Congress considers airline cell phone ban
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- A flight attendants' union says it supports a U.S. congressional bill to ban cell phone use by passengers while a plane is in flight.
"Cell phone use in the cabin would introduce a new aviation security risk, compromise flight attendants ability to maintain order in an emergency and increase cabin noise and tension among passengers," the Association of Flight Attendants said in a statement.
The bill authored by U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, R-Ore., has passed the House but has not yet been considered by the Senate, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Monday.
The Federal Communication Commission already bans cell phone use in flight. European airlines, however, allow such conversations and DeFazio says it's just a matter of time before U.S. airlines push for the option to entice more customers.
DeFazio's bill -- called the Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace Act -- or HANG UP -- is opposed by the Inflight Passenger Communications Coalition, a group of telecommunications and satellite industry groups.
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/08/31/Congress-considers-airline-cell-phone-ban/UPI-87121251742307/Why ban them? According to some in the dungeon cell phones won't work in planes anyway :hide: