Cell phones on planes? NOOOOOOO!!!!

[Jim Wilke]

I'm all for allowing the use of electronics and email but phones? Absolutely not.

The Federal Communications Commission said on Thursday that it would consider changing its rules to allow the use of cellphones and other wireless data devices during airline flights. If approved, the change is certain to delight some passengers but frustrate many others who prize flight time as a last preserve of peace.

The change, which was placed on the agenda for the commission’s Dec. 12 meeting and would still be months away if approved, would reverse a longtime ban on the use of cellphones during flights. Though the use of phones in-flight has been vigorously opposed by flight attendants and many passengers, some airlines in Asia and Europe already offer the cell service.

An F.C.C. official said that airlines in the United States would be given the option of outfitting their planes with equipment that would allow the use of cellphones once a plane climbed above 10,000 feet. The airlines will not be required to provide the service.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/technology/fcc-will-consider-allowing-cellphone-use-in-flight.html?smid=tw-nytmedia&seid=auto&_r=0

[AGRiculture]

Just another reason to hit the highway instead...

[Jsieczka]

The airlines have already said they have no interest in allowing voice calls just text messages.

[kkoether]

I'm all for allowing the use of electronics and email but phones? Absolutely not.



http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/te...seid=auto&_r=0

I Agree 100,000% !!!! I fly at LEAST several times a month for work.

[flyingpylon]

You can now get gate-to-gate wi-fi on Southwest (maybe others too) so what's to prevent someone from using wi-fi to make calls? Are flight attendants going to tell people they can't talk? Perhaps there would be enough transmission delay to make wi-fi calls impractical.

[Niseguy]

They used to have phones on planes.

And crumb snatchers still wail, nothing new.

[Indy500Dude]

This idea totally sucks!

[akh]

They used to have phones on planes.

And crumb snatchers still wail, nothing new.

But they were so prohibitively expensive that most people didn't mess with them...or if they did, not for very long.

If there is no access fee, or a minimal one, what's to keep someone from mindlessly chattering on from wheels up to landing? And so many people talk too loudly on cell phones because they are having difficulty HEARING the other party. I can only imagine with horror the noise of 20-30 people scattered around the 120 on board, oblivious to the disturbance they are part of. Not to mention combining the phones with alcohol and it's lowering of inhibitions... It'll make me long for the days when crying babies were the worst part of a flight.

[Jsieczka]

You can now get gate-to-gate wi-fi on Southwest (maybe others too) so what's to prevent someone from using wi-fi to make calls? Are flight attendants going to tell people they can't talk? Perhaps there would be enough transmission delay to make wi-fi calls impractical.

All the Wifi calling software is blocked by gogo and the rest of the companies. T-Mobile was the only wifi calling that worked until their service caught on then it was also blocked. At altitude your cell phone will not connect to a tower and the Cell standby program will work overtime and drain your battery if you try.

[Sleepcheap]

They used to have phones on planes.

Yeah, they worked great, too. The $3.50 per minute kept the number of calls down. In fact, they are now largely defunct because usage was so low they lost money on them.

[Jakester]

All the Wifi calling software is blocked by gogo and the rest of the companies. T-Mobile was the only wifi calling that worked until their service caught on then it was also blocked. At altitude your cell phone will not connect to a tower and the Cell standby program will work overtime and drain your battery if you try.

Only partially true...it is possible to for a cell phone to connect to a tower at altitude...but there are also numerous problems as the tower transfer systems are designed for ground speeds of less than 100 mph, not 400+.

At least the planned system would require equipment be installed on aircraft (picocells), so not all airlines may choose to do so.

I'm fine with listening to your music or watching videos (thru headphones of course), perusing the e-reader, working on spreadsheets etc. gate-to-gate, but cellphone conversations are another thing entirely....

[Jim Wilke]

"Hello? Hello? Can you hear me now? Guess where I'm calling from....hello? Anyway, I'm .... hello? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW??? WHAT??"