Unacceptable behavior on airplanes - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

The_Jazz · 02-07-2007, 11:09 AM

First I know that there have been a few threads on similar topics in the past, but I think this one is unique in its own right.

Second, I'm breaking one of my cardinal rules and posting something that I saw on Fark here. Hopefully this is the first and last time I'm doing that.

Finally, and to get to the point, there's a huge discussion going on over at Fark about this story:

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/wate...ryid=48796&s=f

Basically, some numbskull going from Ft. Myers to St. Louis wouldn't hang up her phone when instructed by the cabin crew. The validity of cell phone interference with navigational eqiupment aside, that's a huge no-no, and I think anyone who's flown at all in the past 5 years should realize that.

I'm a very frequent traveler (at least 2 flights per week) and a very heavy cell phone user, but I've always had the courtesy to my fellow travelers to hang up on whoever I'm talking to with a request for them to call my cell phone back, leave a message with whatever talking points they have and that I'll call them back as we're taxiing to the gate. People tend to be very understanding about cell phones on planes. I've even used the airphones on United (until my company stopped allowing me to expense those), but when you're trying to cut a deal worth tens of thousands to you personally, you do what it takes.

The point of this thread is the last point of the story, which says that the unidentified woman isn't going to be charged. I'm sorry, but if you're hauled off of a plane because you won't comply with crew orders, the authorities need to get involved. Am I way off base with this?

tinfoil · 02-07-2007, 11:14 AM

Ya, see, the people in the uniforms are in charge, and if you don't listen to the people in charge, you're going to get burned in some way.

The lady should have been penalized in some way. The funny thing is that if someone would have reached over and taken the phone away from her and hung it up, that person would have likely been charged.

maleficent · 02-07-2007, 11:18 AM

i have flown probaby as much as yu have - if not more some weeks -crew orders are crew orders.. this woman should be charged - i'm not saying she needs to be thrown into jail for 6 months -but a fine is definitely appropriate.

I found a pilots forum once - because i was curious about the cell phone interferance and transmissions and the question was asked there - some pilots did report interferance in their radio headsets when cell phones were on - but navigation equipment was not effected.

The_Jazz · 02-07-2007, 11:23 AM

Mal, the interesting thing is that when I thought about the idea of this woman getting jail time for this incident, that thought ticked me off as much as the idea of no charges. I completely agree that some sort of fine (nominal?) and the loss of the right to be on that flight seem like punishment enough, but I've been subject to some pretty rough behavior on planes so far this year. I'm still trying to decide if the last trip is worth a journal rant or not, so there may be future venting on my part.

Carno · 02-07-2007, 11:27 AM

She certainly could be charged for not following a crew members instructions, but maybe there was some reason they decided not to press charges? Hard to know anything about the situation when there is only a short news blurb.

As far as cell phones and nav equipment go, nav equipment is shielded so that other components don't interfere with it, like the aircraft's radios for example. The only real problem with cell phones in aircraft is that the cell phone can get reception from many towers.

02-07-2007, 11:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	Unacceptable behavior on airplanes First I know that there have been a few threads on similar topics in the past, but I think this one is unique in its own right. Second, I'm breaking one of my cardinal rules and posting something that I saw on Fark here. Hopefully this is the first and last time I'm doing that. Finally, and to get to the point, there's a huge discussion going on over at Fark about this story: http://www.tampabays10.com/news/wate...ryid=48796&s=f Basically, some numbskull going from Ft. Myers to St. Louis wouldn't hang up her phone when instructed by the cabin crew. The validity of cell phone interference with navigational eqiupment aside, that's a huge no-no, and I think anyone who's flown at all in the past 5 years should realize that. I'm a very frequent traveler (at least 2 flights per week) and a very heavy cell phone user, but I've always had the courtesy to my fellow travelers to hang up on whoever I'm talking to with a request for them to call my cell phone back, leave a message with whatever talking points they have and that I'll call them back as we're taxiing to the gate. People tend to be very understanding about cell phones on planes. I've even used the airphones on United (until my company stopped allowing me to expense those), but when you're trying to cut a deal worth tens of thousands to you personally, you do what it takes. The point of this thread is the last point of the story, which says that the unidentified woman isn't going to be charged. I'm sorry, but if you're hauled off of a plane because you won't comply with crew orders, the authorities need to get involved. Am I way off base with this? __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

02-07-2007, 11:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	Ya, see, the people in the uniforms are in charge, and if you don't listen to the people in charge, you're going to get burned in some way. The lady should have been penalized in some way. The funny thing is that if someone would have reached over and taken the phone away from her and hung it up, that person would have likely been charged. __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

02-07-2007, 11:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	i have flown probaby as much as yu have - if not more some weeks -crew orders are crew orders.. this woman should be charged - i'm not saying she needs to be thrown into jail for 6 months -but a fine is definitely appropriate. I found a pilots forum once - because i was curious about the cell phone interferance and transmissions and the question was asked there - some pilots did report interferance in their radio headsets when cell phones were on - but navigation equipment was not effected. __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

02-07-2007, 11:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	Mal, the interesting thing is that when I thought about the idea of this woman getting jail time for this incident, that thought ticked me off as much as the idea of no charges. I completely agree that some sort of fine (nominal?) and the loss of the right to be on that flight seem like punishment enough, but I've been subject to some pretty rough behavior on planes so far this year. I'm still trying to decide if the last trip is worth a journal rant or not, so there may be future venting on my part. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

02-07-2007, 11:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
Carno Junkie	She certainly could be charged for not following a crew members instructions, but maybe there was some reason they decided not to press charges? Hard to know anything about the situation when there is only a short news blurb. As far as cell phones and nav equipment go, nav equipment is shielded so that other components don't interfere with it, like the aircraft's radios for example. The only real problem with cell phones in aircraft is that the cell phone can get reception from many towers.