Stow luggage, not phones, while in flight

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

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Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 16:29:08 -0400
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From: Monty Solomon <monty () roscom com>
Subject: PluggedIn: Stow luggage, not phones, while in flight

     PluggedIn: Stow luggage, not phones, while in flight
     - Apr 13, 2004 09:38 AM (Reuters)

By Lucas Grinsven


AMSTERDAM, April 13 (Reuters) - The next time a flight
attendant asks you to switch off that handheld computer phone,
keep smiling -- and pull out a copy of the latest plane safety
guidelines.


Clever computer and handset makers offer an option called
"flight mode," which disables the radio. As a result, the
British Civil Aviation Authority has decided passengers in
planes under its jurisdiction should be allowed to use these
portable devices as a calendar or photo viewer because they do
not interfere with the electronic circuits and radio systems
used by the pilots.


The CAA says airlines should let travelers write messages,
read documents and perform all other nonphone functions on
phones that double up as computers, just as they can now work
on a laptop, play on a GameBoy or listen to music on an iPod at
cruising altitudes.


But some flight crews still fume when they spot a passenger
toying with a computer phone. Airlines from no-frills JetBlue
(NASDAQ:JBLU) to United <UALAQ.OB> and British Airways (LSE:BAY) have
their crews scanning the aisles for them.

...

     - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=41061719

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