Posted on 12/10/2004 1:36:45 AM PST by Jet Jaguar
The Federal Communications Commission said that at its Dec. 15 meeting it will discuss possible revisions to rules prohibiting cell phone use on commercial flights. That's the first step of the process needed to lift the ban.
Cell phone use has been banned due to concerns about how it could affect an aircraft's navigation. And cell phones sometimes have trouble working when the plane is at cruising altitude because phone towers aren't built to project their signals that high.
(Excerpt) Read more at drudgereport.com ...
I did a search and got no results. If this is a duplicate, please pull.
Not a duplicate, thanks.
Hasn't anyone noticed that terrorists all over Iraq....
Are using cell phones to activate bombs?
Are using cell phones to activate bombs?
I'm guessing the terrorist isn't concerned if he has permission to use the phone.
If you have flown lately, people are constantly turning on their phones while in the air.
The bomb sniffers are working.
It makes sense to me to allow it. The the phones do not interfere with navigation systems on the aircraft.
You've got a point there..
TSA doesn't take your phone away, just tells you not to use it..
Although it is possible to make calls from aircraft...the physical nature of a cellular network makes consistant success in calling unlikely.
The network is designed to pass a mobile user from one cell to the next....once the aircraft is at altitude the computer that passes off calls will become confused because it is not expecting a call from overhead...the signal strength will appear to be equal at several "receiving" cell towers....hence the likelyhood of dropped calls is raised significantly.
In landings and takeoffs (lower altitudes) I see no problems.
I worked for a major cellular provider for a number of years.
Well, I would think the obvious answer is a cell repeater, internal to the passenger compartment.
I thought of that too....but where is that "repeater" going to join the network?
Sat connection?
And aren't in cabin Sat phones being developed already/or are in use for the flying consumer?
All the "martyr" on board needs is a cell-phone to activate it.. and the correct phone # to call.
But, as Thackney pointed out, they don't take your phone, they just tell you not to use it..
Anyone inclined to suicide bombing probably isn't too concerned about rules on cell-phone use..
I predict fights will ensue over this. Between loud phone talkers and people who want to sleep.
I predict the service will be shoddy and most will be disappointed that they cannot carry on a 2 minute conversation or get no service at all. But, it would sure be nice to get your messages during flight...
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We can only hope!
If you can't fly without "getting messages"... don't fly.
If you can't live without being constantly connected to the communications web that envelopes us like a womb, then I sincerely feel sorry for you.
No, the real reason was that it tied up a port in multiple cells. Maybe *your* company the confusion problem.
That, and airlines could make money off the phones in the planes.
I'm guessing the cell companies have tweaked the software to handle "at altitude" planes without
the resource waste, and they hired Mrs. Daschle or the like to lobby the FAA...
I watch men in dark suits pace the waiting areas in airports with ear pieces in talking with only God knows who. How did we ever live before the cell phone?
I don't think I'm a Luddite when it comes to these, I appreciate the convenience and the importance, but at some point, we have to be able to put them down and talk to another human face to face or be polite enough to realize an entire plane load of people doesn't care about your personal or professional business.
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