Cells on a Plane
By Amit Singh | Sunday, June 14th, 2009 | Policy
On my flight back from Texas yesterday, the guy next to me was using his cell phone to send text messages during the entire trip. This wasn’t the first time I’ve seen this and it really doesn’t bother me since they aren’t yapping in my ear but it eventually got me wondering why does the FAA make us turn off iPods and other equipment during flight. It is not a safety issue as has been demonstrated numerous times including the pilots themselves using cell phones.
Of course many of you including myself don’t want people talking on their phones but shouldn’t that be the decision of the airline and not the federal government? Do we want the FAA to also regulate which sodas and snacks are permissible?
Some airlines would probably allow cell phones while others would not. The passenger should decide for themselves what they want. But until the FAA and FCC lift the restrictions, the passenger does not have that choice. I would guess that if allowed, the industry would gravitate to a standard where texting and emails were permissible but not talking. But then again they don’t allow texting in movie theaters anymore!
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5 Responses to "Cells on a Plane"
No cell phones, no way, no how. The airplane is a quiet haven, a place to relax. Allow people to talk on a plane and there will be murders, probably committed by ME! It is impossible to be polite when you are talking nonstop on a cell. Give us a break from the rudeness.
JeffConn, are you advocating the Federal Government regulate our etiquette? why is the inside of a plane that different than a movie theater when it comes to cell phones?
Unless a specific safety issue is in question. I agree that the individual airlines should decide what can and cannot be used on their planes.
I thought cell phone usage while in flight was banned because their use might interfere with the electronic systems on the aircraft. Has this changed?
By the way, if their usage is still banned, I would imagine texting is prohibited as well.
LD, that excuse is what is used but it is very clear that cell phones do not interfere with the electronic systems.
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