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Galley Gossip: The REAL reason for no cell phones in flight
Recently someone asked me what the real reason was for no cell phones in flight. My reply, "Does it matter? You still have to turn it off and put it away."
There are three things flight attendants should not discuss with passengers. They are religion, politics, and the reason why cell phone use is not permitted in flight. This is because everyone has their own opinion and people feel strongly about what they believe to be true. It's not easy for some to agree to disagree and be done with it. The last thing we need in flight is a passenger who wants to argue. Trust me, we get enough of those without engaging in controversial conversations.
When it comes to why cell phones aren't allowed on airplanes, a lot of passengers have come up with conspiracy theories. These grand theories all revolve around money. Call me crazy, but if the airlines could make a buck off of cell phone use in flight like they do with wi-fi, don't you think they would have figured out how by now? And regardless of what I say, these same suspicious passengers are still going to do what they want to do - until I ask them to turn it off!
In 2006 Scientific American published a report that stated an average of four calls were made per flight. With so many people unable to "turn it off" literally, can you imagine what that number would be today! On a flight from Dallas to Oklahoma City I had remind sixteen passengers - sixteen! - not once, not twice, but three times to turn off and stow their electronic devices after we had backed away from the gate. And those were only the passengers I had caught red handed. These days passengers are pretty sneaky with their electronic devices. It's impossible to check under every thigh and inside passengers pockets to make sure passengers are complying with only a few minutes left before take-off.
"When I forget to turn off my phone by accident, I notice the plane still finds the airport," said one reader.
Thank God for that!
Do I think one phone will affect the outcome of a flight? No. Do I think several phones "accidentally" left on will bring an aircraft down? I don't know. Maybe it depends on the number of cell phones that are left on and the aircraft equipment type. All I know for sure is I'd rather not find out the hard way. While there hasn't been a case of a crash caused by cell phone interference, there are numerous reports that cell phones do in fact interfere, especially on smaller planes "where instruments are more sensitive because they rely on small changes to indicate direction," explained a pilot. Whenever I start to discuss cell phones in flight someone always brings up Myth Busters Episode 49: Cell phones on planes. Personally, I wouldn't put a plane full of passengers lives in jeopardy because of what a television show had to say. And while they considered the theory "busted" the caveat was: why take the chance.
"Some European carriers allow mobile phones in flight - certified by the aircraft maker. They'd never approve it if it were unsafe," said our very own Gadget Guy, Scott Carmichael, during a recent conversation.
May I point out we're not in Europe! And batteries get run down searching for a signal. Signals are intermittent at best because the plane is moving at four to five hundred miles per hour. On top of that, "European carriers have pico cells on board to make sure in-flight calls are safe. US aircraft aren't equipped," explains Mary Kirby, Flight Global's Runway Girl.
Why aren't US carriers equipped like European ones? I think it's safe to assume it's because that would cost money. A lot of money! Passengers already complain about ticket prices that are cheaper than they were twenty years ago. No joke! Are you willing to cover the cost that will no doubt be passed on to you, the consumer, in the form of higher ticket prices when you're already angry about having to pay for checked bags? That's what I thought.
Now just for a moment let's pretend cell phones have been proven to be safe to use in flight. Do you really want to sit next to the blathering idiot going on and on about how important he is, or the kid who wants to know what the "mutha F'er" did next, or the elderly woman discussing her rashes and lab results with a loved one? Didn't think so. As for me, I'd rather not have to start policing passenger's conversations when they become too loud and bothersome to those seated around them.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images and Jung Hong
Filed under: Airlines, Galley Gossip
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mathias Jul 20th 2010 10:04AM
As far as I know, cell phones emit stronger signals when they lose reception and try to find another tower, which is exactly what happens when a plane ascends. I wouldn't be surprised if a plane-full of tower-searching cell phones (which aren't any good to the passengers anyway!) could affect avionics.
And no, I don't want to sit next to someone talking on the cell phone. Just turn it off already!
Thanks for your blog, Heather!
William Beem Jul 20th 2010 11:18AM
Screw the cell phones. I just want to listen to my iPod/iPhone.
Vegas Flygirl Jul 22nd 2010 3:24PM
you can, once you have reached 10,000 ft - as a flight attendant I would like to have your attention incase we encounter an accident upon taxi, takeoff & landing. surely you can spare the 5 mins it takes to to climb to 10k feet.
Tom Jul 20th 2010 11:40AM
I am addicted to my BlackBerry--BIGTIME!!! I can't go very long at all without using it. But when I fly it is the one time I can turn it off and not feel guilty about it. I do not want that small amount of technical sobriety to be taken away from me, so please, everyone, turn off your freakin' cell phones on the plane and enjoy it!
Kendra Jul 20th 2010 12:17PM
amen sister!
amy.motta Jul 20th 2010 2:05PM
Great article, thank you!
Kent Jul 20th 2010 2:19PM
A friend of mine is a pilot with a major carrier. His union started pushing for limitations on the use of electronic devices, after the following was reported by the flight crew of a 767.
The flight was a 767 from Chicago-O'Hare to Munich. The plane had started its descent into Munich, when the artificial horizon went nuts. Instead of showing the aircraft in a 3% descent, it was showing the aircraft in a 10% climb, while inverted.
The first officer got the senior flight attendant on the phone and told her to get every electronic device switched off. Several kids were in business class playing with their GameBoys.
Once the kids turned off the GameBoys, the artificial horizon went back to showing the aircraft on a 3% descent.
This is as good a reason as any to keep the cell phones turned off, as well as electronic devices shut off during departures and arrivals.
Cornelius Aesop Jul 20th 2010 2:27PM
Don't they sell those cell phone frequency busters that will cut off someone's signal? I doubt they are strong or work for people texting but it would make it more fun to cancel someone's call for them...maybe you can write it off as a work expense on your taxes? :-)
Vegas Flygirl Jul 22nd 2010 3:28PM
.....sweet!
vikas k Jul 20th 2010 3:35PM
be always heard it had more to do with the effect on cell towers with the quickly switching signals than any effect on the plane. I like the few hours without cell phone conversations. What I find annoying is the new apparent van on noise cancelling headphones during take off and landing
Virgil Lovett Jul 20th 2010 4:25PM
I had a passenger on a flight thatdidn't want to turn off his cell phone for a flt from EWR to LAX and all he did was lay on a pillow with the phone between his pillow and head against the window and talked all the way across country during the ealy part of the day. We told him repeatedly to shut it off or he would be reported. Little did we know that he was reporting himself already.
Come to find out upon landing, a Sheriff and a representative from his phone provider were waiting for us at the aircraft door to identify the culprit who's cell phone ID blocked out hundreds of cell towers across country for more than 5 hours. Each cell phone has a particular ID and can be tracked and that's what the carrier did and they slapped him with a bill of several thousand dollars and a citation for failing to adhere to crew member request.
He tried to deny it but they had him dead on pegged as the culprit!
It's didn't bother the plane as far as we knew but it sure bothers alot of customers across country!
Roger Pierson Jul 20th 2010 5:08PM
I can live with no cell phone on the plane - in fact I enjoy it. I wait to turn on my MP3 player too, no big deal.
But my Kindle! Why on earth can't I read my book while the plane is on the ground or about to land? What's that you say? All electronic devices must be turned off?
Well guess what!
Electronic ink remains on the screen with no power applied. That's right, when I'm reading my book, my Kindle is off. It only takes power to change the page, and when the new page is written, power is off again.
I can hear you. You just said "Ah-ha! It still takes power to change the page!".
True. However you don't make me turn off my wrist watch 10 minutes before the plane lands, do you? It not only takes power to change the time on my watch display, but also to keep it there in the first place.
The very act of carrying out your request actually requires me to power up the Kindle so that it can "turn off". When you hit the power switch, it either changes the page to a "sleep" image, or if you hold the power switch for a couple of seconds, it blanks the page.
I know flight attendants can't be expected to learn how every piece of technology that might find its way on a plane works. This is why I don't argue - usually. (Although I will continue on reading after you've strapped yourself into your jump seat and won't be patrolling the Aisle any longer). However, E-Ink readers have been out for a while now, they're not new!
And surely millions of frustrated passengers have explained to the airlines how these things work, so why doesn't the airline simply modify that ridiculous line they make you say about "everything with an on-off switch"?
Roger Pierson
Stephanie Jul 20th 2010 9:24PM
Okay, so I get the cell phone. I don't understand ALL electronic devices though, especially when the wireless features are shutdown. The only reason I have come up with is there are many stupid people out there that don't know how to properly operate their electronics and so we must all suffer. Am I right?
Jenni09 Jul 20th 2010 9:35PM
I don't care if you read your book as long as its a paper one and not one thats electroic. Why? Because during that time from when we take off till we reach 10,000 feet in the most critical time that an aircraft can get into an accident and while I only have so many min's get get out my seat and explaine the brace position to you and get back into my seat, i don't have the time to repeat my self because the person in 4B had his i pod in his ears, or because you was too busy trying to turn off your ibook to save battery power. I have 50 + passengers and my self to worry about getting off that plane. And don't think that just because i'm strapped in my jumpseat i don't see that you have just ingnored what i have said. Little do ppl know most FA's who have to repeatlly tell someone to turn it off we know were you sit and we do watch you and you where reported in my flight report that i do at the end of the flight cuz i'm not gonna risk my job because you don't want to listen, and the pax in 2B saw you and reported to someone else.
Aslo Guess what.
It's not the airline that decieds that everyothing with on on-off switch must be in the off position. its the FAA. so if you have a problem with not being able to read your book call the FAA.
Roger Pierson Jul 20th 2010 10:04PM
Jenni09,
Ok, good point about the FAA. However, I don't think I understand your argument that a electronic book takes longer to stow in an emergency than a paper book.
First of all, if I have to get into the brace position, I'm worrying about more than shutting my book "off", which it already is anyway since e-ink requires no power to stay on the page.
Secondly, even if I were concerned with powering it "off", that is still quicker than fumbling for a book mark before I close my paper book.
And the only time you can see me reading my book after you get in your seat is when I'm foolish enough to book an aisle seat in the first couple of rows of first class, on the starboard side. I hate it when I do that.
- Roger
Jenny09 Jul 20th 2010 11:00PM
Roger, what i was trying to make and i should have worded it in, was that with the amount of money pax pay for their electronic devices their gonna be more conserend with it then they will a 20 dollar book that can be picked up in the airport after the landing. So in the event of an emergency and you have a paper book most ppl wont care about it cuz it's just 20 or so dollars vs 70 or so for the electronic.
Bill Jul 21st 2010 10:19AM
You are all a bunch of pinheads. Many euro carriers allow phones on the plane. In fact, the entire euro air process, from check in to security to boarding is more efficient and enjoyable than anywhere in the US. The reason? Because US carriers, and their various attendant and pilot unions, have highjacked common sense and have ruined our air process. I look forward to the day when we have less US air carriers ( I don't care about the cost; company pays it) and the ones we have run more like they do overseas. Some of these union stooges who replied to this deserve unemployment. For the 100,000 plus miles a year I fly, I deserve to use any device I wish. Frankly, flyers like me are the reason you union folks still have jobs at all.
Prof FA Jul 21st 2010 1:56PM
Mr. Pinhead,
Really? US unions have hijacked common sense? And Euro carriers are more efficient and enjoyable? Have you ever really flown internationally? First of all, sometimes the euro carriers are actually operating-- you know, when there isn't a strike occuring. Second, while flying Alitalia, we weren't allowed to use Ipods or Gameboys inflight. A 4 hour flight with NO electronic devices at all. I have never heard of a US carrier with such strict rules. Third, do you really think FAs like policing the electronic device usage of all the passengers? It's one of the most annoying aspects of my job. Lastly, do you use your cellphone in a hospital where it isn't allowed? Do you use it while driving in cities where it isn't allowed? DO YOU TALK ON YOUR CELL IN THE CHICAGO CUSTOMS HALL? If you do any of these, do you respond to the hospital admin, the patrol cop, or the customs official that they are just union flunkies who have no common sense?
Bill Jul 21st 2010 10:48AM
And Virgil, your story is ridiculous. Besides being technologically impossible, in today's 24 hour media circus, your entire plane would have reported the occurance and it would have been on every TV channel in the country. Instead of creating stupid stories to scare your flying public towards your silly view point, try doing your job. How about making sure every bag that idiots drag on fits into the test module so we don't push away late because they can't get it into the overhead. I'd much rather see you harass people about bag size than trouble me about turning off my phone.
kit Jul 21st 2010 11:37AM
Wow and you did not give the reason why you cannot use a cell phone on a plane! OK, let me tell you why. It interferes with the planes on- flight communication, meaning the piolet and flight attendants cannot talk to one another. No cofee or pee pee break for the poilet. That is the ONLY reason you cannot use them. I just had a flight where I forgot to turn mine off- no big deal. I have seen others play games on their phones during flights. If they were a real danger you would be forced to pack them in your luggage and devices to detect if they were on before the luggage made it to the plane. There you go- myth is busted. BTW cell phones- turn them off. Last thing I want to hear is you blathering some crap to someone else. Shut up, sit back and enjoy the flight. Don't make the attendants ask you to shut the heck up and turn off your annoying cell phone.