"Can you hear me now?" Picture a plane full of people saying
this. If the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has its
way, pretty soon this scenario won't require much imagination.
The FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that
would relax restrictions on cell phone use, opening the door for
passengers to use cell phones in flight. AFA-CWA strongly
opposes this proposal.

The use of cell phones in the air is not only inappropriate but
unsafe. We have no data to suggest that cell phone use doesn't
interfere with aircraft navigation systems. The NPRM claims that
cell phone use among passengers would enhance security onboard
because it would allow better communication with people on the
ground. By the same token, it would enable terrorists on board
to communicate with one another to execute a hijacking more
effectively. They could, for example, simply take out a
Blackberry to email the positions of flight crew or someone they
suspect to be a Federal Air Marshal or to communicate if the
flight deck door were being opened for a pilot.

The mixture of thin air, cramped quarters, frayed nerves and
alcohol consumption already pushes passengers to the limit. Add
multiple, high volume cell phone conversations and the recipe
for disaster is complete.

The introduction of cell phone use in the cabin would not only
introduce a new security risk and increase tension among
passengers, it would compromise flight attendants' ability to
maintain order in an emergency. Imagine trying to prepare
passengers for an evacuation and you're getting the 'wait a
minute finger wag' while the people in that area miss out on
crucial information you are trying to communicate.

We have until April 11 to tell the FCC why allowing cell phone
use in flight is irresponsible and a bad idea. If you haven't
already done so, please tell your concerns to the FCC from a
flight attendant perspective by filling out the comment form at:
http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/websql/prod/ecfs/upload_v2.hts?ws_mode=proc_name&proc_id=04-435

 

Be sure to tell the FCC:
· There is no hard evidence that cell phone use doesn't
interfere with navigational instruments.
· Cell phone use would enable terrorists to coordinate a plan of
action more effectively.
· The NPRM would leave it up to flight attendants to police the
use of cell phones onboard the aircraft compromising our ability
to maintain a safe, secure cabin environment and to conduct
emergency evacuations.
· It would make an already tense cabin environment even more
stressful.
A copy of a letter to FCC Chairman Michael Powell from AFA-CWA
is attached to this email.
AFA is collecting your stories to include in our communications
with the FCC. After you have completed the online FCC comment
form, please copy your comments in an email to
fccdocket04-435@afanet.org and thank you for taking the time to
protect our workplace.