Using mobiles in an aeroplane... NOT dangerous after all! (apparently)

I've been reading about this in various places, that they have found
out that private cellular mobile phones do NOT affect flight controls,
that this information is erroneous. Some report has come out.

Furthermore, I have also been told that the flight companies have
always known it's not dangerous, but that they have PRETENDED that
it's dangerous so that people don't use the expensive onboard phones
that you get on long-haul flights (International Roaming is cheaper
than these rip-off phones).

I wonder whether all the flight companies knew it was a scam and
clubbed together, or whether only a couple of them knew and the other
companies simply followed suit.

So I wonder whether in the light of all these revelations, whether we
will now have all those announcements removed? Or will they try and
brush it under the carpet and hope that not a lot of people find out
about the little scam, and end up continuing with the subterfuge? Or
will they come clean and let people use their private phones? Or will
they come clean but give another reason for not using private phones
(eg noise pollution)? Interesting isn't it!

Also, will people who were fined for disobeying regulations, such as
that guy who got arrested for texting "I love you" to his wife while
on a flight, will be able to claim their money back....

Furthermore, will this see the price of onboard phones come down
dramatically (it took me a while to come back from the shock when I
got my credit card bill back after calling my wife from the Virgin
phone in my seat when flying London to Jo'burg in 2001!)

T'will be interesting!!!

TRISTÁN

"Tristán White" wrote in message
...
I've been reading about this in various places, that they have found
out that private cellular mobile phones do NOT affect flight controls,
that this information is erroneous. Some report has come out.

Furthermore, I have also been told that the flight companies have
always known it's not dangerous, but that they have PRETENDED that
it's dangerous so that people don't use the expensive onboard phones
that you get on long-haul flights (International Roaming is cheaper
than these rip-off phones).

[snip]

It may or may not be dangerous to the aircraft systems, but no pilot I
know would let you use a phone on their flight, and I for one wouldn't
want to be on the same plane..!

In any case, avionics problems aside, how many cell sites do you think
you're going to access at 30,000 feet..?!

Ivor

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 16:27:48 +0000, Ivor Jones wrote:


"Tristán White" wrote in message
...
I've been reading about this in various places, that they have found
out that private cellular mobile phones do NOT affect flight controls,
that this information is erroneous. Some report has come out.

Furthermore, I have also been told that the flight companies have
always known it's not dangerous, but that they have PRETENDED that
it's dangerous so that people don't use the expensive onboard phones
that you get on long-haul flights (International Roaming is cheaper
than these rip-off phones).

[snip]

It may or may not be dangerous to the aircraft systems, but no pilot I
know would let you use a phone on their flight, and I for one wouldn't
want to be on the same plane..!

In any case, avionics problems aside, how many cell sites do you think
you're going to access at 30,000 feet..?!

Or NO cells whatsoever on trans-oceanic flights.

--
Michael Turner
Email (ROT13)

Ivor Jones reckoned that...
In any case, avionics problems aside, how many cell sites do you think
you're going to access at 30,000 feet..?!

I would imagine there will be some other form of carrier to link the
aircraft with a ground-based installation.
--
www.unlockingshop.co.uk
K700i unlock/unbrand £22.50

Ivor Jones reckoned that...
In any case, avionics problems aside, how many cell sites do you think
you're going to access at 30,000 feet..?!

I would imagine there will be some other form of carrier to link the
aircraft with a ground-based installation.
--
www.unlockingshop.co.uk
K700i unlock/unbrand £22.50

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 16:27:48 +0000, Ivor Jones wrote:


"Tristán White" wrote in message
...
I've been reading about this in various places, that they have found
out that private cellular mobile phones do NOT affect flight controls,
that this information is erroneous. Some report has come out.

Furthermore, I have also been told that the flight companies have
always known it's not dangerous, but that they have PRETENDED that
it's dangerous so that people don't use the expensive onboard phones
that you get on long-haul flights (International Roaming is cheaper
than these rip-off phones).

[snip]

It may or may not be dangerous to the aircraft systems, but no pilot I
know would let you use a phone on their flight, and I for one wouldn't
want to be on the same plane..!

In any case, avionics problems aside, how many cell sites do you think
you're going to access at 30,000 feet..?!

Or NO cells whatsoever on trans-oceanic flights.

--
Michael Turner
Email (ROT13)

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 16:58:26 +0100, Tristán White
wrote:

I've been reading about this in various places, that they have found
out that private cellular mobile phones do NOT affect flight controls,
that this information is erroneous. Some report has come out.

Furthermore, I have also been told that the flight companies have
always known it's not dangerous, but that they have PRETENDED that
it's dangerous so that people don't use the expensive onboard phones
that you get on long-haul flights (International Roaming is cheaper
than these rip-off phones).

I wonder whether all the flight companies knew it was a scam and
clubbed together, or whether only a couple of them knew and the other
companies simply followed suit.

Some pilots still disagree. They claim interferance with certain
equipment. As long as they disagree, I don't think they'll lift the
ban.

So I wonder whether in the light of all these revelations, whether we
will now have all those announcements removed? Or will they try and
brush it under the carpet and hope that not a lot of people find out
about the little scam, and end up continuing with the subterfuge? Or
will they come clean and let people use their private phones? Or will
they come clean but give another reason for not using private phones
(eg noise pollution)? Interesting isn't it!

I hope it stays as it is. No one will die if they can't use a phone
for a few hours. (No one had problems in the pre-cell era.) Fly time
is one of the few times that I get to rest. I don't want to hear
those lame tunes played, & everyone trying to talk over the other
person & cabin noise.

Also, will people who were fined for disobeying regulations, such as
that guy who got arrested for texting "I love you" to his wife while
on a flight, will be able to claim their money back....

I doubt if they will get anything back. A rule was in effect (no
matter what the reason). they broke the rules. Simple as that. Some
local laws are stupid, but if you break them, you pay.

Furthermore, will this see the price of onboard phones come down
dramatically (it took me a while to come back from the shock when I
got my credit card bill back after calling my wife from the Virgin
phone in my seat when flying London to Jo'burg in 2001!)

Problem is, you (and others) use the phone, and pay the price. Why
should they remove them? They're making money.

T'will be interesting!!!

TRISTÁN

"ServiceTech" wrote in message
...

[snip]

Some pilots still disagree. They claim interferance with certain
equipment. As long as they disagree, I don't think they'll lift the
ban.

*No* pilot I know would allow a phone to be used whilst in flight. If I'm
correct, the captain of the aircraft *always* has the final say, and that
in my opinion is how it should be.

From personal experience, all flights I've been on in the last few years
allow phones to be used while the aircraft is on the ground and at the
gate with the doors open. Once the doors close and the plane starts
taxying, all electronic equipment, including phones, have to go (and stay)
off. Once airborne and at cruise altitude, items like laptops are allowed,
but *not* phones.

Ivor

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 18:15:54 -0000, "Ivor Jones"
wrote:


"ServiceTech" wrote in message
.. .

[snip]

Some pilots still disagree. They claim interferance with certain
equipment. As long as they disagree, I don't think they'll lift the
ban.

*No* pilot I know would allow a phone to be used whilst in flight. If I'm
correct, the captain of the aircraft *always* has the final say, and that
in my opinion is how it should be.

That's exactaly what I was getting at. Even if you could prove no
problems, some pilots will still disagree. And as long as that
happens, you won't see phones used during flights. The pilot has the
last say


From personal experience, all flights I've been on in the last few years
allow phones to be used while the aircraft is on the ground and at the
gate with the doors open. Once the doors close and the plane starts
taxying, all electronic equipment, including phones, have to go (and stay)
off. Once airborne and at cruise altitude, items like laptops are allowed,
but *not* phones.

Ivor

Anything which transmitts a radio signal is banned from flight at this
time.

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 23:19:32 GMT, ServiceTech wrote:

That's exactaly what I was getting at. Even if you could prove no
problems, some pilots will still disagree. And as long as that
happens, you won't see phones used during flights. The pilot has the
last say

And the airline has the last say on if they want to carry on employing
the pilot or not. It'll be a revenue stream for the airline, and a
strong marketing point. The airlines won't let pilots deny them
those.

Jim.