Another Airline Permits Cellphone Use While on the Ground

Customers on Southwest Airlines have a bit more freedom 'to talk about the country'with new cell phone use rules that went into effect in the USA yesterday. Southwest Customers with cell phones onboard may now begin using them after the flight attendant gives permission to do so upon landing at the destination and taxi to the airport gate.

'This flexibility is just one more way Southwest is showing its Customers it is the convenient, affordable, Customer-friendly choice,' said Colleen Barrett, Southwest's president and chief operating officer.

Previously on Southwest, Customers could use their phones onboard upon boarding, but only until the aircraft doors closed. Then, all cell phone power had to be turned off until the aircraft was secured at the gate in the arrival city. Now, instead of waiting until an arriving aircraft is parked at the gate and the door is opened, Customers will be able to use their cell phones upon arrival in a city, while the aircraft is taxiing to the arrival gate. Flight attendants onboard will make announcements to let Customers know when it is OK to begin using a cell phone or pager.

Southwest conducted the required Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) testing to ensure that cell phones did not interfere with ground navigation equipment during taxi. Its test results showed no avionics nor ground test anomalies."

Posted to the site on 3rd September 2003