Turn Off Your Cell Phone In Flight

[Jamie]

The 'encrypted' blackberry devices use the same radios as the regular blackberries. It's just a software difference.

I have a Samsung Blackjack that I frequently forget to turn off. I can always tell if it's on when I'm on final. I never get a signal above about 1000agl and on final I'll get a signal and usually hear the morse-code like negotiation signals through my headset. Pretty funny.

One thing I have heard about cell phones is that certain ones can interfere with stormscopes. This makes sense to some degree.

[Capflyer]

I used to turn mine off but now always keep it on while flying except commercial flights. Why am I so willing to let my battery drain? A few years ago we did a massive 5 day search for a buddy, flying club mate, and fellow a CAP mission pilot that crashed (not in a CAP plane). The ELT did not activate and no one had any idea where he was or even his intentions. The only reason we were able to narrow down the search to find him was because of his cell phone being on and bouncing off two towers. This gave us a general very large area to start the search but this data also enabled the Air Force to narrow down all the radar tracks and isolate his. Once we had this data it was a short time before he was found in the mountains of SW PA. Unfortunately he had not survived the crash impact.

My understanding is that there are many police agencies that now have tracking equipment that can track cell phone signals and of course there are quite a few that also transmit a GPS location.

Your cell phone is just one more tool in the arsenal should the unthinkable happen.

[Geico266]

Originally Posted by Capflyer

Your cell phone is just one more tool in the arsenal should the unthinkable happen.

Absolutely right! If I die in the crash I don't care about the cell phone. If I survive the crash I want a cell phone with a full battery charge cause I'm gonna be calling alot of people!

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by Geico266

Absolutely right! If I die in the crash I don't care about the cell phone. If I survive the crash I want a cell phone with a full battery charge cause I'm gonna be calling alot of people!

Only one problem with this...

With all the backpacking we do, we never bring our cell phones along. The reason is that there is very limited coverage (none) in the mountains, desert SW, etc. You have to be close to a major highway to get any kind of signal.

[KPmarc]

I tend to leave the phone on, but hooked to its vehicle charger. I have a 12v outlet in the back seat connected right to the battery (through a CB, of course); use the same port for keeping the ship's battery charged.

The phone might be sucking up juice while I fly, but it's always fully charged when I land!

MC

Originally Posted by Ironflight

I agree 100% with you! I am always the first to turn off my transmitters on a commercial jet, because (a) I get reminded by the announcement, (b) I am a habitual abider by the rules, and (c) I coule be puttign others at risk than just myself (although I beleive the risk to navigation systems to be extremely remote....). Maybe I need to start doing my own "cabin announcement" in my RV to remind myself.....

Paul

It's my observation that the habitual offenders are usually in the "business traveller" section of the airplane (as opposed to the "going to see grandma" section of the airplane). What I usually see is:

(a) They don't hear the announcement because they're talking on the phone.
(b) Rules don't apply to them.
(c) They have very little regard or consideration for others because they are far more important than everyone else.

Unfortunately, these issues are not limited to airplane cabins -- they apply to society as a whole, and they seem to be more and more prevalent every year.

Thanks for playing by the rules! Maybe we can start a "respect authority" revolution... except, of course, for those instances when it should be questioned...

[RV8iator]

Originally Posted by Geoff

It's my observation that the habitual offenders are usually in the "business traveller" section of the airplane (as opposed to the "going to see grandma" section of the airplane). What I usually see is:

(a) They don't hear the announcement because they're talking on the phone.
(b) Rules don't apply to them.
(c) They have very little regard or consideration for others because they are far more important than everyone else.

Unfortunately, these issues are not limited to airplane cabins -- they apply to society as a whole, and they seem to be more and more prevalent every year.

Boy, that pretty well sums up the FF upgrade program.

[Steve Brown]

Originally Posted by Geico266

...
When you fly CC the phone is hunting for cell towers and hense uses more battery power. ......

That's happened to me. I turn it off now unless I need to use it.

[jferraro17]

As for the commercial flights...

I'm a rule following freak as well. I'm also a straight talking mid-westerner by birth, so, even if I'm in uniform, I can't help but speak up While deadheading, I've asked fellow passengers to turn off their devices as well as to put their seat-backs up (you know, the guy who reclines after the FAs do their last walk-thru before take-off). Those procedures, like so many in aviation, are there for a reason, often reasons determined by lose of life. Something to think about:

In addition to the electronic interference issues (which are debatable on a technical level WAY above my head), I believe the restriction on electronic devices below 10,000 is also due mainly to the fact that if something happens, the cabin crew needs your undivided attention.

Imagine an evacuation when half the pax are watching a DVD, listening to an iPod, holding a conversation with a customer, etc. If you've never seen an evacuation, it's eye-popping...just minutes to empty an entire aircraft. If you did hear the evacuation command, the aisles would be litered with computers and junk making it all the more difficult to get out (hence, seat-backs up, tray tables stowed, bags under the seat). How about putting on an O2 mask over your head set?

I know most people wave off the flight attendants as "flying waitresses", but they are really there in case of the event that you really don't want to be a part of. I'd hate to be a casualty because I couldn't wait 15 minutes to start my movie.

And besides, it's the rule.

Joe

[Wilkie]

Perhaps a little off topic but this shows the potential risk of using electronic devices on commercial aircraft.

Back in 1995 I was first officer on a commercial airline turboprop (ATR 72). Immediately after takeoff we experienced an electrical problem in which we lost all generators. Fortunatley, the wx was VFR and we returned for a visual pattern and landing.

After landing, a mechanic entered the cockpit to try and troubleshoot the problem (the pax were still on board at this time). At first he was unsuccessful but when he keyed his walkie-talkie to discuss things with his supervisor, low and behold, the gens failed!

Long story short, after a quick search of the cabin, one of the flight attendant found two young boys that were using cheap "Toys-R-Us" variety walkie talkies to communicate with each other. The family had been split up during seating and the father had one boy while the mother had the other.

My memory has failed me and I don't recall what ever became of the situation. I can't remember if the flight was canceled or not but it was an eye opener for sure......

Wilkie