SWA passenger arrest .....

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for not turning off his cell phone.


Southwest Airlines Passenger Arrested For Not Turning Off Phone « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

PHOENIX (CBS/AP) - Police in El Paso, Texas arrested a Southwest Airlines passenger on a flight from Phoenix after he refused to turn off his cell phone.

Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Whitney Eichinger in Dallas told The Associated Press Tuesday the man turned his cell phone on as flight 1833 landed about 5:45 p.m. in El Paso on Monday.

[simpleman68]

Good deal
You can dispute the validity of the law, but if it's the law, turn your feckin' phone off after the door closes and they announce it.
Always makes me nuts when folks ignore such a simple request and the attendants have to tell them several times.
Scott

[Rob]

I never understood why that is the law.

[Kevin_73]

Originally Posted by Dixievet

I never understood why that is the law.

I am sure there many people who will dispute it, but cell phone signals can interfere with electronic systems on the airplane.
My dad uses his cell phone occasionally while flying his Bonanza, and has noticed that whenever the phone is in a call the altitude hold on the autopilot malfunctions.

Avionic systems have to be designed and installed to work properly without causing interference with each other, but that is no guarantee that they will not be affected by other electromagnetic devices being operated in close proximity.

[Cybercowboy]

I can understand why not making a call is important, but having a device like the iPhone that can be placed in Airplane Mode and all you are doing is reading a book on it, and being forced to turn it off is really lame.

[VatorMan]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

I can understand why not making a call is important, but having a device like the iPhone that can be placed in Airplane Mode and all you are doing is reading a book on it, and being forced to turn it off is really lame.

Can you imagine the time it would take if the attendant has to check everyone that is using a smartphone to see if it is on airplane mode ? What's so F'n hard about turning the damn things off for 15 minutes before takeoff and 15 minutes till you land ?

[Burnt C6]

They better hope that I'm not on the damn jury. Every flight I've ever taken on South West they tell you as soon as the thing hits the ground that it is ok to turn the cell phone on as long as it is within reach so you don't have to get up to get it. The only flights they tell you to leave it off till you get to the gate are on Turbo props that I've flown on with United. If the plane had touched down then he just did what everyone else on the plane probably did. Now if they want to make it a non compliance with flight attendant instructions then they might have a case. I do it all the time and I usually sit in the first two rown. they have never told me to turn it back off.

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Originally Posted by TxAg

So the only issue is when the phone is on a call? Not when it is in the "Airplane mode" and used for everything else?

Originally Posted by TxAg

I agree the law is the law, but the plane had landed and sounds like it was taxiing up to the terminal. It wasn't in the air.

The article was kind of vague, if this was the case then I don't see a problem with it. Maybe the passenger had turned his phone on prior to landing, hoping to catch a signal. Maybe the flight diverted because of his trying to use it in flight. Doesn't really give details.

Originally Posted by TxAg

That's like having me turn off an MP3 player or laptop that is just running. I have yet to see/read how that affects an airplane. And if it is THAT big of a deal, why only have me shut them off at take-off and landing times? Does something special happen during the flight that makes them ok to use?

The airline I fly for, we're told multiple reasons as to why they're not to be turned on at all. Interference with avionics equipment, terrorists using gps signals or barometer readings and just trying to keep the use down so that the users aren't annoying the other non-users.
In the cockpit we can tell when they're on because of a tone/code signal we get in our headsets from time to time. I've even received erroneous readings on my displays.
Sure there are going to be skeptics about everything out there, and someone is going to know more than everyone else. But rules are rules. The Fed's don't want you to use them, so keep them off. To my understanding, it's a federal offense.

[Yerf Dog]

If it was actually dangerous wouldn't terrorists just jump on a jet and leave their cell phones on during the flight?

[Bill]

I'm one that doesn't generally subscribe to blindly following rules, just because, but I side with Southwest on this one. The guy paid to be a guest of SWA, no different than if he rented a hotel room. By purchasing his ticket, he agreed in advance to a few things. He agreed not to smoke on the plane, for instance. He also agreed to wear a seat belt, for example.

Simple facts: the guy was using his phone, got called on it, and then refused to shut it off after he got called out.

No one goes to jail if they comply with a flight attendant request or demand the first time, unless maybe they pee on the cabin floor or something.

I'm sure countless thousands have done exactly what this guy did, EXCEPT that when confronted, they followed instructions.

NO sympathy for the guy, even if his actions were harmless (which seems to be the subject of debate).

[Kevin_73]

Originally Posted by TxAg

So the only issue is when the phone is on a call? Not when it is in the "Airplane mode" and used for everything else?

That was the only time he noticed any issue in his airplane. There are thousands of different avionics packages that can be installed in hundreds of different combinations though. Untested electromagnetic energy could very well affect each combination differently, and it would be impossible to test every combination of avionic package with every possible electronic device that could be used on board the airplane.

As far as the "airplane mode" or using a device that isn't designed to transmit over the airwaves, all electronic devices emit electromagnetic energy when they have electricity running through them.
I am sure the power is very tiny on most devices, but since there is no way to check the output of individual devices, or even test one of everything with each aircraft it is much easier and safer for the FAA to just say no to everything.

[VatorMan]

Originally Posted by TxAg

You can tell when someone boots up a laptop/tablet/smartphone in airplane mode?

Not being sarcastic, seriously asking.

That's how he knows he has an Aggie on the flight.

[Kevin_73]

Originally Posted by TxAg

But that's what gets me. After a certain amount of time after takeoff and before landing, you hear the announcment "you may now use approved electronic devices" (which are usually laptops, tablets, mp3 players, dvd players, etc...).

So what happens with those devices at the time of takeoff and landing that doesn't happen during flight that makes them dangerous? That's the part I don't understand.

I really don't know for sure, but I suspect the reasoning is that if there is an issue with an electronic device causing a problem with the aircraft there would be time to deal with it safely when the plane is at altitude and cruising speed. During takeoff and landing the plane is at low altitude, low airspeed, and is maneuvering. That leaves very little margin for dealing with possible electronic problems.

[Scruff Vette]

Southwest Airlines Passenger Arrested For Not Turning Off Phone « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

Will make my 18 yr old daughter read this one out loud. That should end the "Whyyyyy???.. it's so stupid" argument....maybe.

[Chris Fowler]

I'm still trying to figure out why I have to turn off my Kindle...

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Originally Posted by TxAg

You can tell when someone boots up a laptop/tablet/smartphone in airplane mode?

Not being sarcastic, seriously asking.

In airplane mode? No, as long as there is no signal being put out there shouldn't be any interference.
But we don't know if this guy was trying to make a call or send a text message because the article is so vague.

Originally Posted by TxAg

But that's what gets me. After a certain amount of time after takeoff and before landing, you hear the announcment "you may now use approved electronic devices" (which are usually laptops, tablets, mp3 players, dvd players, etc...).

So what happens with those devices at the time of takeoff and landing that doesn't happen during flight that makes them dangerous? That's the part I don't understand.

You're able to use those devices if they don't admit a signal their own GPS or a internet signal outside of the WiFi signal provided on the airplane. You can use the WiFi on the airplane because of the placement of the antenna on the airplane, it's been secured away from the airplanes avionic systems.
Also, the reason they don't want you using those devices during take off and landing is because of the chance of an emergency. If everyone has their laptops/DVD players out and they have to evacuate the airplane then it's just more clutter to deal with. It's the same reason of the "Seat backs in the upright and locked position" rule.
The airlines don't make these rules up just to make rules. They're FAA regs, and usually are written in blood.

[Joecooool]

Every flight I've been on in the past ten years, I turn my phone on as soon as the wheels touch the ground.

As do all the people around me.

There has never been a documented case of a cell phone interfering with a plane. Hell, I've left mine on by accident the whole flight before on more than one occasion with no issues.

Stupid shit.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

Hell, I've left mine on by accident the whole flight before on more than one occasion with no issues.

Stupid shit.

I have just thrown it into the bag when I go through the checkpoint and forget to put it back in my pocket. Plus, I keep it on vibrate anyway, so the damn thing is probably going off the whole time in flight anyway.

[Jobaka]

Regardless of the merits, or lack thereof, of the law, the man had 2 choices:

1. Turn off the phone and go about his day.

2. Keep it real and get arrested.


IMHO, he chose poorly.

[67 327/400]

Originally Posted by Jobaka

Regardless of the merits, or lack thereof, of the law, the man had 2 choices:

1. Turn off the phone and go about his day.

2. Keep it real and get arrested.


IMHO, he chose poorly.