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Research: Mobile Phones Disrupt Aircraft

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the and-the-cycle-continues dept.

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."

5 of 669 comments (clear)

  1. I think this is good by xmda · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, when it comes to airplanes and flying I think the expression "better safe than sorry" fits the bill quite nice.

    1. Re:I think this is good by xmda · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Err... That is like saying that the sefaty belt in my car cannot save me from a bomb planted in the car. I'll say it again, better safe than sorry.

  2. 802.11[a|b|g]? by kipsate · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Can anyone explain why apparantly 802.11b wireless connections do *not* pose a problem in planes?

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  3. Re:As an occasional airline passenger by mhotas · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seriously... the system as it stands couldn't be any more broken, as it depends for its safe operation on the active opting-out of every cell carrying passenger. I mean, phones ring in college lectures all the time -- I've seen it happen to professors who have very clear policies about turning them off.

  4. Re:As an occasional airline passenger by scsirob · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You are right of course, but this is why the danger exists. Many aircraft have been certified with way-back technology, and it doesn't pay to re-certify these airliners with hot, new goodies that are designed to live in peace with mobile phones and other wireless toys.

    Avionics system designs are very conservative, it's all designed to work forever. Latest-and-greatest simply doesn't fit their books. With the track record of modern software, I don't think we should be sorry for that..

    Besides the danger to the aircraft, the mobile networks are also not designed to handle mobile phones moving between cells at 500mph and 'visible' to every cell in a 100 mile radius.

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