Slashdot Mirror
Cell Phones and Air Safety
Cutie Pi writes "On the heels of this recent Slashdot story discussing Wi-Fi use on airplanes, the BBC is reporting about new evidence indicating that cell phones can interfere with airplanes' navigation systems. From the article: "In tests, compasses froze or overshot, navigation bearings were inaccurate and there was interference on radio channels." Look like like Wi-Fi and airplanes just don't mix."
If not, they should be. Nothing like a hundred people in a pressurized vessel talking to their hand.
I sure hope they are using more than a compass to navigate a commercial plane.
I can't do my nails on an airplane, but they let me take all the cell phones and WiFi equipment on that I want. In fact, they make sure that they work before you can take them on.
As long as they're not pointy.
the oddest part of the BBC story is this bit: And in October, Russian businessman Sergey Lebedev was fined £2,500 after forcing a British Airways jet to abort a landing at Manchester Airport. Cabin crew spent so long arguing with him about whether he would turn off his mobile they were unable to prepare the plane So what was his actual, offence: surliness? this is a very bad report....i prefere the kind of reporting you get in Wireless Business & Technology magazine.
Maybe I could solder a signal amp onto my airport card and wap to get longer range?
Better yet, I mercilessly slaughter ever 2.4ghz cordless phone for causing interference with my wifi.
You can't judge a book by the way it wears its hair.
Every time a commoner gains a new method for controlling the world, Da Man comes and stomps it out.
Demand your right to use bluetooth, 8011b, and GSM devices while the plane is taking off and landing! To do anything else is bowing down to Da Man.
Oh, and if anyone knows how I can stop paying income tax, email me. It's a terrible drain on my broadband budget.
fifth sigma, inc.
"I'm sorry sir, but we're diverting to another airport."
"That so?" *beep beep boop*
The coolest voice ever.
OS Software is like love: The best way to make it grow is to give it away.
Cell + Extended Use = Brain Tumor -> Death
All the times that urban legend is repeated + One more = Brain aneurism -> Death
...
Tyler: Oxygen gets you high. In a catastrophic emergency your taking giant panic breaths, Suddenly you become euphoric, docile, you accept your fate. It's all right here. Emergency water landing, 600 miles an hour, blank faces, calm as Hindu cows.
That's a pretty good article, but I have to wonder about the author who _consistently_ confuses the word "potable" with the word "poRtable". There is a significant difference: POTABLE: Overview of noun potable The noun potable has 1 sense (no senses from tagged texts) 1. beverage, drink, drinkable, potable -- (any liquid suitable for drinking: "may I take your beverage order?") Overview of adj potable The adj potable has 1 sense (no senses from tagged texts) 1. potable -- (of alcoholic beverages that are suitable for drinking; "it's an impudent young wine but I think you will find it quite potable") PORTABLE: Overview of noun portable The noun portable has 1 sense (no senses from tagged texts) 1. portable -- (a small light typewriter) Overview of adj portable The adj portable has 2 senses (first 1 from tagged texts) 1. portable -- (easily or conveniently transported; "a portable television set") 2. portable -- (of a motor designed to be attached to the outside of a boat's hull; "a portable outboard motor")
...where Toby is on his cell phone on an air plane, and the flight attendant tells him he must shut off his phone, as it may interfere with the plane's navigational equipment.
He responds: "This plane costs 150 million dollars, and you're telling me I can take it down with something I got from Radio-Shack?"