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First Cellphone Use On Airplane Given OK
s31523 writes "With over 1 billion cell phone users worldwide, and with so many business travelers, using the cell phone on the airplane has been a recent hot topic. Emirate airlines is announcing they will give the OK for cell phone use on their planes, making them the first airline to do so. The FCC and FAA still ban the use, but are working to determine safety implications, if any."
Tough to keep a signal at 500 kts and 36000 ft.
To those confused, the real problem with cell phone use on airplanes is that you are traveling so fast that you are switching towers once every minute or so. One person is fine, millions doing it (which is what would happen if legal) would be a HUGE strain on cell phone networks. Airlines are installing cellphone tower equipment into their plane to eliminate this problem.
That is all class.
I don't care if they determine that there is no need to ban cellphones because of interference with plane electronics -- I'd still rather the ban is kept anyway in order to keep flights from turning into cacophonous gab-fests. Flights are already uncomfortable and headache-inducing anyway...lets not make them noisy as well.
Just what we need.
Some loudmouth cell phone usage by some self-absorbed jackass while packed like sardines into a tin can for 6 hours.
- Pay a huge premium for the privilege of using the plane's cell, or
- Pay a huge premium for using the phone installed in your seat.
Either way, it's likely to be so expensive that only real idiots would use it just to say "Hello! I'm on the plane!" I've flown quite a lot this year, and I don't think anyone used the in-seat phones on any flight I was on.I am TheRaven on Soylent News
...only this time instead of smoking/non-smoking, we need cell phone and non-cell phone sections. Or better yet, talking and no talking sections.
Earplugs are good at muffling excessively loud sounds, particularly keeping them from damaging your ears. But you can still hear them.
People need to make two changes to their behavior in order to resolve this:
1: Be conscious of what effect your cell phone conversations, etc. are having on others, and be reasonable. Be courteous to them, and maybe don't talk on your phone in a crowded space.
2: If someone else is annoying you, confront them about it, but be polite. Getting them angry won't solve the problem, it'll make it worse. Sitting around being grouchy about it also won't solve the problem.
---GEC
I'm but the humble pupil, seeking to snatch the scratchbuilt pebble from the master's fully articulated hand
You trust the Mythbusters? They do stunts for movies, not actual science.
Here's an article from the IEEE Spectrum: http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/mar06/3069.
My other car is first.
These concerns are between the cell-phone users and their service-providers. Governments and airlines need not interfere. The etiquette (or lack thereof) of chatting for hours is similar.
Airlines and the governments have been lying through their teethes to us on this and other matters for a long time... It is good thing, someone is finally breaking ranks:
In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
The problem already exists in the form of passengers talking to other passengers. I'm sure the solution to that one ("Excuse me, I'm really tired and I'd like to get some sleep, can you keep it down please?") will work fine for the cell phone users too. If you're too timid to speak up, don't blame the guy who doesn't even know you're bothered.