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Cell Phones on Commercial Flights by 2006?
NetCurl writes "I heard the news on MPR's Marketplace today. Apparently the non-profit Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics is studying the effects of wireless and other portable communications devices on commercial airliners. I've already noticed that a couple airlines have loosened requirements on when you can use your cell phone on the ground. Is the next step wireless access in the cabin, and loud cell phone chatter in the skies over the mid-west?"
Please god no.
Can you imagine a whole bussiness-class row all talking so damn loud and so full of buzzwords that makes you want to yank off their arms, so they can't call again?
No, neither do I, and I'd like it to stay that way.
Moderation: +4. Modded 70% Funny and 30% Overrated. 100% Saturated.
They only emit "harmlessness
tcd004
If those annoying cellphone "conversations" that I can't help but overhear in the grocery store are any indiciation of what we can expect in the skies, we're in for some trouble.
"Hey Buffy, guess where I am? No, I'm not at the grocery store. I'm in an airplane over Ohio! Does, like, your parents live there and stuff? No? Oh, they're in Michigan? But isn't Michigan a city in Ohio? Oh wow. Anyhow, the guys sitting next to me on this flight just want to do read their computer books so I'm bored. Yeah, I know, and this book has a drawing of some wierd animal on it, too. Anyhow, Let's talk about the butts of all the hot guys on American Idol! That should last the rest of this five-hour flight! You are, like, such a good friend to do this for me. Nah, don't worry about the phone charges. My parents pay for my cellphone anyhow cause I told them I needed it in case of emergency. What? Oh, you want me to speak louder? Sure thing!"
GMD
watch this
That should be the motto of aviation. But just to get a minor avantage for getting customers the airlines seems to ignore this important principle. But this could have terrible consequences. The problem with cellphones isn't just EMV. There are a number of simple solution for that ranging from faraday cages to fixed cable connections on the planes. The real problem with enabling cell phones is that you cannot determine the use of a high tech device just by looking at it's X-ray scans. And a modern airplanes like the news ones of Airbus are 100 percent computer controlled. With a sufficiently concealed device a possible abuser could take over some, if not all controls of the airplane. I think I don't need to point out the further consequences.
So for such security issues the FAA should step in and make such schemes illegal. Otherwise the possibilities of abuse might be demonstrated in a very visible way to all of us.
Owner of a Mensa membership card.
A few of my co-workers and I were on a private plane and became curious about what the cellular coverage would be like while on a plane. Since the pilot didn't mind, we turned on our mobiles and watched the coverage gauges.
I'd find it hard to believe anyone could have a real conversation via mobile phone on a commercial flight. Given that our plane was relatively slow and low compared to a commercial flight, we zipped from one cell to the next. The way the coverage went from 5 bars to zero and back again every 10-15 seconds, I'd imagine the gauge would be going bonkers when that high up and going that fast.
"RING!"
"Hello?"
"Hi honey, I'll be home in--bzz--<dial tone>"
"RING!"
"Hello?"
"Sorry, lost coverage there for a--bzz--<dial tone>"
"RING!"
"Hello?"
"Cell phone dropped off again. Anyway--bzz--<dial tone>"
But why is the rum gone?
Three hours as a captive audience, trapped between an aisle seat with some guy talking to his Aunt Mildred about his inflamed hemmoroids acting up and some 14 year old by the window who decided that now is a good time to try out all the 153 ringtones she downloaded while sitting in the airport.
No. Thank. You!
My Webcomic: Asylum on 5th Street
Icepick_: A guy on a cellphone starts talking on a plane. Next thing you know the guy's taking up space on 40 cells, moving faster than the system can comprehend, and the whole thing just crashes and burns.
Woman on plane: Are there a lot of these kinds of accidents?
Icepick_: You wouldn't believe.
Woman on plane: Which PCS company do you work for?
Icepick_: A major one.
Except not as funny
but put the damn drink down.. grab the big dealy between your legs and look out the shiny thing infront of you
You just described my friday night.
Oh wait, you said big dealy.
And that differs from my experience with cell phones at ground level in what way?
"...in the event of a water landing, your seat cushion may be used as a flotation device. Your cell phone may be used during this flight, but be aware that it is not necessary to blather loudly into your phone. Your party will hear your voice even if you can't, you dopey fuck."