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Research: Mobile Phones Disrupt Aircraft

threeturn writes "Another contribution to the ever-popular "mobiles on planes" topic. Every time this is discussed on /. lots of people say "there is no danger - its just the airlines trying to make a buck on their skyphones". Well, now the UK Civil Aviation Authority has done some research which shows mobiles on planes do disrupt safety systems and interfere with compass readings and other navigation equipment. Also reported by the BBC. So do us all a favour and switch your mobiles off next time you fly."

33 of 669 comments (clear)

  1. No, just like always by yatest5 · · Score: 2, Funny
    the slashdot posters are always right. Mobile phones don't interfere with planes. It's just MS using their monopoly position to interfere with Linux developers mobile phone calls the only place they can - in the air!

    In this way, they hope to stifle Linux's development - as we all know, Linux developers are all high flyers in the world of business and are always on the move, meeting new people.

    --
    • Mod parent up! [a] by Anonymous Coward (Score:5) Thurs, June 31, @13:37
    1. Re:No, just like always by halftrack · · Score: 4, Funny

      as we all know, Linux developers are all high flyers in the world of business and are always on the move, meeting new people.

      That's if they can decide how to put the plane together.

      --
      Look a monkey!
  2. OMG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    You mean I cant play ElderScrollz on my phone! YOU BASTARDS.

    Anonymous Coward attacks you with 1 post
    Anonymous Coward creams you with a penis bird
    In Russia, you attack anonymous coward.

    You level!! Please rest to meditate on what you have learned.

  3. Even worse... by Mostly+Monkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    Better not play a flight sim on a 802.11 equipped laptop or the plane will REALLY be in trouble.

    --
    Chika Chik-ah... do-e ow ow.
  4. Now, the REAL STORY comes out... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    So you thought 911 was an act of terrorism? WRONG! It`s just the best covered up mobile phone induced aircraft desaster of all times!

  5. Damn! It doesn't say 'Ashcroft' by Surak · · Score: 4, Funny

    For a second there, I thought it said "Mobile Phones Disrupt Ashcroft." And I was ALL SET take my cell phone down to the White House! :-P

  6. Foil Hat by dfn5 · · Score: 5, Funny
    We could build a really big aluminum foil hat to put on the cabin and block those signals.

    --
    -- Thou hast strayed far from the path of the Avatar.
    1. Re:Foil Hat by yatest5 · · Score: 1, Funny
      We could build a really big aluminum foil hat to put on the cabin and block those signals.

      Yeah, lets just hope none of those instruments in the cabin are connected to anything elsewhere in the place.

      --
      • Mod parent up! [a] by Anonymous Coward (Score:5) Thurs, June 31, @13:37
  7. Re:I think this is good by VCAGuy · · Score: 4, Funny
    "better safe than sorry"

    Yes, it's generally not an indicator of common sense to compromise the very safety systems that are keeping you alive whilst you are being propelled at mach ~0.78 at 30,000' MSL...but, that's why common sense isn't all that common!

    --
    Q: "Why do sound techs say 'check 1, 2'?"
    A: "Cause if they could count any higher they'd be lighting techs."
  8. Re:why? by feepcreature · · Score: 5, Funny
    And for those of you who need to play nibbles or whatever... you need to unplug and get more fresh air or something.
    On a plane????

    Have you ever tried winding down the windows?

    --
    Paul "Say no to feeping creaturism"
  9. Bah! by Greyfox · · Score: 4, Funny
    They're probably just saying that to give the air marshalls an excuse to rough up those self-important assholes who can't shut the fuck up for four goddamn hours. Face it, if you're riding in someone else's plane, your life just isn't important enough to warrant you jabbering on a cellphone to anyone, anyway.

    Talking on a cellphone while any vehicle is moving should be a crime punishable by a severe power stapling. Or caning, as they do in Singapore. Yeah... I've had 3 suvtards in the last month nearly take me out while driving their Maibatsu Mostrosities with cellphones glued to their ears. You may as well just down a fifth of Jack Daniels before getting behind the wheel of that thing. Shut up and drive!

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  10. Re:Terrorist use? by weicco · · Score: 2, Funny

    Take this plane to Cuba or I turn on my Sony Ericsson P800!!!

    --
    You don't know what you don't know.
  11. Re:DILDOS: "portable electronic devices" ??? by Havokmon · · Score: 5, Funny
    My electric razor causes enough interference to screw up the television set, so dildos could theoretically do the same.

    You idiot, the tv doesn't get screwed up, that's the razor making your face vibrate.

    --
    "I can't give you a brain, so I'll give you a diploma" - The Great Oz (blatently stolen sig)
  12. A Cell Vacation by KFury · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm happy to hear this. Personally, what I hate most about cellphones is that some people don't know how to modulate their volume. I'm for any excuse that stops them from yelling a conversation right next to me for four hours (with an aircraft power supply charger so they don't run dry!)

  13. They'll Get My Cell Phone When They Pry It... by Nova+Express · · Score: 2, Funny
    ...From My Cold Dead Fingers!

    Assuming, of course, that they can find my fingers at the crash site.



    (Actually, I don't own a cell phone...)

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

  14. Opting out by Glonoinha · · Score: 3, Funny

    Anybody know what the penalty for actually having your cell phone ring while in flight is?
    Know the penalty for actually answering it?

    Just curious, this is a question (not a statement)

    --
    Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
    1. Re:Opting out by squiggleslash · · Score: 5, Funny

      You're required to continue your conversation outside...

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  15. Re:Cell phone towers are the problem by p4ul13 · · Score: 3, Funny

    It amazes me how many times this comes up on cellphone doscussions and how suprising it is to find how many people have no clue as to the basics of how a cellsite operates.

    The general public doesn't study up on how cell towers work?!?! This is an outrage, somebody call James Earl Jones the verizon wireless guy!

    --
    Paul Lenhart writes words!
  16. Simple way to make it happen. by Demon-Xanth · · Score: 3, Funny

    Have a policy that if a cell phone rings, or if someone is caught talking on one during the flight, they will be immediately ejected.

    Suddenly, people will double check thier phones.

    --
    If you think education is expensive, you should try ignorance -- Derek Bok, president of Harvard
  17. Re:do you even get reception? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Perhaps that is what caused the crash?

  18. Re:I think this is good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Actually it is. If I am stuck next to random stranger X, then certain courtesy guidelines come into place. Among them are not picking my nose and eating it, screaming profanities, masturbating, and talking on a cell phone, listed in my own order of rudeness rating. Planes are not libraries, but they can be equivalent to movie theatres, restaurants, etc. I agree with higher poster. People need to FSCKING HANG UP! 99% of all the cell phone calls I have ever heard were useless wastes of breath. Shut your pie hole, think, and then if you still need to, make the call. Otherwise wait the 5 minutes and call from the terminal (which by the way, is ALSO illegal).
    As for the safety aspect of it, no, planes should not be required to shield from it. It's like saying the cabin should have to withstand a bullet at cruising altitude. Instead, why don't we just not allow ANYONE (TSA, et. al.) to carry firearms, cell phones, etc. on the plane?
    I always laugh at the idiots who smoke while topping off their gas tank. Then I run for cover really fast.... Natural selection is great so long as they don't take me with them.

  19. Re:I think this is good by Drakonian · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, now you have a secret weapon when the terrorists have hijacked the plane. Just whip out your cell phone.

    --
    Random is the New Order.
  20. From the BBC story... by ader · · Score: 3, Funny
    If the guy is typing "I love you" into his mobile, he doesn't need jailing, he needs help.

    Other side-effects of mobile use I have noted:
    • talking too loud;
    • having nothing to say;
    • limited awareness of surroundings;
    • enhanced but illusory sense of own importance;
    • long term brain damage;
    • short term brain damage caused by people around you KICKING YOUR FUCKING YAPPING HEAD IN.

    Ade_
    /
    --
    Big Bubbles (no troubles) - what sucks, who sucks and you suck
  21. Re:I think this is good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    not only that, but some people around you were actually breathing. I can't believe that blatent disregard for your peace and well being. Thats some nerve they have to just take oxygen that YOU could be breathing right out of the air and replace it with CO2 the does you no good. How do you handle such abuse?

  22. Re:I think this is good by rifter · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well consider that plane #4, which crashed into a field, had nearly all the passengers on their cell phones simultaneously...

  23. Re:I think this is good by spakka · · Score: 4, Funny

    "yeah, we just landed... I think I'll grab a burger and be there in an hour... yada yada yada..."

    They make calls about free NY Times registration?
  24. Re:As an occasional airline passenger by Thurn+und+Taxis · · Score: 2, Funny

    "yup, business class passengers can still use WiFi and their mobiles... on our new jets..."

    Great, so you can pay extra to spend six hours next to someone yelling into their phone:

    Yeah, Jack? Listen. About those latest sales figures - can you CC them to me ASAP? Oh, and FYI, the head honcho up in corporate really wants to grow this business, so I'd like you to get up to speed on the ISO9002 requirements for the Peterson accou - dammit, Frank, how many times do I have to tell you, we don't sell PRODUCTS, we sell SOLUTIONS! What? Yeah, I know you're Jack. Hey, we're golf buddies, right? No, I didn't just call you Frank! Listen, Alan, I can tell you're upset - why don't you take five minutes to think about your situation while I touch base with some clients. Can you do that for me? Greaaat."

    I think I'll stick to economy class, where people are less likely to use their laptops as speakerphones.

    --
    On stereophonic equipment, the monaural sound obtained through multiple channels will enhance your listening pleasure.
  25. Re:I think this is good by h4x0r-3l337 · · Score: 5, Funny
    If I am stuck next to random stranger X, then certain courtesy guidelines come into place. Among them are not picking my nose and eating it, screaming profanities, masturbating, and talking on a cell phone, listed in my own order of rudeness rating.

    So next time the guy next to you makes a phonecall, show him you can do better and start masturbating. If he counters by screaming profanities at you, pick your nose.

  26. Re:They proved nothing ... by Imperator · · Score: 3, Funny
    6 members of some terrorist org only need to start sms'ing each other to take down a 747 full of people
    If those terrorists are using anything like my wireless plan, that would be prohibitively expensive! Cheaper to build a nuclear bomb or something.
    --

    Gates' Law: Every 18 months, the speed of software halves.
  27. still suspect by cr@ckwhore · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you were engaged in the business of trying to "promote" the use of skyphones rather than allowing people to use their own cell phones, wouldn't you want the UKCAA on your side to back up the claims? I think they're in on it too ;)

    You may now dawn your aluminum foil hat.

    --
    Skiers and Riders -- http://www.snowjournal.com
  28. Re:my own experiment... by Xibby · · Score: 2, Funny

    Try putting your magnetic security badge or one of those credit cart hotel keys under your cell phone while you sleep. I've loocked myself out of a hotel room and my office doing that.

    --
    I'm going to go back in my box and will think within the limits of my box: MS Sucks Linux Good I read too much Slashdot.
  29. Re:As an occasional airline passenger by rnturn · · Score: 2, Funny
    ``Additionally, once you get up really high (~32000, maybe 36000), they start seprating by 2000 or 3000 ft.''

    And if get very much above those sort of altitudes, chances are that you're much more maneuverable than a typical airliner, and usually armed, so if you can't avoid the collision you could just should at the risk until it goes away.

    --
    CUR ALLOC 20195.....5804M
  30. Better idea...! by jbuilder · · Score: 3, Funny
    If he counters by screaming profanities at you, pick your nose.


    Better yet, pick his nose. That will be *sure* to make an impression he won't forget...!
    --
    Polymorphism -- It's what you make of it.