Europe closer to allowing in-flight cellphone use

The dream of being able to annoy everyone around you at 30,000 feet inched ever closer to reality today, with EU regulators recommending that member states approve a plan to allow in-flight cell phone use. Although previous studies have shown cell radios may interfere with in-flight nav systems, the new plan involves mounting a satellite-linked "pico cell" in the passenger compartment, which will allow pilots and flight crew to selectively enable cell services like voice and SMS. Unfortunately, the system only supports 2G connections, but if its successful, officials say it can be upgraded to 3G. Rollout is dependent on both individual countries and airlines approving the tech, but hopefully we'll be chatting away soon.

[Via Switched]

[August Young @ Oct 18th 2007 1:18PM]

Are you kidding me?
People are annoying enough on the plane, all we need is everyone talking to their snuckems at the same time....

[Gil @ Oct 18th 2007 12:44PM]

Hopefully?

No, no and no. As if airtravel wasn't noisy enough with the roaring jetengines, screaming babies and arguing couples.
I'm going to have to get noise cancelling earphones.

[DickHardknocks @ Oct 18th 2007 12:51PM]

What is so interesting about this to me is that on SEPTEMBER 11th, 2007, it was claimed that passengers on FLIGHT United 93 used cellphones to contact their families.

Where was all the fancy satellite technology in that situation?

Furthermore, even if I was stupid/gullable enough to believe that U93 was close enough to the ground to get a signal through an antennae, I find it hard to believe they were capable of calling anyone when the plane was in the 600 MPH inverted dive as depicted in the movie "United 93".

[paragraph @ Oct 18th 2007 12:56PM]

O.o United 93 Went down Twice! Z0MFG!

seriosuly though, you can use a cell phone in a plane, i've gotten signal (not good, and not constant). The issue here is the misconception that cell phones jam nav systems or radar, or anything like that. The real reason they don't want people using cell phones is because they can charge to use the in-plane line. Planes with the new system in place will definitely have higher ticket prices than those without, just so someone can make a buck. Though it should be noted that i do belive this sytem will provide better signal than without it ;)

also: 9/11
also II, @ Dick: Stop trolling plzkthx

[holycow @ Oct 18th 2007 1:03PM]

2007 ? wtf ?

[alex @ Oct 18th 2007 1:29PM]

Cell phones work on airplanes the main ( technical) reason they are banned is the believe that they cause RF interference with some of the aircrafts electronic systems especially instrument landing systems. Although there is a lot of debate about how much of an issue this really is. Mythbusters even did a show about it.

But I think they real reason to ban them is to maintain the sanity of your fellow passengers.

[ilh @ Oct 18th 2007 1:41PM]

"The issue here is the misconception that cell phones jam nav systems or radar, or anything like that."
Considering there's been cases at my work where mobile phones and blackberrys have caused PCs to reboot (myself included) and there's been videos showing engineers recreating this feat then i'd hardly say it's a misconception that it *might* interfere in some way with the planes systems.

[Chrisphillers @ Oct 18th 2007 1:50PM]

What the hell are you talking about in 2001;) they used the inbuilt telephones on the passenger seats NOT cellphones!

[Sean D. @ Oct 18th 2007 6:28PM]

I was on a trans-Atlantic flight last December and the passenger one row up and across the aisle from me was connected to his work computer via his cellphone for at least an hour- remote controlling the computer on the other end with what looked to be VNC. I figured that if you can connect to a cell network in the middle of the Atlantic in an airplane, that you could connect anywhere. The plane never went down either.

[Nimrod @ Oct 19th 2007 2:51AM]

The real problem is none of those mentioned so far (although these are also issues to consider).
The real problem is that the cellular infrastructure - the part that handles handsets moving between cells - is meant for scattered users moving at mostly car or railway speeds, not a bunch of potentially tens of users moving together 5 to 10 times faster. So then they realized the way to tackle this was to introduce a picocell inside the aircrraft - presto! - instant roaming charges for all and a nice deal for the airline.....

[holycow @ Oct 18th 2007 1:02PM]

Can they remove VOICE feature as well.. as it'll be extremely annoying having people constantly talking while one is trying to sleep... only SMS is fine IMO.

[Avi @ Oct 23rd 2007 3:59PM]

What a nightmare. I can only imagine having to sit through a flight listening to half of someones conversation as they scream trying to overpower the engine noise.
I sincerely hope this is won't happen.

[CaptSaltyJack @ Oct 18th 2007 1:04PM]

I'm against this, can you imagine the verbal noise going on while people are trying to get some sleep? Annoying.

As holycow said, allow SMS only. Or allow wi-fi so people with computers and PDAs can e-mail.

[jsanders4484 @ Oct 18th 2007 2:45PM]

WiFi but block voip. Sigh. Where there's a will there's a way, I suppose someone would find a way to do it.

So much for having a peaceful flight...alright so maybe it wasn't all that peaceful with the screaming babies, toddlers kicking my seat back, listening to obnoxious people having idle chit chat, etc.

...so about those noise canceling headphones?

[Slvrgun @ Oct 18th 2007 1:13PM]

I hope this never happens in the States. Imagine getting on a flight and hearing everybody's problems and crap, and constant "can you hear me nows". God, it would be terrible. Peace and quiet is the best way to enjoy a flight.

[Ian @ Oct 18th 2007 1:24PM]

Cellphones already work from aircraft and have done for years.
It's not a "dream" it's a "nightmare" IMHO. The thought of the people surrounding me all raising their voices (as most do on cellphoines) is acutely annoying. I would try to boycott any and all airlines allowing cellphone usage.

Technically I believe the problem is that cellphones in aircraft can simultaneouse reach a vast number of "towers" all at the same time thus making for a totally inefficient use of the available bandwidth on current technology. Tell me if someone sees this differently.

[Magallanes @ Oct 18th 2007 3:13PM]

And don't forget those lousy ringtones that can burden even more that a noise call.

[seatec @ Oct 18th 2007 2:18PM]

Don't you folx think its a bit much to ask for privacy and silence in a public place like an airplane? Sounds a bit selfish to me. There are noise cancelling headphones out there that can help you sleep and people around you can conduct business or whatever else they need they gadgets for.

[CaptSaltyJack @ Oct 18th 2007 3:00PM]

No, are you nuts? Chatting on cell phones in restaurants (nice restaurants, anyway) is widely considered rude. Imagine a public place where people are often napping (i.e. a plane), that makes cell phone use even more rude.

The only case I'd pull out the cell on a plane is if it was an emergency (someone's gonna lose their job, or a matter of life and death).

[Dankoozy @ Oct 18th 2007 2:18PM]

Just bring a satphone with you on the plane. should work if you point it out the right window

[K C Hagemann @ Oct 18th 2007 3:32PM]

I think this whole idea of using cell phones in public places as being rude is going away actually, why is a person talking on a phone in a restauraunt any more annoying than a person talking to another person in a restauraunt?

[Fwipp @ Oct 18th 2007 3:48PM]

It's not the general idea of talking on the phone, I think. At least not for myself. It's the people who have voices of a normal volume but, for whatever reason, raise their voices about 4 notches to near-yelling when they do talk on phones. That's what I'm not too keen on as far as any public place goes -- bus, plane, restaurant, etc.

[adrian @ Oct 18th 2007 3:36PM]

@GIl

I agree, I belive there's going to be some punch up's if this goes ahead.

[lorna @ Oct 18th 2007 7:25PM]

OMG HELL NO I DO NOT WANT TO BE TRAPPED IN A SMALL CABIN WITH PEOPLE LOUD ASSES MUCH LESS HEAR THEIR ANNOYING CONVOS THEY SHOULD FIGURE A WAY TO ONLY ALLOW US TO TEXT ON PLANES PHONE CALLS NO!!