Independent traveler : Is texting permitted on approach to landing?

Independent traveler

Love to travel, but hate tours? This blog offers insight on how to go it alone, from safe accommodations to seeing the best, and maybe the worst. After all, independent travel is an adventure. Flexibility and traveling on a budget are critical. No five-stars or all-inclusives. So hop aboard. Learn to enjoy travel at your own pace and price. Meet other adventurers like yourself and mingle with the locals. Remember: You may travel alone, but you wonʼt be lonely. gloria.independenttraveler@gmail.com

Gloria Maschmeyer

I've been a traveler since I can remember. I spread my wings as a flight attendant at age 20, then married a traveling man and we've never stopped. While based in Anchorage, we've ventured to India, Peru, Bali, Morocco, Burma, Tunisia Singapore and Ecuador. I love ferreting out places off the beaten path. And when things don't go quite as planned, that's just part of the adventure.

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Floating England's Llangollen Canal

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Web site that compares costs of travel insurance between companies.

Is texting permitted on approach to landing?

Posted by indietraveler

Posted: November 19, 2009 - 8:50 am

No texting onboard aircraft at anytime during flight.

Q. I sat next to a woman who texted before we landed. Is that legal?...Larry

A. No, no and no. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit the use of wireless devices during flight. End of story. No use of items that receive or transmit signals period.

Scary, but I too have seen what appears to be passengers texting once the pilot announces that we will be landing in so many minutes. The same people don't reach for their cell phones after landing, leading me to believe that they already informed someone of their arrival. It frightens me that these people are ignoring the regulation and putting us all in potential danger.

The FCC says there is insufficient information to determine if wireless devices will interfere with an airplane's navigational and communication system. Maybe that is why some yahoos ignore the regulation. However, who wants to be the first person to find out that personal cell phone use does interfere?

If anyone sees a fellow passenger texting, s/he can give them the benefit of the doubt and tell them texting is prohibited and why. If this doesn't do the trick or the person gets nasty, immediately ring the call button and report the incident. Remember, it's your life too. Or course, you can bypass being nice and ring the button first.

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