http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/ Engadget Comments for FAA not planning to make in-flight cellphone calls very easy http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
Very Bad!]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
Is this just the chance to offer a new cell plan for air travel that has the mobile phone companies so excited. Can they make it that much cheaper than the current system?



]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
If you don't want to listen to someone talk, bring your headphones. Or start your own conversation.

I agree with #2, to an extent. Text messaging would be very helpful.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
The problems that all the commenters cite are behavioral. If that's why cell phone use shouldn't be allowed, that's fine, but let's at least have the rules be honest, rather than claiming one reason and really meaning another. As one commenter said, allow texting. Allow short, courteous calls. But don't claim it's for safety reasons when it's not.

And really, when am I going to be able to use my iPod during takeoff and landing? Stupid FAA...]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
:)]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
I'd like to try using an airplane broadband connection tied into Skype.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
It doesn't matter if it's worth dying over or not. It's a nonissue.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
The older the aircraft, the less likely there will be an interference issue due to the reliance on control cables. The newer the aircraft and the less likely there will be an issue due to better shielding techniques employed on the flight critical equipment - despite the fact that they are more fly-by-wire.

It is still worth a test or two on the suspect flight management boxes though to ensure fly-by-wire doesn't suddenly turn into fly-by-consensus.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
I think it has more to do with saftey. The crew gives you the safety run down at take off, and the pilot gives you his plan. The airlines are responsible to make sure everyone knows these rules and if someone is listening to an iPod, they won't hear the rules. I am pretty sure that is the concept with CD players and Mp3 players, I might be wrong but that would also explain why you can use them during the flight.

If it was that they could prevent a safe take off if on, I doubt they would be allowed on teh plane in the first place. It could easily turn on while in your bag, or be left on during take off.

And honestly, if iPods really were a real safety concern then terrorists really wouldn't need bombs to hijack, they could simply turn on their most recent podcast.

]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
Is someone who really wants to cause harm to the airplane systems from the cabin via rf interference going to be stopped by a law? Kinda too late if someone decides to jam the glideslope or localizer receiver from the cabin.

A bunch of people yaking on their phones is really going to be annoying. Especially the ringers.
]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
If you can't go a few hours without imposing your will on the people around you, you need to think about your ethics.

You don't have a right to be not inconvenienced.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
I'm not saying I want to have to put up with phone conversations during a flight, but I have to deal with them on the ground all damn day, so there's really no difference. Annoying people are annoying, whether they use their cell phone or not. Let's just cut the crap about them not being safe. It's simply a myth that the airlines don't bother to dispel.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/Smartest statement posted about this subject EVER.

Whiny babies need to grow up and learn that many professionals (especially those of us in financial professions) are becoming increasingly inconvenienced every time we get on a plane and cant communicate electronically with clients, the home office & the outside world in general. As technology advances the scope with which we use it to conduct our everyday business increases almost lockstep (as it does with most businesses).

Some of the solutions described in other posts could be helpful stepping stones that I think are completely rational to implement over time like:
calling/no calling plane sections (I guarantee you business class would be ~95% "calling");
allowing text-based communications only (nowadays blackberrying can be significantly more efficient than leaving voicemails in many situations);
and several other suggestions

Lots of things that people (incorrectly) assume as inherent rights (not the given priveleges that they are) annoy the f&*k out of me, but I know I have to live with them because they benefit many others. Allowing electronic communication while on a flight isnt fundamentally different from any of those.

Grow up.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
I also say that airlines should be allowed to come up with whatever rules they want about cell phone behavior. Let the market figure it out. If, as many of you claim, it becomes too annoying, people will complain and some airlines will provide quieter flights.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
Parsing out the triple negative leaves: you don't have the right to be "convenienced." Actually, you do. That's the basis of anti-begging statutes, noise ordinances, zoning laws, and the list goes on.

If cell phones are safe, by all means use them, SILENTLY. You have no more right to yell in my ear than you have to smoke in my face.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
As a previous poster mentioned, lift the ban for the technical reasons, and then reinstate it for social ones. Cell phones are the new smoking.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/Dec 19th 2005 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/15/faa-not-planning-to-make-in-flight-cellphone-calls-very-easy/
However, at $5 per minute, people only use them for important calls... Not a problem.

I would hate to sit on a plane filled with bored people whiling away the time chatting inanely...

HELLO? I'M ON A PLANE! NO, A PLANE? WHAT??? WHERE ARE YOU??? WHAT???? WHERE ARE YOU???? I'M ON A PLANE!!!

Keep mobile phones off the planes, please!
]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM