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The Real Reasons Phones Are Kept Off Planes
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."
With no players anymore in the US, At&T and (GTE) Verizon out and aircell now offering Wifi instead of phone calls, this is not an option reason.
Also the only phones still avaliable on international planes are run by ARINC and SITA, which both now have a GSM ( cell phone ) picocell installation under testing for installation this year.
There is no technical nor marketing reason you can't have a cell phone on board, if cell phones were a real danger then they would not be in carry on allowance anymore.
-- email me @ 30,000 ft
I thought the real reason was that the phone companies are worried what happens when too many of their base-stations get contacted simultaneously by the same cell phone/s. They probably can cope but are unable to do the real insitu testing.
Artificial intelligence is the study of how to make real computers act like the ones in the movies.
Dear idiot: Cell phones don't interfere with airplane avionics. There are several hundred idiots every hour on flights all over the world who are too stupid or ignorant and can't see their way to shut off their phones. If cell phones were really an issue, we would have heard of dozens of airliner crashes related to cell phone interference. The truth? It hasn't happened, and it's not going to happen.
If it really were a problem, airlines and airport security would fight cell phone use tooth and nail. Airlines would install cell phone detectors to be used before pushing away from the gate. They would have a constant detection system to find out if someone turned their phone on during flight. Etc, etc, etc.
The truth is almost always found by following the money. If you follow the money, you'll see that there are a few basic reasons people aren't allowed to use cell phones.
1) Cell phones interfere with the existing business model where airlines can rake in $6 a minute on AirPhones located in almost every headrest. The airlines won't generate revenue from cell phone calls. Airlines have campaigned heavily with the FAA to prevent cell phones from being used in the air. They want the money from offering services on flights. It's the same reason you can't walk into a night club with your own bottle of liquor. The night club wants to sell you booze, it's part of their business model.
2) No one wants to pay for cell phone testing. The FAA will demand that cell phones are tested because the airlines will say that they HAVE to be tested because they will not give up their existing revenue from AirPhones. The FCC won't step in and pay for it. The cell phone manufacturers won't pay for testing. The carriers aren't going to pay for testing, even though everyone can see that cell phones are harmless. Politicians, (especially those in the People's Rebublic of New Jersey, the People's Republic of Connecticut, and the People's Republic of California) will step in with their wisdom, generated by whomever happens to give them the largest campaign donation. If it's John Kerry, he will waffle back and forth at lest 3 times. If it's Nancy Pelosi, she will say that it's a Bush issue, and if it's Harry Reid, he'll make sure that he gets a new house, and options on several hundred acres just off the Las Vegas strip.
3) No one wants the liability. If someone brings a cell phone on board, and it turns out that it truly is defective and does interfere with other electronics, who is liable in case of an accident? The airline? The FAA? The FCC? The cell phone manufacturer? The owner of the cell phone? Your friendly politicians?
There are too many lawyers like John Edwards sitting out there waiting to bring $300 million dollar class action lawsuits to court so they can take $120,000,000 and 4,000,000 passengers will get a $45 coupon for their next airline ticket.
I prefer the status quo. Once the door is closed and we push away from the gate, I know that the loud conversation from 4 seats away detailing Farmer Ted's gall stone problems will end as soon as the flight attendant raps the offending passenger on the shoulder. There's nothing worse than listening to some inept moron scream into a cell phone to some un-named relative, talking about the most inane topic.
And I am a business traveller. I fly 2 or 3 times a week. I don't mind that cell phones are off on commercial flights. I have no need to yak while I'm in the air. I actually appreciate the peace and quiet. However, when Wi-Fi service is offered, I can guarantee you that if someone pulls out a VoIP handset, or even an earpiece with a boom mike, I will likely spill my drink on their laptop.
"Ooops. Your conversation startled me. Sorry. Can I get I get you some club soda to clean that up?"
Do you really want to sit next to a real estate agent trying to sell real estate on an airplane? Or some investment seller trying to push crappy stocks on little old ladies? Or how about listening to some housewife gossip about the neighborhood? No thanks.