Posted on 11/08/2010 5:22:40 PM PST by Clint Williams
You guys who want to ban every little thing on planes are completely misguided. It’s as if you are trying to destroy the airline industry.
Most of the calls made from flight 93 were on the GTE air phones (on the seat backs): 35 air phone calls, vs. 2 cell phone calls.
Operation of cellphones has always been prohibited in flight, along with all other electronic devices that transmit on any radio frequency (intentionally or otherwise).
The FAA makes it the responsibility of the aircraft operator to only allow operation of devices that have been shown to not interfere with aircraft navigation systems. The airlines can't test every one of them, so they prohibit all intentional transmitters, and prohibit unintentional transmitters (i.e. computers) below 10,000 feet.
The FCC has a separate prohibition against operating cell-phones while in flight. This is because it is incompatible with the cell system design, and interferes with communication on the ground. This prohibition has been in effect since cell phone systems have been available to the public.
Yes. OTOH, they removed the seat back GTE Airphones as well.
Why was that do you suppose, hmmmmm?
Because they weren't profitable.
The weight alone was costing the airlines more in fuel than they were collecting in commissions. The price per minute for a call made it really unpopular.
Verizon threw in the towel and ended service completely in 2006. LiveTV bought it, but are using the network for in-flight network and email services.
I question the timing.
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