Allowing passengers to make phone calls on planes? U.S. Department of Transportation: No way!

▲ Can you make phone calls on a plane? (Illustration / Daguan Images)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Can passengers actually make phone calls on planes? The current stance of the U.S. government seems to lean more toward "No way!", while airlines are still actively lobbying to keep the final decision in their own hands.

Accordingto The Wall Street Journal,the report states that although both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made it clear at the end of 2013 that the regulations banning the use of mobile phones on planes were outdated and would therefore relax the rules prohibiting the use of electronic devices such as tablets and mobile phones during flights, they have not yet clearly stated whether making phone calls on phones will be allowed.

And according to insiders, Kathryn Thomson, the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), revealed the department's position during a speech at the Washington Aero Club last week: "The next step is to explicitly prohibit making phone calls on mobile phones during flights." A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Transportation later confirmed this statement. Even though a final decision has not yet been made, the department has decided to officially announce its opposition in December. However, they will open the floor for opinions from businesses and passengers, and will not make a final decision until February 2015.

The Associated Press also conducted a survey on this topic among the public, in which 60% opposed the use of mobile phones in the cabin, with only 19% in favor. Many opponents expressed that they hope to arrive at their destination in peace. A poll by Delta Air Lines also showed that nearly 65% said that allowing phone calls in the cabin would greatly degrade the quality of the flight experience. Many flight attendants also said that if phone calls were allowed, the loud volume might disturb other passengers and potentially lead to conflicts among them.

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