Fliers can help enforce rules on gadgets during flights

I guess we will have to wait for a tragedy on one of our airlines before the flying public takes control of its destiny, refusing to sit back and let a few unruly fliers control people's lives ("Fliers, think it's OK to leave your gadgets on? Think again," Our view, Air safety debate, Thursday).

The flight attendants are on board for our safety, simply stated. It is not a suggestion or plea for us to turn off our electronic gadgets, but it is a Federal Aviation Administration rule. They can't watch over every single one of us as we do or don't turn them off. When we don't follow their instructions, we are breaking the rules. These devices haven't affected flights disastrously, as far as we know, but how would we know for sure?

It is time for us (the flying public) to stand up for our safety and police our fellow passengers so they follow the very regulations that are intended to save our lives.

When passengers disobey the rules, we all need to stand together and show our dissatisfaction with them and their pompous attitude. Tell them if the call is that important, then get off the plane and take the next flight.

Gregg Rosenberger

Keller, Texas

Circumstantial evidence

As a pilot for a major airline, I found USA TODAY's editorial on fliers and their electronic devices to be full of unsubstantiated causal implications.

For example, it states that "an airliner flying at nearly 300 mph toward Philadelphia suddenly got a warning on the instrument panel that they were about to collide with a plane," but then the radar showed there was none there. Then it is pointed out that a woman had made a cellphone call during the approach, implying, of course, that the phone caused the equipment malfunction.

Let us be clear, there is no definitive proof that cellphones or other electronic devices cause navigation or communication problems with airliners. There is only broad assumption, and it is irresponsible and inflammatory to imply otherwise.

Jeff Clauser

Chicago

Improve airplane equipment

You recently had another article about portable electronic devices interfering with airliner instruments ("Why fliers really do need to turn off gadgets," Money, Thursday).

What was not addressed is the possibility of terrorists taking advantage of any instrumentation vulnerabilities. In addition to asking passengers to turn off their devices, airlines should be working hard to make the controls less susceptible to such interference.

Jack James

Vilas, N.C.

Move more quickly on pilot rules

I applaud the Federal Aviation Administration's new rules concerning pilot rest and fatigue. But why must it take another two years to put them in play ("Loopholes closed by FAA to prevent fatigue in pilots," News, Thursday)?

I'm a pilot based on the East Coast. I now face another two years of reduced, eight-hour, overnight breaks. This includes the van ride to the hotel, settling in for the night, getting up and the van ride to the airport! Not to mention firing up the jet, and doing all our checks.

If the FAA and the airlines are serious about pilot fatigue and safety, then step up and implement the changes now.

Jeff Stephens

Winter Springs, Fla.