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The Real Reasons Phones Are Kept Off Planes

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the flip-the-switch dept.

jcatcw writes "Mike Elgan argues that the the real reason that cell phones calls are not allowed is fear of crowd control problems if calls are allowed during flight. Also, the airlines like keeping passengers ignorant about ground conditions. The two public reasons, interference with other systems, could easily be tested, but neither the FAA nor the FCC manage to do such testing."

8 of 642 comments (clear)

  1. Re:funny by Shatrat · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh, and good luck with the E911 crap I think that if you have to call 911 from a plane, them finding your location is the least of your problems.
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  2. Re:funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think that if you have to call 911 from a plane, them finding your location is the least of your problems.
    Yeah, you better watch out for the snakes instead.
  3. Too true by A+nonymous+Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    They should ban kids from carryon luggage and make parents check them.

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    Infuriate left and right
  4. Re:funny by Marillion · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm pretty sure I don't agree with the crowd control theory either.

    In the six years I worked at an airline, I've never heard anyone speak of passengers as negatively as this article does.

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    This is a boring sig
  5. Re:Vapidity all round by Caffeinate · · Score: 3, Funny

    Learning to spell "the" correctly: two years of elementary school.
    Learning to spell "retarded" correctly: two years of high school.

    So I guess that puts you somewhere in the grade 9 range? LOLWTFOMG pwnage!!!11!1! (I kid, I kid).

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    Godless heathen.
  6. Re:funny by quick_dry_3 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh, and good luck with the E911 crap... In the course of a minute, you've gone from the east end of a major city to the west end according to the cells.


    Hello operator, I need a fire truck with a REEEALLY long ladder.


    Though if things are that big an emergency, when they need your location it'll be "that big smoking crater".

  7. Re:9-11? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think the plane crashed because they all used their cell phones.

  8. Flamebait by Toby_Tyke · · Score: 4, Funny

    I mean, they don't allow you to sit in the cockpit anymore. Another thing islam has ruined.
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    vi VS emacs arguments are pointless and a waste of time.

    vi is the best.

    Attacking a religion like that is just pure flamebait.

    You probably shouldn't have brought up Islam either.

    Oh, goodbye karma.

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    "I realise this is not a very popular opinion but it's the truth, and there for needs to be said" -Bill Hicks