United Airlines outlined a new cell phone policy for U.S. domesti...
United Airlines outlined a new cell phone policy for U.S. domestic arrivals, joining a growing list of airlines that have relaxed their wireless phone policies. Southwest Airlines earlier this month relaxed its cellphone use policy, following similar moves by…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
Continental Airlines and American Airlines. United said its policy allows passengers to use wireless phones on board an aircraft: (1) Only after the plane has landed and “exited the active runway.” A crew member will tell passengers when it’s okay to use their phones. (2) While the plane is at the gate with the entry gate open, in line with previous policy. (3) During ground holds at the discretion of the captain, also in line with existing policy. United said it wasn’t changing its policy for international flights or United Express. FCC rules prohibit cellphone use in-flight. United said although it wasn’t the first to undertake this change, it had to craft a single policy for all existing fleet types. “This required considerable testing, research and analysis of the interaction of cellphones with communications systems which, when completed, proved the policy change was safe,” said Peggy Dedo, vp-engineering & technical support.