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Cell Phones on Planes? Maybe Not

Survey Warns of Air Rage

April 8, 2005
Do air travelers want their seatmates chattering away on their cell phones? A new survey says no. Sixty-three percent of those responding to a poll sponsored by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and the National Consumers League were against the idea; only 21 percent were for removing restrictions on using cell phones in flight.

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The Federal Communications Commission has been taxiing out with a rule-making procedure that is expected to allow in-flight cell phones on some flights within the next two years.

Negative responses to cell phones in flight surged to around the 80-percent level when air travelers focused on questions dealing with air rage, emergency communications, possible terrorist coordination using phones, and pilot reports that current cell phone technology can interfere with aircraft navigational equipment.

"Clearly, air travelers understand that cell phones in the close quarters of a commercial aircraft would not only compromise their comfort but their safety as well," said Association of Flight Attendants President Pat Friend.

Among reasons poll participants cited for keeping the current cell phone ban in place:

• 78 percent of participants agreed that cell phone use in already-tense, close quarters of an airplane could lead to increased passenger unruliness and interfere with flight attendants' ability to maintain order.
• 78 percent believed that cell phones might distract passengers from hearing life-saving instructions in an emergency.
• 82 percent said cell phones might "make planes uncomfortable and be disruptive" to passengers wishing to read or nap.
• 87 percent were alarmed when informed that pilots have reported many cases of problems with navigational equipment possibly caused by cell phones or other electronic devices turned on in flight.
• 84 percent agreed that it is too soon to lift the ban while the Federal Aviation Administration is still studying whether cell phones interfere with aircraft systems.

In the event that the ban is lifted, 90 percent of the air travelers said airlines should be required to have planes fitted with systems to allow the flight crew to instantly disconnect all cell phone calls during safety and emergency announcements.

The survey was conducted by Lauer Research Inc. using 702 air passengers, a mix of both frequent and occasional fliers. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percent.

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