CEO charged for refusing to get off cellphone during Southwest flight

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...eb5b0.html?npc

Austin man charged after refusing to hang up cellphone during
Southwest Airlines flight
Monday, May 12, 2008
By SUZANNE MARTA / The Dallas Morning News

An Austin businessman was charged with disorderly conduct after he
allegedly refused to stop using his mobile phone on a flight Monday
from Austin to Dallas Love Field.

Dallas police met the plane after the pilot radioed ahead to the Love
Field tower. They cited Joe David Jones, 50, president of an Austin-
based environmental start-up company called Skyonic Corp., with the
Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.

The incident occurred as a Southwest flight from Austin began its
descent into Dallas.

"After multiple requests, the flight attendants were not successful in
getting the passenger to get off the phone," Southwest spokeswoman
Brandy King said.

According to the police report, Mr. Jones was asked to turn off his
cellphone and responded, "Kiss my [expletive]." When asked again, he
said, "Kiss my [expletive]. Not happening."

According to the police report, Mr. Jones remained on the phone about
20 minutes. When officers met Mr. Jones at the gate, he continued to
exhibit disorderly conduct, police said.

Federal Aviation Administration regulations prohibit any use of mobile
phones except when the aircraft is on the ground. Airlines can be
fined up to $25,000 if they permit cellphone use during a flight, and
individuals also can face fines, Ms. King said.

Mr. Jones was unavailable for comment Monday, but his spokesman, Mark
Clayton, said the businessman had received a message that his father's
heart had stopped beating and tried several times to reach officials
in the cardiac unit where his father was being treated.

"He did express regrets for any inconvenience, but due to the life and
death circumstances, he felt he needed to make the call," Mr. Clayton
said.

Beth Harbin, a Southwest spokeswoman, said that although the carrier
sympathizes with Mr. Jones' situation, "it was a safety regulation
that we're required to enforce, and we're simply not in a position to
make exceptions."

Incidents involving passengers and cellphone use are relatively rare,
Ms. Harbin said. Southwest has recorded 26 incidents of mobile-phone
abuse so far this year, and only one of those escalated into a report
to the FAA.

While there have been high-profile examples of people using mobile
phones during a flight – such as during the Sept. 11 attacks – studies
have shown some potential for interference with an airplane's
navigation and communications systems.

In-flight cellphone use is also prohibited by the Federal
Communications Commission because of possible interference with
wireless networks on the ground. The FCC has considered lifting the
ban, beginning in 2004, but ended those discussions last year.

However, mobile-phone use has been approved by European regulators,
and a satellite-based service is being tested by Air France on one of
its Airbus A318 planes for flights within Europe and North Africa.

The airline Emirates launched service with a similar system on one of
its Airbus A340-300 airplanes in March and has said it will spend $27
million to equip its entire fleet.

In the U.S., demand for such a service has been relatively low. A
survey by Forrester Research showed less than 16 percent of travelers
wanted to make calls during flights, compared with 55 percent who
would like broadband Internet access.

Forrester analyst Henry Harteveldt said the use of mobile phones in
the cabin raises another risk: air rage.

"No one wants to sit next to a Chatty Cathy talking about their latest
conquest," he said.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://skyonic.com/directorsOfficers.php

JOE JONES, PRESIDENT AND CEO
Joe Jones, President and CEO of Skyonic, earned a BS in Chemical
Engineering from the University of Texas and spent the first 25 years
of his career in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, working at
Texas Industries, Cypress Semiconductors, and others. He participated
in the start-up and operation of five wafer-fabrication plants (TI,
AMD, and Cypress), the development of one of the first fabless
semiconductor companies (Ross Technology), and an independent
outsource semiconductor company he founded (BridgePoint Technical
Manufacturing). His credits include numerous contributions to the
chemistry of wafer-fabrication and semiconductor testing, and his goal
is to apply the low-energy lessons he learned in semiconductor
development to the problem of creating a low-energy method of
sequestering CO2. A businessman, as well as an engineer and an
environmentalist, Joe left his position as CEO of BridgePoint when his
belief in the need for clean, sustainable energy led him to begin
development of the SkyMine™ technology and found Skyonic Corporation
in 2005.

MARK CLAYTON, VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE RELATIONS
Mark Clayton joined Skyonic as Vice President of Corporate Relations
in March of 2007 after spending almost 30 years in the semiconductor
industry where he worked in engineering, quality, marketing, and
sales. He is alumnus of Texas Instruments, Aeronca Electronics,
Silicon Materials Service, Rodel, and Wacker Siltronic. He has a BA in
Chemistry from Austin College and an MA in Education, and has also
worked as an educator. Mark is also a scout leader, and believes very
strongly in clean energy development to benefit the next generation.

ywell85@yahoo.com writes:

> Federal Aviation Administration regulations prohibit any use of mobile
> phones except when the aircraft is on the ground.

Which FAR is that?

Mxsmanic <mxsmanic@gmail.com> wrote in
news:k9rj2456rvdvcid1abd5j67rs3ho8758ju@4ax.com:

> ywell85@yahoo.com writes:
>
>> Federal Aviation Administration regulations prohibit any use of mobile
>> phones except when the aircraft is on the ground.
>
> Which FAR is that?
>

The FARs are online. Try searching them.

"Mxsmanic" <mxsmanic@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:k9rj2456rvdvcid1abd5j67rs3ho8758ju@4ax.com...
> ywell85@yahoo.com writes:
>
>> Federal Aviation Administration regulations prohibit any use of mobile
>> phones except when the aircraft is on the ground.
>
> Which FAR is that?


You can find it at www.google.com
--
JohnT

ywell85@yahoo.com wrote:

> http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...eb5b0.html?npc
>
> Austin man charged after refusing to hang up cellphone during
> Southwest Airlines flight
> Monday, May 12, 2008
> By SUZANNE MARTA / The Dallas Morning News
>
> An Austin businessman was charged with disorderly conduct after he
> allegedly refused to stop using his mobile phone on a flight Monday
> from Austin to Dallas Love Field.
>
> Dallas police met the plane after the pilot radioed ahead to the Love
> Field tower. They cited Joe David Jones, 50, president of an Austin-
> based environmental start-up company called Skyonic Corp., with the
> Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.
>
> The incident occurred as a Southwest flight from Austin began its
> descent into Dallas.
>
> "After multiple requests, the flight attendants were not successful in
> getting the passenger to get off the phone," Southwest spokeswoman
> Brandy King said.
>
> According to the police report, Mr. Jones was asked to turn off his
> cellphone and responded, "Kiss my [expletive]." When asked again, he
> said, "Kiss my [expletive]. Not happening."
>
> According to the police report, Mr. Jones remained on the phone about
> 20 minutes. When officers met Mr. Jones at the gate, he continued to
> exhibit disorderly conduct, police said.
>
> Federal Aviation Administration regulations prohibit any use of mobile
> phones except when the aircraft is on the ground. Airlines can be
> fined up to $25,000 if they permit cellphone use during a flight, and
> individuals also can face fines, Ms. King said.
>
> Mr. Jones was unavailable for comment Monday, but his spokesman, Mark
> Clayton, said the businessman had received a message that his father's
> heart had stopped beating and tried several times to reach officials
> in the cardiac unit where his father was being treated.
>

Like it mattered! Another dumb CEO! Play withyour toes
ceotard.



>
> "He did express regrets for any inconvenience, but due to the life and
> death circumstances, he felt he needed to make the call," Mr. Clayton
> said.
>
> Beth Harbin, a Southwest spokeswoman, said that although the carrier
> sympathizes with Mr. Jones' situation, "it was a safety regulation
> that we're required to enforce, and we're simply not in a position to
> make exceptions."
>
> Incidents involving passengers and cellphone use are relatively rare,
> Ms. Harbin said. Southwest has recorded 26 incidents of mobile-phone
> abuse so far this year, and only one of those escalated into a report
> to the FAA.
>
> While there have been high-profile examples of people using mobile
> phones during a flight – such as during the Sept. 11 attacks – studies
> have shown some potential for interference with an airplane's
> navigation and communications systems.
>
> In-flight cellphone use is also prohibited by the Federal
> Communications Commission because of possible interference with
> wireless networks on the ground. The FCC has considered lifting the
> ban, beginning in 2004, but ended those discussions last year.
>
> However, mobile-phone use has been approved by European regulators,
> and a satellite-based service is being tested by Air France on one of
> its Airbus A318 planes for flights within Europe and North Africa.
>
> The airline Emirates launched service with a similar system on one of
> its Airbus A340-300 airplanes in March and has said it will spend $27
> million to equip its entire fleet.
>
> In the U.S., demand for such a service has been relatively low. A
> survey by Forrester Research showed less than 16 percent of travelers
> wanted to make calls during flights, compared with 55 percent who
> would like broadband Internet access.
>
> Forrester analyst Henry Harteveldt said the use of mobile phones in
> the cabin raises another risk: air rage.
>
> "No one wants to sit next to a Chatty Cathy talking about their latest
> conquest," he said.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> http://skyonic.com/directorsOfficers.php
>
> JOE JONES, PRESIDENT AND CEO
> Joe Jones, President and CEO of Skyonic, earned a BS in Chemical
> Engineering from the University of Texas and spent the first 25 years
> of his career in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, working at
> Texas Industries, Cypress Semiconductors, and others. He participated
> in the start-up and operation of five wafer-fabrication plants (TI,
> AMD, and Cypress), the development of one of the first fabless
> semiconductor companies (Ross Technology), and an independent
> outsource semiconductor company he founded (BridgePoint Technical
> Manufacturing). His credits include numerous contributions to the
> chemistry of wafer-fabrication and semiconductor testing, and his goal
> is to apply the low-energy lessons he learned in semiconductor
> development to the problem of creating a low-energy method of
> sequestering CO2. A businessman, as well as an engineer and an
> environmentalist, Joe left his position as CEO of BridgePoint when his
> belief in the need for clean, sustainable energy led him to begin
> development of the SkyMine™ technology and found Skyonic Corporation
> in 2005.
>
> MARK CLAYTON, VICE PRESIDENT OF CORPORATE RELATIONS
> Mark Clayton joined Skyonic as Vice President of Corporate Relations
> in March of 2007 after spending almost 30 years in the semiconductor
> industry where he worked in engineering, quality, marketing, and
> sales. He is alumnus of Texas Instruments, Aeronca Electronics,
> Silicon Materials Service, Rodel, and Wacker Siltronic. He has a BA in
> Chemistry from Austin College and an MA in Education, and has also
> worked as an educator. Mark is also a scout leader, and believes very
> strongly in clean energy development to benefit the next generation.

JohnT writes:

> You can find it at www.google.com

No, I can't. Nobody can, because no such regulation exists.

<ywell85@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:f3594389-85a4-4e79-9ecb-8d58b9aabc77@m45g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...eb5b0.html?npc


>However, mobile-phone use has been approved by European regulators,
>and a satellite-based service is being tested by Air France on one of
>its Airbus A318 planes for flights within Europe and North Africa.

I hope it never arrives here in the US.


>In the U.S., demand for such a service has been relatively low. A
>survey by Forrester Research showed less than 16 percent of travelers
>wanted to make calls during flights, compared with 55 percent who
>would like broadband Internet access.

I hope that 16 percent gets lower.

>Forrester analyst Henry Harteveldt said the use of mobile phones in
>the cabin raises another risk: air rage.

Yes, this could lead to air rage and the last flight I was on as we were
boarding there was a guy on his cell phone and I can't imagine that anyone
missed a word he said. He was so loud.

>"No one wants to sit next to a Chatty Cathy talking about their latest
>conquest," he said.

Imagine someone on a flight next to you for 6 hrs going blah blah
blah........... Oh the pain.

Will this guy be allowed to fly again?

Mxsmanic wrote:
> JohnT writes:
>
>> You can find it at www.google.com
>
> No, I can't. Nobody can, because no such regulation exists.

The Southwest Airlines spokesperson mis-spoke. She should have said that
the FCC prohibits cell phone use, not the FAA. She further mis-spoke
when she said that it was a safety regulation, when in fact it's a
regulation to prevent disruption of some wireless networks (GSM in
particular).

The airlines frequently intentionally lie about who prohibits cell
phones because it's easier for them to pretend that it's a safety issue
than to try to explain about the FCC, and why they prohibit airborne
cell phone use.

SMS writes:

> The Southwest Airlines spokesperson mis-spoke. She should have said that
> the FCC prohibits cell phone use, not the FAA. She further mis-spoke
> when she said that it was a safety regulation, when in fact it's a
> regulation to prevent disruption of some wireless networks (GSM in
> particular).

Perhaps she was simply lying.

> The airlines frequently intentionally lie about who prohibits cell
> phones because it's easier for them to pretend that it's a safety issue
> than to try to explain about the FCC, and why they prohibit airborne
> cell phone use.

Should this type of fraud be condoned?

paddy_nyr writes:

> Imagine someone on a flight next to you for 6 hrs going blah blah
> blah........... Oh the pain.

How long do cell phone batteries last?

SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>
> Mxsmanic wrote:
>>
>> JohnT writes:
>>
>>> You can find it at www.google.com
>>
>> No, I can't. Nobody can, because no such regulation exists.
>
> The Southwest Airlines spokesperson mis-spoke. She should have said
that
> the FCC prohibits cell phone use, not the FAA. She further mis-spoke
> when she said that it was a safety regulation, when in fact it's a
> regulation to prevent disruption of some wireless networks (GSM in
> particular).
>
> The airlines frequently intentionally lie about who prohibits cell
> phones because it's easier for them to pretend that it's a safety issue
> than to try to explain about the FCC, and why they prohibit airborne
> cell phone use.

No. In addition to the specific FCC regulation about cell phones, the
FAA has a more general regulation that require the airlines to control
the use of radio transmitting devices. The Southwest spokesperson was
referring to that regulation. It is a safety regulation.

It doesn't mean the airlines can't allow cell phone or radio use, it
simply requires them to satisfy themselves that the use of the equipment
wouldn't be a safety problem. With the FCC regulation on the books, the
airlines haven't felt it necessary to do the necessary testing of cell
phones, since their use in the air is otherwise prohibited.

"Mxsmanic" <mxsmanic@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:153m24hguk5d983rqktshidsbm6v2bga0d@4ax.com...
> paddy_nyr writes:
>
>> Imagine someone on a flight next to you for 6 hrs going blah blah
>> blah........... Oh the pain.
>
> How long do cell phone batteries last?
>
With any luck (bad) the person has a cell phone charger to there laptop.

"Mxsmanic" <mxsmanic@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:153m24hguk5d983rqktshidsbm6v2bga0d@4ax.com...
> paddy_nyr writes:
>
>> Imagine someone on a flight next to you for 6 hrs going blah blah
>> blah........... Oh the pain.
>
> How long do cell phone batteries last?

Depends on the model. I've talked on one for 8 hours straight until the
battery indicator read HALF full. Long story, but dealing with a family
emergency while driving to get home. Oh, and car charger was AT home.
Actual talk time was probably over 6 hours, as I lost signal in a few areas.
But note that I only used half the battery.

Oh, and theoretically at least, it shouldn't matter how long a cell phone
battery lasts. You can carry spare batteries, and spare (battery powered)
cell phone chargers. They sell those now. -Dave

James Robinson wrote:

> No. In addition to the specific FCC regulation about cell phones, the
> FAA has a more general regulation that require the airlines to control
> the use of radio transmitting devices. The Southwest spokesperson was
> referring to that regulation. It is a safety regulation.

As I said, the FAA doesn't prohibit cell phone use. They require that
electronic equipment used on board doesn't interfere with the navigation
systems. Cell phones do not interfere.

The Southwest spokesperson could have just said, "Federal regulations
prohibit cell phone use while airborne," without having to make up stories.

In article <GmEWj.859$BL6.561@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com>,
SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

>As I said, the FAA doesn't prohibit cell phone use.

False. FAA has a blanket prohibition on cell phone use, unless the
cell phone in question is determined by the *aircraft operator* not
to interfere with the navigation or communication system (FAR 91.21).
Note the aircraft operator part.

>They require that
>electronic equipment used on board doesn't interfere with the navigation
>systems. Cell phones do not interfere.

Non-interference must be determined by the aircraft operator; that'd
be Southwest Airlines in this case. Did they make this determination?

>The Southwest spokesperson could have just said, "Federal regulations
>prohibit cell phone use while airborne," without having to make up stories.

What story did she make up?