Why won't PAX turn off their mobiles when instructed

[MEL_Traveller]

Do you all get offended when people cross the road when the 'man signal' is red or flashing red? (BTW this would be much more dangerous)

yes!!! i do!!! if I'm driving it stops me going around the corner! and then I miss the next set of lights, and then I'm late!!! grrrrr.

If I'm a pedestrian and I see someone crossing against the red then I couldn't care less... (unless they're a little old lady who is going to get mowed down by some impatient driver waiting to go around the corner)

 

[crm911]

Many airlines offer on-board wi-fi but the ones I have looked at disallow Skype and YouTube. I don't know if Skype ports are blocked or whether they just don't want you to chew up the satellite bandwidth -- but someone "on the phone" might be on Skype or similar VoIP app.

 

[spentan]

Many airlines offer on-board wi-fi but the ones I have looked at disallow Skype and YouTube. I don't know if Skype ports are blocked or whether they just don't want you to chew up the satellite bandwidth -- but someone "on the phone" might be on Skype or similar VoIP app.

last year, on the QF a380, I was able to use Facetime mid-flight, to show my dad the A380 (which he'd never seen the inside of before).

It was quite clear and smooth. I was speaking quietly, using a noise cancelling headset, and was in the business class lounge at the front of the plane for most of it.

Was a really crazy experience for him and for me

 

[Simo]

last year, on the QF a380, I was able to use Facetime mid-flight, to show my dad the A380 (which he'd never seen the inside of before).

It was quite clear and smooth. I was speaking quietly, using a noise cancelling headset, and was in the business class lounge at the front of the plane for most of it.

Was a really crazy experience for him and for me

IMHO I would not want to listen to someone talking on there phone the entire way from anywhere to anywhere

 

[calroth]

Because its what you have been asked to do. You should politely do as asked. my phone is turned off well before boarding and stays off. i would love to see planes shielded so phones won't work inside at all. I'm sure these phone addicts would take a different view if I sparked up a nice cigar on board

Unfortunately, shielding has problems: it may itself interfere with flight systems, it's heavy and therefore expensive to have, you need to take your planes offline to have them refitted, etc. etc.

The easiest and best technical solution is probably for telcos to detect people using in-flight cell service (oh, you travelled from Brisbane to Sydney in 90 minutes, lighting up every cell tower on the route, and connecting to 20+ at any given time?) and forward this info to the relevant Government agency to levy a fine.

The second-easiest and best technical solution is probably a jammer, but they're totally illegal, and again, interference with flight systems...

The easiest and best non-technical solution is probably, as Pleb Status mentions, to get the AFP to remove the passenger from the flight.

 

[AVC]

The easiest and best non-technical solution is probably, as Pleb Status mentions, to get the AFP to remove the passenger from the flight.

Hard to achieve after V1 though.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

But if you think it is bad on Oz - oh my god you gotta see pax on domestic Chinese flights - UFB. And it's not texting - there is no such thing as a Chinese national having a personal conversation on a mobile phone - I think there some ongoing national competition to see who can shout the longest and loudest whilst holding a phone to their ears - you can imagine the din with a billion Chinese all competing at same time.

+1
While waiting for check-in to open at Hong Kong airport back in December, there was a Chinese guy screaming into his mobile.

UFB!

I swear the whole terminal could hear him. Crazy.

 

[banger2]

inb4sh!tstorm

Mobile Phones do not affect aircraft, or their navigation systems when in Flight Mode. This is because their radio equipment has been switched off.

WiFi and Bluetooth are allowed on Qantas/etc A380s and B747s, and if this is the case, there is no reason why they shouldn't be allowed on any other commercial (currently in-use) aircraft.

This is a long debate, and it is usually between old people (who want a bit of quiet time), and young people tweeting #YOLO while they're flying.

I personally would love to be able to read a magazine on my iPad/Tablet/etc while taking off and landing.

Hi Spentan,
Whilst I'm not getting into the debate about whether these devices do affect aircraft systems...your comment re Wifi and Bluetooth on A380 and B747 got me curious. Excluding the various trials, my understanding from the Qantas website currently ( Inflight Communications | Qantas ), and my 2 A380 flights last week (where the usual flight mode then off announcements were made), was that it is still Qantas policy to have all transmitting devices, like mobiles, to be in flight mode before switching off at takeoff for all their aircraft. When switched on after takeoff all the transmitting components of the phone are not powered so are disabled (2g/3g/Wifi/Bluetooth). I'm not having a go at you, but more curious if I understand you are saying Qantas DOES allow Wifi/Bluetooth to be activated? I also agree with you 100%...reading a kindle/tablet (within flight mode) at take off and landing should be allowed. I guess there would be too many people who don't follow that instruction and don't activate flight mode etc...so we all get tarnished with the same brush?

Further on this discussion, I was surprised on a Tiger flight last week, we were I guess 5-10 minutes from touchdown in Singapore, everyone was strapped in, and the flight crew made a specific audio request for mobile phones to be turned off. I thought maybe there was a momentary glitch in one of their systems, and they thought it might be caused by this issue (rightly or wrongly). Prior to that the normal cabin crew announcements regarding electronic devices were made, nothing specific. Either that or.... sort-of reminded me (after I was on the ground) of a John Cleese skit where him and another chap in a coughpit as pilots....one of them says he is so bored, so Cleese's character gets on the mic to the passengers "There is absolutely nothing to worry about!........."

Found the skit on Youtube "John Cleese on How To Irritate People - If you are a pilot"
...hope its not against policy to post the link....

John Cleese on How To Irritate People - If you are a pilot - YouTube

Funny as

Cyas
Ash

 

[Happy Trails]

Because they are morons...

Took the the words out of my mouth.

 

[straitman]

We know it doesn't affect the planes systems.

Maybe you should reword that to say 'We know it doesn't affect the systems on some planes'

Read the Ask the pilot thread. jb747 has had electronic interference cause him problems. I have had electronic interference cause navigation aid interference.

Now these were older aircraft and it may not be an issue on the newer aircraft but the problem is still with what might happen and then with what the consequences might be.

 

[codash1099]

I don't think it matters whether or not phones affect navigation, the pilot's watch or the breeding cycle of a gnat. The point is that there is a rule and that iss to turn them off. Nobody is asking for a debate about the merits of the rule. Just turn the bloody thing off!

 

[rlarosa]

My general rule is to do what I'm told and be respectful to the crew, including listening to the safety announcements. They're just doing their job, and I can't stand the 'I fly so regularly I don't need to listen to any of this stuff' subtext of some people. Besides, a smile and a bit of respect for the crew go a hell of a long way to getting good service throughout the flight!

 

[Beta4Me]

I'm usually asleep before they even start the safety demonstration -.-

 

[simongr]

Whilst I'm not getting into the debate about whether these devices do affect aircraft systems...your comment re Wifi and Bluetooth on A380 and B747 got me curious. Excluding the various trials, my understanding from the Qantas website currently ( Inflight Communications | Qantas ), and my 2 A380 flights last week (where the usual flight mode then off announcements were made), was that it is still Qantas policy to have all transmitting devices, like mobiles, to be in flight mode before switching off at takeoff for all their aircraft. When switched on after takeoff all the transmitting components of the phone are not powered so are disabled (2g/3g/Wifi/Bluetooth).

Bluetooth is specifically banned by some carriers and on the majority of QF aircraft it is allowed. It wasn't allowed on a 738 trans tasman but it is allowed on a 738 domestic.

 

[simongr]

I'm usually asleep before they even start the safety demonstration -.-

Internationally yes - domestically no.

 

[Beta4Me]

Internationally yes - domestically no.

I can sleep very rapidly on any transport medium: trains, cars, planes, even teams and buses. It's a "skill"

 

[simongr]

I can sleep very rapidly on any transport medium: trains, cars, planes, even teams and buses. It's a "skill"

Same here - it is just that internationally it gets kick started by the champers in the lounge

 

[medhead]

PLEASE, someone show me an example where mobile phone use has been proven to endanger a flight.

Www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/capap2003_03.pdf

Do you all get offended when people cross the road when the 'man signal' is red or flashing red? (BTW this would be much more dangerous)

Yes, when I'm in a car waiting for the crossing to clear so I can turn the corner.

 

[medhead]

... (unless they're a little old lady who is going to get mowed down by some impatient driver waiting to go around the corner)

Little old ladies in Adelaide don't use crossings and prefer just to walk across at the most convenient place. Serious seen one lady walk straight out in front of a concrete truck. He slammed on the brakes and just stopped in time.

 

[lovestotravel]

My general rule is to do what I'm told and be respectful to the crew, including listening to the safety announcements. They're just doing their job, and I can't stand the 'I fly so regularly I don't need to listen to any of this stuff' subtext of some people. Besides, a smile and a bit of respect for the crew go a hell of a long way to getting good service throughout the flight!

Exactly, it's not that hard to do!

Even though I have heard the safety announcements 100s of times, I will still always stop reading and look up at the crew member and pay some sort of attention

I am sure they are sick of doing it as much I am sick of hearing it