Why the contradiction?

[SWAnnabee]

Can anyone explain why it is that on a commercial airline, passengers are asked to turn off all cell phones BEFORE they can leave the gate and taxi, yet after touchdown passengers are allowed to turn them on while taxiing from the rwy to the gate? Why is taxi out bad but taxi back OK? Just wondering.

 

[joe_pilot]

Same reason bars have last call 40 minutes before the actual closing time.
Because you can't trust pax to turn them off prior to take-off. After landing, it doesn't matter.

 

[Eagleflip]

My guess: the customers actually ought to listen to the Flight Attendants when they give the safety brief. Note to self: you don't have to take notes, but there may be a test later...

Second, if the pax manage to turn off those phones prior to push, it makes the compliance checks that much easier for the FAs to accomplish after the safety briefing and prior to takeoff.

Oh yeah, although I cannot cite the CFR where it says so, this is very likely an FAA requirement. We (JB) had to get FAA approval to allow cell phone use during taxi in, so methinks that is the answer.

 

[minitour]

Oh yeah, although I cannot cite the CFR where it says so, this is very likely an FAA requirement. We (JB) had to get FAA approval to allow cell phone use during taxi in, so methinks that is the answer.

Makes sense...I can't remember whether the reg says "operator" or "pilot in command" decides what equipment is and isn't allowed. Either way, I'm sure it has to be in your ops manual. That's probably why the FAA approval was required.

Just a guess though...I've been wrong before.

-mini

 

[erj-145mech]

Because when you're taxiing in, your not worried if your FMS loses its waypoints as much as when you're taxiing out.

 

[Fuzzy_is_Hungry]

Eagleflip is right. Its all about listening to the safety announcements.

 

[sky37d]

Yeah, and how important do you have to be to carry on a cell phone converstation while the FA is telling you how to save your A$$.
Oh, and why do you need to call someone while you are coming up to the gate?? Make sure that dinner is on the table??

 

[Fuzzy_is_Hungry]

Nah, its just because some people can't go 2 hours without making a cell phone call. Its almost like having a smoking addiction.

 

[User546]

I was flying on Southwest last week, and they mentioned during climbout that we could turn on all our electrical devices, and also our cellular phones as long as they were placed in "Airplane Mode".

What is airplane mode, and what's so special about it? Do all phones have it?

 

[e12pilot]

What is airplane mode, and what's so special about it? Do all phones have it?

It is starting to become more common on all cell phones these days, but it really started on the PDA type phones like the Treo, Blackberry, etc. Basically it allows the phone to be powered on without powering on any of the cellular based RF features. In effect it lets the suits play with their meetings, e-mail, etc without emitting any RF.

 

[SWAnnabee]

Same reason bars have last call 40 minutes before the actual closing time.
Because you can't trust pax to turn them off prior to take-off. After landing, it doesn't matter.

OK makes sense. Being that I always comply right away, I didn't consider that others might not and need the time to ensure that they all were turned off.

 

[joe_pilot]

OK makes sense. Being that I always comply right away, I didn't consider that others might not and need the time to ensure that they all were turned off.

Unfortunately, most bozos don't. They continue with their meaningless conversations, oblivious to the FA's saftey brief.

Semper Fi

 

[pilotmiketx]

A certain person with whom I frequently share a cockpit always forgets to turn his off. Almost aborted a takeoff when the thing started ringing. Now I just expect it.

 

[joe_pilot]

A certain person with whom I frequently share a cockpit always forgets to turn his off. Almost aborted a takeoff when the thing started ringing. Now I just expect it.

That's actually fairly common.

 

[lowlycfi]

Can anyone explain why it is that on a commercial airline, passengers are asked to turn off all cell phones BEFORE they can leave the gate and taxi, yet after touchdown passengers are allowed to turn them on while taxiing from the rwy to the gate? Why is taxi out bad but taxi back OK? Just wondering.

Because when I'm standing in the aft galley trying to check my voicemail during taxi, it's hard to hear with all of the pax yapping on their phones too.

 

[Kingairrick]

Here's one: Why are the FAs allowed to walk around on taxi out, but not on taxi in? My wife's a FA, and doesn't know either...

 

[lowlycfi]

Here's one: Why are the FAs allowed to walk around on taxi out, but not on taxi in? My wife's a FA, and doesn't know either...

We are. We just have to be performing safety related duties.
Ref 121.391(d):
§ 121.391 Flight attendants.

(d) During takeoff and landing, flight attendants required by this section shall be located as near as practicable to required floor level exists and shall be uniformly distributed throughout the airplane in order to provide the most effective egress of passengers in event of an emergency evacuation. During taxi, flight attendants required by this section must remain at their duty stations with safety belts and shoulder harnesses fastened except to perform duties related to the safety of the airplane and its occupants.

So quit asking me for a pillow and blanket during taxi.

 

[DorkProp]

After every flight, some dork on the phone in the loudest voice possible: "Hey, what's up? Yeah, I'm on the plane! Just landed! I'm way in the back! I'll call you when I get outside of the terminal!!!!!!"