Well the other issue is passenger comfort and air rage, I wouldn't want some loud-mouth business type roaring away on his bluetooth next to me on a long flight (any flight longer than ten minutes).

I think the solution would two-prong:

1. Technical/Safety: Unlike analog phones, modern digital ones will not work at altitude anyway (the cell system rejects them even if they get a signal). Since wi-fi can obviously be used safely, create a technical standard for in-flight phone connectivity via wi-fi. This ensures that:
- The phones can get connectivity (via the on-board wi-fi)
- The safety issue is already resolved for that type of connectivity.
- The whole thing can be shut off by the crew during departure, arrival, and emergencies.

2. Social/Comfort: Have phoning and no-phoning seating sections (like we did with smoking back in the day). This would be easy, you could sell as many phoning seats on any given flight as needed. The boundary would be virtual anyway, so it could be shifted on each flight depending on demand.

 

FWIW, I heard from an AA guy that a few years back AA went to allowing cell phones on taxi-out and much of the fleet (don't know which airframe) was experiencing Anti-Skid Failures. They went back to phones off at MCD closure and the mysterious Anti-skid failures went away.

Don't forget that the phone limit also exists as an FCC regulation because airborne phones tie-up multiple towers and thus tie-up the network in those areas (assuming all pax had their phones on in every plane).

 

That is irrelevant Rick and i think you know it.

Unless there is a safety threat associated with cell phone usage, people should be allowed to use them. Some guy yapping on his cell is no worse than sitting next to some vocal jersey-boy. It sucks, but it is their right.

Also asking our flight attendants to enforce unreasonable rules undermines their authority and peoples trust in them.

The airline industry is quick to flaunt the safety word. Safety this, for your safety that, for the safety of others around you... BULL****!

The airline announcements have invalidated the word safety. No one listens anymore. It's almost like a married couple using "I love you" arbitrarily every time they hang up. It doesn't mean anything.

 

I disagree strongly, once off the gate an airline pax is a "captive audience" and unlike the subway or other public areas cannot move to another seat or simply leave. It's common for nice restaurants to enforce a no-cell policy, so why not airlines?

If you cannot go a few hours without talking on the phone, take the train. Actually I think the "no phone" seating section idea would work just fine, and accommodate everyone.

The airlines have all the discretion in the world to enforce such a rule, just like a restaurant. They could not have you arrested if it's not an FAR rule or law, but they could put you on their no fly list. Nobody has a god-given, constitutional, or other right to fly on XYZ airlines...airlines can reserve the right to refuse service.

Also the connectivity would be at the disrection of flight crew, so they can always pull the plug. Or maybe just install phone booths, with a wireless connectivity range of 18".

 

I still hear this often, but it is only when ATC transmits. The older phones can cause interference with radio transmissions, but I used to hear it in my desktop speakers too.

 

Yep... forgot about that one... desktop speakers. It used to be I could tell when a call was coming a moment before the phone actually rang.. because you could here the buzz in the speakers first.

 

A Fender Twin Reverb tube amp would do the same but super loud.

 

A recent article concerning cell phone / electronics use in flight:

Let?s continue talking about whether consumer electronics mess up cockpit electronics | Airline Biz Blog

 

Regardless of whether or not electronic devices interfere with the electronics, each different model would have to be tested against it to be approved. That being said, electronic devices do create a distraction. A distraction which could hinder progress in case of emergency egress. This is how I've explained it to my pax when asked and no one has had a problem with it. Even without the distraction, I have witnessed grown adults with no other visible impairments struggle and sometimes need help fastening/unfastening their seat belts. It's a sign of the inattentiveness of the general public these days.

 

Imagine if someone broadcasted their own ILS or LOC frequency thru a cellphone or portable device for evil intent. It would be so easy to do and replicate.