Cellphones on jets hit turbulence: Not everybody likes the idea, survey says
Are you eager to chatter away on your cellphone at 35,000 feet in the air or listen to your seatmate do the same? Not so fast. More Americans oppose this idea than support it, according to a survey released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The numbers, based on a survey taken in November 2007: 45.2% of U.S. residents surveyed think cellphones should definitely or probably be barred from cabins, 39.7% think they’re definitely or probably OK if they don’t interfere with aircraft communications and 15% aren’t sure.
And there’s an age divide, with nearly half of the 18- to 34-year-olds sampled favoring cellphones, versus about one out of four of those over 65.
Like it or not, several foreign airlines are moving to equip their planes for cellphone use. U.S. flights are a different story because government regulators, saying cellphones may interfere with ground or air communications, are balking at giving the go-ahead.
Even if they do, how many users will flip on their phones if they face roaming and other extra charges?
— Jane Engle, assistant Los Angeles Times Travel editor
[Photo: Justin Guariglia / Corbis]
4 Comments on “Cellphones on jets hit turbulence: Not everybody likes the idea, survey says”
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August 7th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I am a 11-year flight attendant on a major carrier. The day folks are allowed to use their cells during flight will be my retirement day. As a culture we are just not mannerly enough to handle this, as some European cultures only MIGHT be. I disagreed strongly when my airline allowed folks on some planes (the ones least likely to suffer interference w cockpit equipment) to use their phones on taxi-in and out. THAT is when an emergency evac is going to happen. I do not want to compete w cell conversations to shout commands. I want people to have their hands and heads free to listen and follow instructions. I do not want to evacuate people who are shouting into their phones, “Honey, there’s been an emergency! We’re getting off the plane!” etc., etc. When the airplane door is closed, cells should be off immediately. And yes, no matter who says what, SOME phones SOME times interfere with SOME planes in SOME situations, I have experienced this myself several times. Even if they didn’t, cells need to be off for the reasons outlined above. If people want to send email or text msgs that is another thing as long as it can’t interfere w equipment, but once the seat belt sign is off, never during taxi or takeoff or landing. No cells. No way.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Jane Engle replies:
Dear Toni-
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I can see where cellphones could make it harder to coordinate response in an emergency. I hadn’t thought of that.
Sincerely,
Jane Engle
August 8th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Although there is tremendous convenience with cell communication during a professional’s travel downtime, I concur that emergency management is more important than cell phone use in an environment that has tragic dangers to contend with. Passengers have the potential to demonstrate irresponsible behaviors with cell phones during air travel.
Having an email and text option in-flight would be a wonderful alternative to voice communication. I would still remain productive while ‘chatting’ could carry on uninterrupted.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:55 am
The day the guy next to me is talking relentlessly on the phone while I try to work or listen to my IPod is the day I play a movie loudly on my PC to show him that planes are not meant to be business offices, chat rooms or other loud places. The volumes on the planes will go up dramatically and in the end make everyones trip more miserable.