Mobile use on aircraft

MOBILE PHONE USERS are being reminded by the UK CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) that it is still forbidden to use the handsets on nearly all flights.  Passengers who find themselves on board an aircraft modified to allow mobile phone use will be informed by the cabin crew and given instructions on how and where their phone can be used.  Any who disobeys a cabin crew instruction to turn off a mobile phone is committing an offence, which could result in prosecution.  Research carried out by the CAA found that the use of mobile telephones can adversely affect navigation and communication functions, producing significant errors on instrument displays and background noise on pilot radios.  The research endorses evidence from pilots, who have complained that interference from mobiles has caused problems.  Air France, BMI, British Airways, Emirates, Qantas, Ryanair and TAP Portugal, are among the airlines currently using or planning to trial on-board mobile phone systems on some aircraft. www.caa.co.uk

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