Cell phone regulation on airlines?

No you cannot use your phone, But you can use their phone at $3.00 a min.

Actually, on my last commercial flight (United) I noticed that Verizon
(cellular?) customers can use the airphone at much lower rates if they register
first. Apparantly there's a deal going.

Jose

--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

No you cannot use your phone, But you can use their phone at $3.00 a min.

Actually, on my last commercial flight (United) I noticed that Verizon
(cellular?) customers can use the airphone at much lower rates if they register
first. Apparantly there's a deal going.

Jose

--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

"DaveC" wrote in message
al.net...
Cell phone usage is restricted on all domestic commercial flights by the
FAA,
so the flight attendant keeps telling me.

I seem to recall that this wasn't so, early in cellular history. Weren't
we
able to use cell phones on flights, long ago?

Is cell phone usage also restricted on private jets, etc. for similar
reasons?

So my question... what is the technical reason for restriction of cell
phone
us on commercial flights? Is this reason valid, technically? Or is it
simply
an excuse to force anyone who needs to make a call to use the airline's
on-board phones (and pay their outrageous rates)?

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC

This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group


No you cannot use your phone, But you can use their phone at $3.00 a min.

"DaveC" wrote in message
al.net...
Cell phone usage is restricted on all domestic commercial flights by the
FAA,
so the flight attendant keeps telling me.

I seem to recall that this wasn't so, early in cellular history. Weren't
we
able to use cell phones on flights, long ago?

Is cell phone usage also restricted on private jets, etc. for similar
reasons?

So my question... what is the technical reason for restriction of cell
phone
us on commercial flights? Is this reason valid, technically? Or is it
simply
an excuse to force anyone who needs to make a call to use the airline's
on-board phones (and pay their outrageous rates)?

Oh good. Let's list all the reasons why cell phones belong in airplanes:

1) Airlines in bankrupty which (and I say this with enormous sarcasm) has NO
effect on the morale of people who should be happy, like mechanics

2) A random selection of pilots who partied way too late the night before

3) Sky marshalls who saunter aboard like what's-his-name from Miami Vice,
thereby making it perfectly clear who to strangle if you're a hijacker and
need a gun.

4) Passengers who think flying is a convenient excuse to get plastered
within 15 minutes of takeoff and mouth off to the crew.

5) People who've lived on potato chips and cheesecake since birth, but think
they shouldn't have to buy two seats to contain their lard, and end up
flowing all over your for 4 hours.

6) Air traffic control computers which are, in many cases, antiques.

7) Morons who will look right at you while you're listening to quiet music
with your eyes closed and begin telling you their life story.

8) Fools who SLAM their seats backwards within seconds of the warning lights
being turned off, and pretend they're instantly asleep?

On top of all this, you think there should be lots of cell phones in use on
airplanes? I've got news for you: Do that, and it'll be more comfortable to
take a bus through a Central American jungle with goats & pigs roaming the
aisles. I don't know how old you are, but there was actually a time when
flying was comfortable and enjoyable.

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 03:10:28 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

I don't know how old you are, but there was actually a time when
flying was comfortable and enjoyable.

And expensive!

In 1958, I left my job in Frankfurt and looked at modes of
transportation home. I got a ticket on the Holland-America line for
$278. An airplane would have been $400--one-way!

To translate into millennium dollars, multiply by ten.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! www.vivabush.org

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 03:10:28 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

I don't know how old you are, but there was actually a time when
flying was comfortable and enjoyable.

And expensive!

In 1958, I left my job in Frankfurt and looked at modes of
transportation home. I got a ticket on the Holland-America line for
$278. An airplane would have been $400--one-way!

To translate into millennium dollars, multiply by ten.

I dunno....my dad paid for it when I was 12 years old. :-) About the only
negative thing I remember was that the airlines were silly enough to serve
peas, which made for a bit of a mess on bumpy flights.

Best memory - 1987: My flight from Pittsburgh to Rochester NY was delayed by
an hour due to crazy summer weather. When we finally boarded, the pilot came
out of the cockpit and addressed the passengers. He said "Sorry about the
delay, but there were thunderstorms. They've passed, but it's still pretty
turbulent. I'll give you a choice. I can avoid 98% of the turbulence and
we'll be in Rochester around 8:30. Or, I can go through the bumps and it'll
be about 15 minutes quicker. The 2nd choice could be a little unnerving, but
nothing we're not trained for and the plane's not built for. How about a
show of hands - who wants choice A? And choice B?" Choice B won. We got home
faster. :-)

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 03:10:28 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

I don't know how old you are, but there was actually a time when
flying was comfortable and enjoyable.

And expensive!

In 1958, I left my job in Frankfurt and looked at modes of
transportation home. I got a ticket on the Holland-America line for
$278. An airplane would have been $400--one-way!

To translate into millennium dollars, multiply by ten.

I dunno....my dad paid for it when I was 12 years old. :-) About the only
negative thing I remember was that the airlines were silly enough to serve
peas, which made for a bit of a mess on bumpy flights.

Best memory - 1987: My flight from Pittsburgh to Rochester NY was delayed by
an hour due to crazy summer weather. When we finally boarded, the pilot came
out of the cockpit and addressed the passengers. He said "Sorry about the
delay, but there were thunderstorms. They've passed, but it's still pretty
turbulent. I'll give you a choice. I can avoid 98% of the turbulence and
we'll be in Rochester around 8:30. Or, I can go through the bumps and it'll
be about 15 minutes quicker. The 2nd choice could be a little unnerving, but
nothing we're not trained for and the plane's not built for. How about a
show of hands - who wants choice A? And choice B?" Choice B won. We got home
faster. :-)

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 03:10:28 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

I don't know how old you are, but there was actually a time when
flying was comfortable and enjoyable.

And expensive!

In 1958, I left my job in Frankfurt and looked at modes of
transportation home. I got a ticket on the Holland-America line for
$278. An airplane would have been $400--one-way!

To translate into millennium dollars, multiply by ten.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! www.vivabush.org

"DaveC" wrote in message
al.net...
Cell phone usage is restricted on all domestic commercial flights by the
FAA,
so the flight attendant keeps telling me.

I seem to recall that this wasn't so, early in cellular history. Weren't
we
able to use cell phones on flights, long ago?

Is cell phone usage also restricted on private jets, etc. for similar
reasons?

So my question... what is the technical reason for restriction of cell
phone
us on commercial flights? Is this reason valid, technically? Or is it
simply
an excuse to force anyone who needs to make a call to use the airline's
on-board phones (and pay their outrageous rates)?

Oh good. Let's list all the reasons why cell phones belong in airplanes:

1) Airlines in bankrupty which (and I say this with enormous sarcasm) has NO
effect on the morale of people who should be happy, like mechanics

2) A random selection of pilots who partied way too late the night before

3) Sky marshalls who saunter aboard like what's-his-name from Miami Vice,
thereby making it perfectly clear who to strangle if you're a hijacker and
need a gun.

4) Passengers who think flying is a convenient excuse to get plastered
within 15 minutes of takeoff and mouth off to the crew.

5) People who've lived on potato chips and cheesecake since birth, but think
they shouldn't have to buy two seats to contain their lard, and end up
flowing all over your for 4 hours.

6) Air traffic control computers which are, in many cases, antiques.

7) Morons who will look right at you while you're listening to quiet music
with your eyes closed and begin telling you their life story.

8) Fools who SLAM their seats backwards within seconds of the warning lights
being turned off, and pretend they're instantly asleep?

On top of all this, you think there should be lots of cell phones in use on
airplanes? I've got news for you: Do that, and it'll be more comfortable to
take a bus through a Central American jungle with goats & pigs roaming the
aisles. I don't know how old you are, but there was actually a time when
flying was comfortable and enjoyable.

DaveC wrote:

Cell phone usage is restricted on all domestic commercial flights by the FAA,
so the flight attendant keeps telling me.

I seem to recall that this wasn't so, early in cellular history. Weren't we
able to use cell phones on flights, long ago?

Is cell phone usage also restricted on private jets, etc. for similar
reasons?

So my question... what is the technical reason for restriction of cell phone
us on commercial flights? Is this reason valid, technically? Or is it simply
an excuse to force anyone who needs to make a call to use the airline's
on-board phones (and pay their outrageous rates)?

The origin of the ban was due to concerns about cellphone transmissions
interfering with onboard avionics. This is more likely to be a concern with older
a/c. There is no hard data that I know of that substantiates the concern. There
is some anecdotal evidence of interference though.

As another poster has mentioned, cellphones don't work well at altitude.

Both Boeing and Airbus are now working on systems to enable airborne use of
cellphones.


Graham