Inflight cell phone ban considered by US Congress

WASHINGTON – A flight attendants’ union says it supports a U.S. congressional bill to ban cell phone use by passengers while a plane is in flight.

“Cell phone use in the cabin would introduce a new aviation security risk, compromise flight attendants ability to maintain order in an emergency and increase cabin noise and tension among passengers,” the Association of Flight Attendants said in a statement.

The bill authored by U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, R-Ore., has passed the House but has not yet been considered by the Senate, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Monday.

The Federal Communication Commission already bans cell phone use in flight. European airlines, however, allow such conversations and DeFazio says it’s just a matter of time before U.S. airlines push for the option to entice more customers.

DeFazio’s bill – called the Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace Act – or HANG UP — is opposed by the Inflight Passenger Communications Coalition, a group of telecommunications and satellite industry groups.