Sky-Rage -- Here we go again....!!!!!
Steve Swauger (TheSwaugers_at_CompuServe.COM)
Sat, 26 Sep 1998 02:34:39 -0400
Keep in mind that the airline can regulate beyond the limits of the
regulation. At Southwest Airlines, we restrict ALL use of cellular phones
on the aircraft, whether it is parked at the gate or on short final with
700 RVR. Yes, it may be more restrictive than the regulation requires, but
it draws a clear line in the sand. Without this clear line, the potential
for `interpretation' expands (anyone have a teenager out there). We do not
expect a Flight Attendant fresh out of training to understand the physics
of electro-magnetic interference. They are taught simply - no cellular
phone use on the aircraft - period. True, while we are on the ground, I
don't need my instruments, but I am required to perform BIT checks on these
instruments and your cell phone might interfere with these checks.
As an observation, with the emergence of country-wide single-zone
cellular service, people are becomming more dependent on their cellular
phones. They are also becomming more militant in their use. I am
regularly hearing stories of passengers that are told to turn their phones
off and become belligerent. I have experienced EM interference with my
cockpit instruments. It is real. It is a problem. It is potentially
serious. Please, follow the rules and turn off your cellular phones.
Steve Swauger
Southwest Airlines
<<<<Message text written by INTERNET:crm-devel_at_db.erau.edu>>>>
>I agreed with everything you said until you got to the cell-phone. There
is
no
confusion about the FAA vs the FCC, but as you pointed out, the lack of
understanding behind the SOP of turning down the lights on TO&L
is similar to F/As demanding a pax turn off their cell phones while on a
gate-hold for 3 hours because it might interfere with navigation. There is
a total lack of understanding behind certain procedures and that makes pax
angry, especially in a scenario just like this.
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