04-04-2007, 01:00 AM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
Cell Phone Use On Planes Banned by FCC
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8O9BCJ80&show_article=1
"The Federal Communications Commission has officially grounded the idea of allowing airline passengers to use cellular telephones while in flight. Existing rules require cellular phones to be turned off once an aircraft leaves the ground in order to avoid interfering with cellular network systems on the ground. The agency began examining the issue in December 2004."
I don't know why I thought this was the was the domain of the FAA - Federal Aviation Administration. I guess there is some potential interference with aircraft avionics, though no one has shown that to be the case as far as I know. It seems the FCC is concerned about cell phones hopping towers at over 500mph and causing disruption. So, there you have it folks. In the US of A, no cell phones in flight, at least with the current cell phone infrastructure.
I, for one, am happy. Listening to some self-important middle manager blather to no one in particular during a flight was not something I was looking forward to.
|
| |
|
|
|
04-04-2007, 01:26 AM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 454
|
|
A pilot friend of mine told me the real reason for this policy. Of course, if a cell-phone could bring down a plane, we'd have far greater concerns than people travelling with toenail clippers or -- gasp! -- bottles of inert liquids.
The real reason that cell-phones can't be used on planes, according to my friend, is that they would tap into the airlines' wireless frequencies, which are exponentially more expensive than regular airtime fees.
Or something. But you can guess it's got something to do with money, not avionics.
|
| |
|
|
|
04-04-2007, 01:47 AM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 32
|
|
Being a pilot myself...
I can say for a fact that cell phones (at least GSM based devices) do interfere with the Radio and Navigation equipment on my planes. I can hear quite frequently when that GSM Click goes off as my phone is checking for e-mail, v-mail, etc.
When this happens, my VOR needle bounces back and forth. Which normally wouldn't be so bad, but we use VOR to navigate with (when we're not using GPS - like on an approach.)
The reason the FCC doesn't like it is because when a phone get's up in the air, it can "see" several towers at once. When this happens, it tries to communicate with all of them. Not a good thing with a system that is designed to only handle one phone in one or at least a few different cell towers.
Bill
|
| |
|
|
|
04-04-2007, 03:45 AM
|
|
Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 601
|
|
How the heck does a signal from a 1/3 of a watt (or whatever it is) cellphone penetrate the aircraft's hull, and reach down 30,000 feet to any tower?
|
| |
|
|
|
04-04-2007, 06:23 AM
|
|
Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,329
|
|
Thank god. One bastion from someone having a conversation with their wife about the outcome of Woofy's neutering. Next up theatres and churches. :twisted:
__________________
PDA History: Palm Pilot 5000 -> Apple Newton 2100 -> Casio E-11 -> iPaq 3650 (64MB Upgrade) -> iPaq 3700 -> Casio EM-500 -> HP Jornada 568 -> HP iPaq hx4705 www.spreadfirefox.com |
| |
|
|
|
04-04-2007, 07:29 AM
|
|
Philosopher
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 554
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Jonathan1
Thank god. One bastion from someone having a conversation with their wife about the outcome of Woofy's neutering. Next up theatres and churches. :twisted:
|
I couldn't agree more. Nothing is more annoying when someone yapping next to your ear about puppy's sexual problems or try to baby-talk that poor mat over the phone.
|
| |
|
|
|
04-04-2007, 09:08 AM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 214
|
|
When you're on an airplane, you are in a comfortable if temporary prison. You typically have no option to move. The flight attendants have absolute, unquestionable control over your options. Even to the point of denying you permission to use the bathroom if it interferes with serving drinks.
The one, undeniable fact is that on planes, inconsiderate people tend to be resolutely, even militantly inconsiderate. If they're allowed to talk on cell phones, you can bet that they will have no consideration for their seating mates. If you complain, but they're allowed to use their phones, they'll make it a point to be even more annoying, stopping the behavior when a flight attendant is nearby.
I can understand the business man or woman conducting business and doing their job. But personal calls, especially by younger people doing purely social calls and detailing the purchase of every article of clothing they've ever bought, can make you want to stick ice picks in your ear.
OTOH, I wouldn't have any objection to allowing text messaging on planes or receipt of email or web browsing. As long as everyone was required to turn their ringers off.
|
| |
|
|
|
04-04-2007, 10:36 AM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 175
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by frankenbike
OTOH, I wouldn't have any objection to allowing text messaging on planes or receipt of email or web browsing. As long as everyone was required to turn their ringers off.
|
Second that :!:
Blabbering away is not OK in a public place, where others can't avoid you, but texting, and surfing bothers noone, unless you use a monster of a laptop, with 17"+ widescreen and the whole office connected next to it.
|
| |
|
|
|
04-04-2007, 01:55 PM
|
|
Neophyte
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 9
|
|
The FAA rules are a joke.
"Please turn off all cell phones and electronics devices"
Miss, would you please help me remove the battery from my iPod? Also, is turning the radio off on the phone ok, or do I have to turn the entire unit off....oh wait, it doesnt turn off....looks like I have to remove the battery from that also.
|
| |
|
|
|
04-04-2007, 02:26 PM
|
|
Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
|
|
I wonder if it is possible, or feasible to allow data use only? Now with 3G data, it is on a different band than voice, so it seems logical that it would be possible to allow one but not the other. This would then allow people to be connected to email and other areas without being a nuisance to those around them.
As for cellphones being dangerous, I'll never believe it in a million years. If there was the slightest chance that a cellphone could bring down a plane I think the largest network worldwide would be bin lauden Wireless
My son is a pilot working on his commercial licence. Here in Canada pilots of small planes, (which use navigation) are encouraged to carry a cellphone with them. It is a very simple and effective way to communicate. Recently he had an electrical falilure, which among other things it took out his radio. In such circumstances a pilot is required to find an uncontroled field somewhere and land there, all the while contending with the fact that they have no electrical systems. In this case he simple called the tower on his cellphone, informed them of his problem and was able to land safely at his home field.
Dave
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
