Take-off aborted over mobile phone interference

[dragonman]

I've never had a FA ask me to turn off my NC headphones but have had one ask when checking the cabin on descent what it was plugged into. She was quite happy when I showed it plugged into the seat outlet.
Richard.

On BA I was always asked to turn them off. No other airlines.

 

[simongr]

I know this is another recliner debate but why is it deemed "acceptable" for kids to be unruly but life threatening to make a phone call?

 

[mainly tailfirst]

On BA I was always asked to turn them off. No other airlines.

Add Hawaiian and QF to that list. I suspect the blue 'on' light on the side of my headphones rather gives the game away though. Of course 'lights' = 'bad', so 'flashing lights' = 'worse' I guess. I shudder to think what a red numerical count down would do - probably get to find out what rendition means. :-|

mt

 

[NM]

Add Hawaiian and QF to that list. I suspect the blue 'on' light on the side of my headphones rather gives the game away though. Of course 'lights' = 'bad', so 'flashing lights' = 'worse' I guess. I shudder to think what a red numerical count down would do - probably get to find out what rendition means. :-|

mt

And I think some FAs think that someone wearing headphones must be listening to an audio source being played from an electronic device (such as MP3 player) that may be hidden in a pocket or otherwise out of sight.

Now I know this is not always the case and some people just like to wear their NC headphones with no audio source just to reduce the impact of cabin noise.

 

[dot]

I have never had a FA ask me to remove my NC Headphones at take off or landing except to check to make sure that I dont have some sort of audio player (CD or other media) that I am listening to. As soon as I point out that I am listening to the aircraft audio system (Soul music on QF), they say that's fine. The same applies for all the airlines I fly with (mainly QF, AA, CX, SQ and BA).

I would point out that my Bose QC2 headphones do have a red LED on the side to indicate they are turned on, but my previous QC1's and Panasonic NC headphones did not. I am conscious of the light, so I sometimes refrain from using the headphones until after take off. On a recent AA flight, I did turn them off since the FA said "if it has an on/off switch, turn it off" (over the PA, not to me specifically).

 

[Skoogle]

Bluetac will fix the problem of lights giving you away.

I suspect the blue 'on' light on the side of my headphones rather gives the game away though. Of course 'lights' = 'bad', so 'flashing lights' = 'worse' I guess. I shudder to think what a red numerical count down would do - probably get to find out what rendition means. :-|
mt

 

[NYCguy]

And I think some FAs think that someone wearing headphones must be listening to an audio source being played from an electronic device (such as MP3 player) that may be hidden in a pocket or otherwise out of sight.

That, and a FA told me that if there was an emergency on takeoff/landing, I might not hear announcements from the crew if I was listening to my iPod.

 

[nlagalle]

A second question - i don't want to open a can of worms here, but has there been much research done into the effects of electronic devices on aircraft systems? I can totally understand radio transmitting devices, but what about small electronic devices like PDA's, PSPs, and iPods? I find it hard to believe that these kinds of devices could potentially interfere with navigation systems. Or is this just a case of the airlines going 'over the top' in the name of safety (Just like the no mobile phones and petrol stations rule..)

Cheers,

Josh

For iPods PSP's etc, it's more so they have your attention if something happens. I've got the QC2's and once they tell you to turn off iPods etc, I just plug it into the IFE. Never had an issue. The FA's will just check that it isn't plugged into my iPod.

With mobile phones (especially GSM) you see what effect they can have on screens by putting one near it and waiting for it to ring. Imagine a glass coughpit with a mobile phone going off.

I left my phone on once when i was flying a Cessna 172. I had just taken off when i heard the phone in my headset and it was nearly deafening! I managed to reach back into my flight bag and turn it off. 3G phones don't seem to produce the same interference. Having said that, there are devices that allow a pilot to plug a mobile phone into the intercom system (generally on light aircraft).

Nick

 

[JohnK]

I have occassionally forgotten to switch off my mobile phone after boarding the aircraft. As the mobile phone is always in my pocket I check if it is still on, and switch it off, when I hear the announcement from the CSM reminding passengers that all mobile phones must be switched off now.

Do people that keep their mobile phones in their carry-on actually check that it has been switched off when they hear the announcement?

 

[simongr]

I tend to clip my blackberry onto the magazine holder and because I a have a little OCD check it four-five times before take off. That way it is close at hand when we land so I can message mrssimongr that I have not beek killed in a firey ball of death.

My mobile however is often in my carryon from security onwards - most people that need to get hold of me when travelling on business email me anyway rather than calling. I am concious of that one and do check that a couple of times before takeoff.

 

[nlagalle]

Do people that keep their mobile phones in their carry-on actually check that it has been switched off when they hear the announcement?

I do when travelling. sometimes I re-check it as i get paranoid I left it on!