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Cellphones Usable on Airplanes in 2006?

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the phoning-home dept.

JOhn-E G writes "In a recent article from the New York Times it seems that airlines and cellphone makers are working towards allowing cellphones to be used on airplanes during flight. (free reg. required) Currently the plan is to have a mini cell tower, a picocell, on the plane that would intercept all the calls from people in the plane and relay them to satelites or ground towers. The FAA, FCC, and the airlines really want to be absolutely sure that there will be no interference anywhere. The article also says that cell use may still be banned during landings just to be safe. Changes would start in 2006."

17 of 453 comments (clear)

  1. Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Maybe I can use my ogg player during takeoff and landing sometime in 2010.

    1. Re:Good by Nick+Driver · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'll be using my portable MP3/CD player during takeoff, landing, and enroute cruise tomorrow morning... while I'm at the controls of my own airplane!

      And yes, I do play Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride" as I'm taking off down the runway. I do it just because it's so damn tacky :p

    2. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Counterexample: they serve drinks drinks in first class before takeoff. Nothing like a wee bit o' Scotch to make the takeoff nice and smooozzzzzzzz.

      Silly person.
      We in first class fully expect to be carried off the aeroplane in the event of such unforseen misfortune.

  2. FAA & FCC Want it to be safe... by schwep · · Score: 2, Funny

    And I the passenger don't care. Ok, maybe I care a little.

  3. oh please no by Pierre · · Score: 5, Funny

    it's annoying enough that people talk loudly on their cell phones in resaurants etc.. can you imagine a flight with 200 people all talking on cell phones?

    the horror the horror the horror

    they will have to have cell phone sections on the plane. cell phones will be this generations cigarettes.

    1. Re:oh please no by Kohath · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah, we wouldn't want talking to interrupt the blissful quiet and plush comfort of airline travel.

      And why would anyone want to talk on the phone when they can watch the riveting in-flight entertainment?

    2. Re:oh please no by st0rmshad0w · · Score: 4, Funny

      I prefer stairing out the window myself....

      *ring*

      911 Operator: "Emergency Services, how can I halp you?"

      Me: "MY GOD! There's something on the wing!!!" /Rod

    3. Re:oh please no by Colol · · Score: 2, Funny

      I know you're being funny, but holy crap...

      "Talking" is a little generous for the volume level many cell-addicted people believe is necessary to make a cellular phone work.

      Especially the ones who use the damn thing like it's a walkie-talkie: Quick, by my ear to listen! Quick, in front of my face to talk! Quick, back to my ear to listen again!

      It's not talking on planes that's the problem. I've spent many flights talking to family, friends, or absolute strangers. It's the potential for hundreds of people like that girl in 6C talking about her vaginal pus so loud the back of the plane can hear it that frightens me.

  4. the captain by Pierre · · Score: 5, Funny

    will they make the captain use a hands free headsets so they are less likely to get distracted and get in an accident?

  5. Re:Technology of 911 finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    They do. From a plane you probably have line of sight to 15 cell towers at a time, and your passing them by at a couple hundred mph. It plays hell with the network trying to keep track of where you are.

  6. Nextel? by st0rmshad0w · · Score: 2, Funny

    That should be fun for Nextels, I usually get 30-40 seconds of "Please hold while the subsciber is located" as it is, I can't imagine adding aircraft.

  7. I can imagine it now... by PsiPsiStar · · Score: 5, Funny

    The captain has turned on the no talking sign. Shut the hell up. Please return your mouths to an upright and locked position.

    --

    ___
    It's the end of my comment as I know it and I feel fine.
  8. Re:Ohhh by twiddlingbits · · Score: 2, Funny

    You mean ditzy blondes read /. too?

  9. Re:bans by Ignignot · · Score: 2, Funny

    we're pretty smart guys who are spending alot of money looking at the problem. Mean while all these people on slashdot know the answer already. I guess we should have just asked them.

    Well duh, I could have told you that like 5 years ago!

    --
    I submitted this story last night, and it didn't get posted.
  10. High flying picocells by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I, for one, welcome our new picocell overlords.

  11. Re:Argh... by wintermind · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sadly the overwing emergency exits will not operate if the cabin is pressurized. Perhaps we can club the idiots into submission with the in-flight telephones built into the seat-backs. It is already bad enough during the post-landing taxi: "*BEEP* HEY! NO, WE'RE STILL ON THE PLANE! I'LL BE HOME IN ABOUT TWO HOURS. I'LL CALL YOU FROM *smack* Ack! *smack* No! *smack* *BEEP*" Yeah. Airline phone beat-downs are definitely the way to go.

  12. Re:Charges? by Cragen · · Score: 2, Funny

    Changes would start in 2006

    I misread that as "Charges" would start in 2006, which is probably closer to the truth.

    Cragen