Passenger electronic devices suspected of causing communication radio problems on a B737-300.

Attributes
ACN	488597
Time
Date	200009
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lga.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 17000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000
ASRS Report	488597
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe cabin event : passenger misconduct cabin event : passenger electronic device non adherence : far non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : cab 3
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Passenger Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Passenger Human Performance

Narrative:

Departed lga on vectors north then west. Communications on the first ZNY frequency west of lga there was a loud buzz. Communication was possible but difficult. As there had been about a 1 hour taxi out of lga I asked the flight attendant to check for cell phones or other devices. They found 5 cell phones on. The phones were turned 'off' and the noise disappeared.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PAX ELECTRONIC DEVICES SUSPECTED OF CAUSING COM RADIO PROBS ON A B737-300.

Narrative: DEPARTED LGA ON VECTORS N THEN W. COMS ON THE FIRST ZNY FREQ W OF LGA THERE WAS A LOUD BUZZ. COM WAS POSSIBLE BUT DIFFICULT. AS THERE HAD BEEN ABOUT A 1 HR TAXI OUT OF LGA I ASKED THE FLT ATTENDANT TO CHK FOR CELL PHONES OR OTHER DEVICES. THEY FOUND 5 CELL PHONES ON. THE PHONES WERE TURNED 'OFF' AND THE NOISE DISAPPEARED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.