Europe Closer to Allowing Phones on Planes
Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:49AM EDT
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The idea of people yapping on their cell phones while flying the friendly skies gets no play in the states, but Europeans are downright thrilled about the idea. The latest news: EU regulators are now looking into the introduction of airborne cell phones, having finally developed a technology that permits mobile phone calls without the much-talked-about "interference" with aircraft electronics.
One 2003 study (which I'd never heard about) said that cell phones skew navigation readings by up to 5 degrees and could cause planes to go off course. That interference has been the big holdup in Europe, not concerns over the sanctity and silence of the airplane cabin. A newly developed technology purportedly prevents such interference.
There are many additional hurdles to be passed before planes actually roll out this technology. Additional levels of regulation still have to sign off on the plan, and then it will ultimately be up to the individual airlines as to whether or not to proceed. Still, some expect this could all be resolved as early as (late) 2008. Stay tuned for updates.
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2 Posted by kyneann on Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:09PM EST Report Abuse
DO we really need cell phones on planes. Are we all that important. It is the only place that I can think of that you can get away from them. Imagine the chatter with 300 people on board. Please please don't let this be true.
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3 Posted by charbikes on Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:19PM EST Report Abuse
If this happens, the airlines need to be prepared to sell seats in 2 sections...cell or non-cell. Preferably with a curtain or door in between! Otherwise there are going to be some altercations, is my guess.
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4 Posted by rox4nne1 on Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:23PM EST Report Abuse
I think that it will be a bl**dy nightmare having phones on planes.Imagine when u are on a long flight (or even short one for that matter) and the cabin travellers are trying to get much needed sleep before landing and having to maybe drive several hours to their destination, perhaps or having to attend a meeting directly after leaving the plane and needs to be in a fresh and switched on mental condition. And this sleep is disturbed by numerous phones going off at differing times throughout the flight. . . or just as bad - all at the same time ! And people on phone calls do tend to shout rather. This is tremendous potential for sky-rage in the making. Once the rule for no phones is dismissed, the crew will find it very difficult to then ask someone whos phone has gone off for the 10th time,to "please don't take or make any further calls because you are distrurbing Mr S. who has just made a complaint to me that he can't sleep, due to your calls." If there are no rules about it, or the rules are wishy washy then there will be no way to enforce any problems or issues that then arise from its use. I agree that use of phones on a plane can, at times, be in theory a good idea.But in reality it is a horrendous nightmare in the making ! ! ! ! ! !
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5 Posted by mikemccrary2 on Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:59PM EST Report Abuse
I agree with the "No Cell Phone Policy" In fact I would personally look for an airline that forbids it if it ever became a problem, but then again most all my flights are accross the Atlantic back and forth to Europe. With that said, If they can make a plane that takes the strike from a bolt of lightning... I think a cell phone signal can be engineered into the design...LOL I think it's a bunch of Hogwash and always has been.....
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1 Posted by rogueist on Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:19PM EDT Report Abuse
My argument is that its the plane manufacturers' fault that devices interfere with the systems. If I had an older plane from the 1960s they would be totally unaffected by this. If the same shielding that was applied back then was used today in making aircraft, they too would be unaffected. What is an extra $0.02 a square foot to the total cost of a jet liner? $100k maybe? A drop in the bucket to provide better shielding.