|
Washington, D.C. -- Frazzled
nerves from constant phone chatter, trouble hearing emergency
announcements, increased “air rage” – all of these were
identified by air travelers as good reasons for the government
to retain the current prohibition against airborne cell phone
use, according to a new poll.
Sixty-three
percent of the survey participants wanted to keep cell phone
restrictions in place, while only 21 percent said it’s time to
let people talk on their phones during flights, survey results
showed.
The poll,
sponsored by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and the
National Consumers League, was conducted as the Federal
Communications Commission moves ahead with a rule-making process
aimed at lifting its ban on cell phones and other portable
electronic devices in the air.
The two
groups hired Lauer Research Inc. to interview by telephone 702
air passengers, a mix of both frequent and occasional fliers.
The survey, conducted between March 28 and April 2, has a margin
of error of plus or minus 3.7 percent.
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.
Commenting
for the National Consumers League, Vice President for Public
Policy Susan Grant stated: "We're not surprised that people
responded so negatively to the idea of cell phone use being
allowed on airplanes. This survey and the popularity of the Do
Not Call Registry for telemarketing illustrate the growing
desire of many consumers to put up the 'do not disturb' sign and
have some peace and quiet."
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.
Seventy percent also wanted
separate seating sections in airplane cabins apart from
cell-phone users.
The FCC has already received about
4,450 comments from the public as part of the proceeding and
they overwhelmingly oppose lifting the cell phone ban. The
public comment period had been slated to end on April 11,
however, yesterday at the request of the Justice Department, the
FCC agreed to extend the deadline until May 26. The department
cited "important regulatory, technical/operational and public
safety/national security issues," and said more time was needed
to allow interested parties to file comments.
View the
survey
Report
and
Charts |
