The Real Reason Why Cellphones Are Banned On Airplanes

[bassrique]

Is this true? [I always thought it was an airplane safety issue.]

It seems a lot of people believe that the cellphone ban during takeoff and landing is safety related, and mandated by the FAA. It’s not.

The FCC had the ban implemented because as planes fly along, full of hundreds of passengers, their phones simultaneously jump from one tower's coverage to the next. As the cell systems are ancient, this can cause the network to crash. So the ban is a result of cellphone providers terrible infrastructure, and not because your phone could cause the aircraft to fall out of the sky

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-r...anned-on-airpl

[sandmangeck]

I would hate to find out the hard way!

[jonathan_matos5]

reality of it you are above the coverage area. no signal up there, and moving at the same speed along the ground you phone wouldn't be able to connect to a tower long enough to connect. i used to work for tech support for a cellphone company, unless you have a satellite phone no signal up there.

[fenderhutz]

Originally Posted by jonathan_matos5

reality of it you are above the coverage area. no signal up there, and moving at the same speed along the ground you phone wouldn't be able to connect to a tower long enough to connect. i used to work for tech support for a cellphone company, unless you have a satellite phone no signal up there.

Yup. Cell signals are land tower based. Even if they DID work air companies would still find another reason due to charging you out the nose for the use of the phones on the plane.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by jonathan_matos5

reality of it you are above the coverage area. no signal up there, and moving at the same speed along the ground you phone wouldn't be able to connect to a tower long enough to connect. i used to work for tech support for a cellphone company, unless you have a satellite phone no signal up there.

This makes more sense to me than the buzzfeed.com quote. You're travelling along at a speed of 600MPH at 37,000 feet, so your time above any point on the ground is very limited.

[jonathan_matos5]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Yup. Cell signals are land tower based. Even if they DID work air companies would still find another reason due to charging you out the nose for the use of the phones on the plane.

considering the per-minute charges on satellite phones the airline markup us only about 90%

[MJ5150]

I just figured they wanted your full attention for the safety video and announcements.

-Mike

[fenderhutz]

That and cell phones can be GPS devices. Imagine someone with ill intentions being able to get your (airplane) location within 10 feet. Rather not think about it.

[bassrique]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

That and cell phones can be GPS devices. Imagine someone with ill intentions being able to get your (airplane) location within 10 feet. Rather not think about it.

i hadn't thought of that. Interesting.

[colcifer]

Has anyone here used a plane phone? What news could reach you on a plane for which a response could not wait?

[anonymous122511]

Originally Posted by jonathan_matos5

reality of it you are above the coverage area. no signal up there, and moving at the same speed along the ground you phone wouldn't be able to connect to a tower long enough to connect. i used to work for tech support for a cellphone company, unless you have a satellite phone no signal up there.

Oh yeah? Then how did that woman call on her cell phone from the plane on 9/11?
Huh? HUH? I mean it was right there on the TV.
I figger that scientifically proves cell phones DO work up there.

[jonathan_matos5]

Originally Posted by jeff arddun

Oh yeah? Then how did that woman call on her cell phone from the plane on 9/11?
Huh? HUH? I mean it was right there on the TV.
I figger that scientifically proves cell phones DO work up there.

the planes on 9/11 were flying low and slow with the intent of crashing into buildings.

[anonymous122511]

Originally Posted by jonathan_matos5

the planes on 9/11 were flying low and slow with the intent of crashing into buildings.

Don't stop there, you're on a roll.

[Mark Wilson]

As badly as I want to see how this plays out, please stop guys.
At this rate, it'll be closed.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by colcifer

Has anyone here used a plane phone? What news could reach you on a plane for which a response could not wait?

Those phones are available mostly for business executives. Ever hear the expression "Time is money"? For some of these guys, it literally is - and every minute they have to spend out of contact with the office means lost money for the company. For them, it's far more cost-effective to pay the phone fees - IF they can thereby remain reachable.

Think about it...

MM

[Johnny Crab]

Originally Posted by jeff arddun

Oh yeah? Then how did that woman call on her cell phone from the plane on 9/11?
Huh? HUH? I mean it was right there on the TV.
I figger that scientifically proves cell phones DO work up there.

I see stuff on TV when one happens to be on that I'm forced to be near.
I see Bat Boy on Weekly World News covers.
I believe neither.

Since I have pocket protectors around here somewhere and a card that says IEEE Member for xx years, here are examples of their take:
http://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/a...t-any-airspeed
http://spectrum.ieee.org/riskfactor/...-danger-or-not

For more reading:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...&aqi=&aql=&oq=

I work in instrumentation in a petrochem plant. We bar cellphones from control rooms and a few other areas because we have had them interfere with instrumentation and cause shutdowns. Similar concerns for aircraft(mentioned in the article).

You don't think that buzzing noise in your PC's speakers just before your cell phone rings or while it retrieves an update are harmless do you?
That is the eletromagnetic field going through/near the wiring for your PC speakers being interfered with/disturbed in real-time by signals going to/from your cell phone.

[anonymous122511]

Originally Posted by Johnny Crab

You don't think that buzzing noise in your PC's speakers just before your cell phone rings or while it retrieves an update are harmless do you?
That is the eletromagnetic field going through/near the wiring for your PC speakers being interfered with/disturbed in real-time by signals going to/from your cell phone.

A friend of mine who works on all kinds of towers, wind generators and other tall structures told me the other day the RF meter they use to make sure they're not gonna get zapped in some situations completely redlines when you measure a ringing cell phone with it....waaaay over what's considered "safe". I got rid of the TV over twenty years ago and I think the cell phone is gonna follow shortly.

And btw my initial post was pure sarcasm. I thought for sure my sig would give it away...

[DigMe]

Plenty of people have made cell phone calls from airplanes in full flight FWIW and I've recently heard talk that some airlines are considering allowing it.

bc

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

That and cell phones can be GPS devices. Imagine someone with ill intentions being able to get your (airplane) location within 10 feet. Rather not think about it.

Within 10 feet of your location when? 100 milliseconds ago? 1 second ago? 10 seconds ago?

[Let It Fall]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

That and cell phones can be GPS devices. Imagine someone with ill intentions being able to get your (airplane) location within 10 feet. Rather not think about it.

if someone had the capabilities of shooting down a airplane with a gps guided missle. I highly doubt they would need ANY help from your cell phone