger, which caused an argument during the Air 2000 flight on which there was 206 other holidaymakers and six cabin crew.
Chopdat was found guilty by a jury last month of endangering the safety of an aircraft.
Roger Hedgeland, for Chopdat, said his client was a young man with no previous convictions who was acting with "some sort of bravado" on his return from honeymoon.
Newlywed jailed for using mobile on flight
"A newlywed who played a game on his mobile phone during the flight back from his honeymoon has been jailed for four months.
After sentencing Faiz Chopdat, 23, of Blackburn, Lancashire, the judge called for all mobiles to be confiscated as passengers board an aircraft.
Judge Timothy Mort, sitting at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, said the switching on of a mobile during a flight could prove fatal.
It could cause the autopilot to malfunction and affect the communications system, said the judge.
Passing sentence, Judge Mort said he had the power to jail the 23-year-old for a maximum of two years.
Chopdat was returning from Luxor in Egypt to Manchester Airport on September 10 last year when he was seen with his mobile switched on.
It is believed he was playing a game on his mobile called Tetris while sitting next to his wife, the court heard.
He had been warned twice by cabin staff and once by a passenger, which caused an argument during the Air 2000 flight on which there was 206 other holidaymakers and six cabin crew.
Chopdat was found guilty by a jury last month of endangering the safety of an aircraft.
Roger Hedgeland, for Chopdat, said his client was a young man with no previous convictions who was acting with "some sort of bravado" on his return from honeymoon.
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Do mobiles actually transmit at all with no nodes nearby, and no call attempt actually being made (bearing in mind he was just playing a game on it, not making a call)? Fair enough jailing him for not complying with cabin crew requests, but it'd be nice to know if the mobile actually presents are real danger whatsoever in such circumstances.
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I don't think jailing is fair, because some other crew orders can be disobeyed without penalty, at least in the U.S.
The seat belt sign goes on, folks are told to fasten their seat belt, but are free to roam the cabin and use the lavatory. What's worse, a passenger floating during turbulence or a cell phone turned on?
Passengers are told two carry-on bags, but allowed to carry on 3 or 4. What's worse? Screwing up the weight and balance and additionally burdening the crew, or a cell phone going on?
Passengers are told to watch the safety video and read the safety cards, but allowed not to, even in the exit rows.
Then passengers are told "Safety is our first priority." Is it? Passenger convenience and safety seem to be about equal priorities these days. So, when passengers are told to turn off cell phones, they say. "Oh, that's nice. Let's turn on the phone and play Tetris."
The airlines should decide what rules are going to be enforced, enforce them, and get rid of the others. The present selective enforcement breeds a lax attitude in passengers. The message the airlines are sending to passengers is, "Safety rules and crew orders can be followed at your discretion."
The seat belt sign goes on, folks are told to fasten their seat belt, but are free to roam the cabin and use the lavatory. What's worse, a passenger floating during turbulence or a cell phone turned on?
Passengers are told two carry-on bags, but allowed to carry on 3 or 4. What's worse? Screwing up the weight and balance and additionally burdening the crew, or a cell phone going on?
Passengers are told to watch the safety video and read the safety cards, but allowed not to, even in the exit rows.
Then passengers are told "Safety is our first priority." Is it? Passenger convenience and safety seem to be about equal priorities these days. So, when passengers are told to turn off cell phones, they say. "Oh, that's nice. Let's turn on the phone and play Tetris."
The airlines should decide what rules are going to be enforced, enforce them, and get rid of the others. The present selective enforcement breeds a lax attitude in passengers. The message the airlines are sending to passengers is, "Safety rules and crew orders can be followed at your discretion."
Last edited by Eboy; 10th Sep 2002 at 13:51.
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some other crew orders can be disobeyed without penalty, at least in the U.S.
Errr, I don't think so. I think you'll find all crew orders have to be obeyed, its just that they don't have the time to stop every idiot who thinks only some orders need to be obeyed. I can drive my car over the speed limit, but it doesn't make it legal does it? Do you think "Well everbody esle does it" would be a good defence in court?
The rules in the UK are clear - cellphones are to be switched off. Not cellphones are to be switched off if you like, or unless you want to play a game, or if the man next to you has too many bags. If you're told to turn it off then do it and don't argue. That is the law. If you choose to flout the law and ignore the lawful instructions of the crew then you go to jail. Just like people do in the US.
Errr, I don't think so. I think you'll find all crew orders have to be obeyed, its just that they don't have the time to stop every idiot who thinks only some orders need to be obeyed. I can drive my car over the speed limit, but it doesn't make it legal does it? Do you think "Well everbody esle does it" would be a good defence in court?
The rules in the UK are clear - cellphones are to be switched off. Not cellphones are to be switched off if you like, or unless you want to play a game, or if the man next to you has too many bags. If you're told to turn it off then do it and don't argue. That is the law. If you choose to flout the law and ignore the lawful instructions of the crew then you go to jail. Just like people do in the US.
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Not knowing the exact circumstances, I can't imagine he would have continued using the phone if he thought he'd end up in court, let alone jail. I wonder how well the likely consequences were explained to him?
Nice to see that the judiciary are as well in touch as ever.
Nice to see that the judiciary are as well in touch as ever.
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The seat belt sign goes on, folks are told to fasten their seat belt, but are free to roam the cabin and use the lavatory. What's worse, a passenger floating during turbulence or a cell phone turned on?
Now, I have never read about an autopilot being affected by a cell phone, but it has been proven that they can affect things like localizers and GPS. Will playing tetris cause problems? Don't know, but what if a call comes in whilst playing (since the phone is on). This can (and has) had some serious repurcussions to flights. In an older model of the CRJ this could (and on several occasions did) cause a false "smoke cargo" message, which in turn necessitates an immediate landing and death by halon to any livestock in the hold.
"People are stupid" quoth Elliot Moose to anybody who will listen, and you have to treat them like mentally challenged 4 year olds as soon as they park their carcasses inside an aircraft. The rules must be set, set out clearly, set out clearly a second time (with pictures and four part harmony) and enforced at all times to be of any use at all. If you don't want them to go to the potty for the last 30 min of the flight (even if a mentally challenged four year old did invent that rule in a fit of rage over who stole the last cookie) you have to warn and warn again and finally stand up and say "does anybody need to go tinkles because this is your last chance for 30 min?". But you also need to enforce all the other rules with the same gusto, or they just won't take you seriously anyways.
That said, I firmly agree that the dolt in question got what he deserved, and we should all be trying to make sure his sentence is sent out as a warning to the rest of those who are contentedly cud chewing back in cattle class(don't even get me started on first class)
To my mind the guy commited two mistakes (a) he got married (b) he broke a rule that could endanger the entire aircraft.
As far as mistake (a) goes he got life for it!!! As far as (b) is concerned there is a fine line between making a mistake that may cost your life and cost an aircraft malfunction or accident and endanger everybody or almost abroad.
If some one does not wear a seatbelt (if the sign is on) it is his choise and his problem provided he does not hurt me by crashing on me during turbulence!
However if someone operates a mobile or obstruct an exit or the aisle or the gangway, then I want him punished if he insists on doing so.
As far as mistake (a) goes he got life for it!!! As far as (b) is concerned there is a fine line between making a mistake that may cost your life and cost an aircraft malfunction or accident and endanger everybody or almost abroad.
If some one does not wear a seatbelt (if the sign is on) it is his choise and his problem provided he does not hurt me by crashing on me during turbulence!
However if someone operates a mobile or obstruct an exit or the aisle or the gangway, then I want him punished if he insists on doing so.
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I think 4 months for a (presumably) first-time non-violent offence might be pushing it a bit, although a bit more of a slap on the wrists was definitely called for.
More interesting to me was judges comments about airlines needing to consider confiscating all mobiles on boarding in future... my Pogo has a mode specifically for aircraft use, whereby the TX/RX component is completely powered-down, but the unit is still usable for playing games.
This is something we'll see more often as we get increasingly-sophisticated combined phone/browser/camera/gameboy devices - cabin crew can't be expected to know how to verify each and every device is in 'safe mode', and we need some policy to handle this. Tantrums and tears ahead...
R1
More interesting to me was judges comments about airlines needing to consider confiscating all mobiles on boarding in future... my Pogo has a mode specifically for aircraft use, whereby the TX/RX component is completely powered-down, but the unit is still usable for playing games.
This is something we'll see more often as we get increasingly-sophisticated combined phone/browser/camera/gameboy devices - cabin crew can't be expected to know how to verify each and every device is in 'safe mode', and we need some policy to handle this. Tantrums and tears ahead...
R1
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DamienB
Yes.
A mobile phone will search for a transmitter on all the frequencies that it is capable of and do so at maximum power. It will do this at an interval set by the manufacturer. This might be one minute or two, or even three but it will do so for as long as it is switched on.
In due course, combination units may have separate power switches for PDA type functions and phone but at present, as far as I know, they do not.
If I'm sounding 'preachy', it is due to 23 years in telecommunications and involvement with mobile radio for 19 of them!
Do mobiles actually transmit at all with no nodes nearby, and no call attempt actually being made?
A mobile phone will search for a transmitter on all the frequencies that it is capable of and do so at maximum power. It will do this at an interval set by the manufacturer. This might be one minute or two, or even three but it will do so for as long as it is switched on.
In due course, combination units may have separate power switches for PDA type functions and phone but at present, as far as I know, they do not.
If I'm sounding 'preachy', it is due to 23 years in telecommunications and involvement with mobile radio for 19 of them!
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You may also like to consider that this delightful scum also threatened ABH to a couple of the crew during his "discussion" about switching the 'phone off.
Still unreasonable to lock him up?
Still unreasonable to lock him up?
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Mobiles don't always TX.
PAXboy
Wrong. Cell phones do NOT always TX. There is an idle mode, which is when you are not making a call and this does not require the phone to TX. It searches for base stations by listening and measuring the received signal. It only transmits (and not always at full power) when it is first turned on to register itself on the network or when it moves from one LAC (local area code) area to another. This is a problem as you will be sure to pass between several of these while flying causing a transmission to be made for about 6 or 8 seconds each time. There is also a Location update, which is set on a timer specified by the network which can be several hours, this is what you are referring to in your post, which sends the same information every update (again it only last for 6 to 8 seconds). This is the “dit diddle lit dit” type sounds you hear over your radio or TV from time to time when your mobile is close to it.
Wrong again. Increasing numbers of phones and wireless PDAs have aircraft modes, which disable the transmission side of the phone, but still leaves you able to use its other facilities. I own a Siemens S45 with just such an option. Nokia 9000 series communicators have the same option.
For all that a class 4 cell phone (which is what most modern phones are) have a power output of only 0.2 to 2 watts (haven’t checked this and my memory is not perfect but it is not far out). This is a very small amount of RF energy. That being said there have been cases mentioned earlier, where even this has proven enough to cause problems. The rule stipulating no phones on during the whole flight is a reasonable safety net to prevent accidents. Besides, as was mentioned earlier someone can still call in and it will then carry out a lot of signaling and if accepted then into dedicated mode, which is when it starts transmitting all the time.
For those interested most calls made in a jet would fail anyway, as GSM (or CDMA for the Americans and some Asians) is not designed to work above 300KPH for many many technical reasons. Not least of which it does not have time to hand over the call between cells fast enough.
I think the 4-month custodial sentence is a little OTT but it will send a clear message to people in future.
I am not trying to knock you here but GSM and mobile radio is as different as chalk and cheese. I’m not questioning your ability but in this case you prove the point of a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, problems then arise when people quote you as being gospel when clearly it is not. I am a GSM Optimisation and planning engineer working for one of the mobile operators in the UK, as well as having worked for several of the vendors such as Ericsson and Nokia, and do really know what I am talking about.
On a slightly different note why are you not allowed to use CD players on flights?
Yes. A mobile phone will search for a transmitter on all the frequencies that it is capable of and do so at maximum power. It will do this at an interval set by the manufacturer. This might be one minute or two, or even three but it will do so for as long as it is switched on.
In due course, combination units may have separate power switches for PDA type functions and phone but at present, as far as I know, they do not.
For all that a class 4 cell phone (which is what most modern phones are) have a power output of only 0.2 to 2 watts (haven’t checked this and my memory is not perfect but it is not far out). This is a very small amount of RF energy. That being said there have been cases mentioned earlier, where even this has proven enough to cause problems. The rule stipulating no phones on during the whole flight is a reasonable safety net to prevent accidents. Besides, as was mentioned earlier someone can still call in and it will then carry out a lot of signaling and if accepted then into dedicated mode, which is when it starts transmitting all the time.
For those interested most calls made in a jet would fail anyway, as GSM (or CDMA for the Americans and some Asians) is not designed to work above 300KPH for many many technical reasons. Not least of which it does not have time to hand over the call between cells fast enough.
I think the 4-month custodial sentence is a little OTT but it will send a clear message to people in future.
If I'm sounding 'preachy', it is due to 23 years in telecommunications and involvement with mobile radio for 19 of them!
On a slightly different note why are you not allowed to use CD players on flights?
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I guess it's back to the "some airlines do, some airlines don't" debate now, as I've been able to use my mini disc player on some services, but not others. Not sure why they are banned, but it's probably something to do with pulling the machine apart and using the laser to blind the pilot, or set it to stun to momentarily freeze pax using mobiles.
Talking of mobiles, I flew into JFK a few years back and was absolutely horrified to see a guy a few seats next to me checking his voice mail, while we were still on the glide path! It seems that people tend to think that once the plane is on the ground, it's perfectly acceptable to turn on their phone, get up and start walking and talking and grabbing their "carry on" luggage (read industrial size trolley) from the overhead bins. This is despite the (imho too few repeated) warnings of not doing so. What distresses me most is the attitude of some crew who appear to do nothing, despite seeing what's going on.
Talking of mobiles, I flew into JFK a few years back and was absolutely horrified to see a guy a few seats next to me checking his voice mail, while we were still on the glide path! It seems that people tend to think that once the plane is on the ground, it's perfectly acceptable to turn on their phone, get up and start walking and talking and grabbing their "carry on" luggage (read industrial size trolley) from the overhead bins. This is despite the (imho too few repeated) warnings of not doing so. What distresses me most is the attitude of some crew who appear to do nothing, despite seeing what's going on.
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rustle sayeth:
OK I hadn't heard that part of the story... four months is a bit nearer the mark then, if it was 'only' verbal.
R1
You may also like to consider that this delightful scum also threatened ABH to a couple of the crew during his "discussion" about switching the 'phone off.
R1
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As I've said before on this topic - I'm sure that the majority of flights carrying more than a dozen pax are travelling with at least one active mobile. People are forgetful - even I've done it once and I'm as near perfect as I ever want to be. 
PS You can add Handsping Treo to the list of PDAs that allow you to switch off the mobile functionality.
PS You can add Handsping Treo to the list of PDAs that allow you to switch off the mobile functionality.
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The incident at the link below will demonstrate that mobile phones can cause difficulties even when switched off !
The mobile in this case managed to jam the yaw controls on an EC-120 helicopter. The outcome wasn't too bad thought . . . no injuries or damage.
Vortex will be able to relate to this.
http://www.irlgov.ie/tec/aaiu/2001Re...202001-007.htm
The mobile in this case managed to jam the yaw controls on an EC-120 helicopter. The outcome wasn't too bad thought . . . no injuries or damage.
Vortex will be able to relate to this.
http://www.irlgov.ie/tec/aaiu/2001Re...202001-007.htm
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So if something goes screwy with your aircraft, how is the tracked down to a Nokia 8210 in First? I'm always a bit scheptical about these things...how about laptops and CD players, what's the issue there? All I can assume is it's down to potential RF interference from their internal components. Could this really be a problem? I would think that aircraft avionics and systems should be designed more than well enough to cope with such problems. If they weren't your TCAS black box may potentially interfere with your FMS black box!?