[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> But the reason for not using it during a flight is what you said, they are
> afraid wireless will mess with their electronics. I wonder about the modern
> aircraft thing too, but I'd rather be safe than sorry too.
The last time I looked into this in depth (caveat: it's been a few
years so my info may be out of date), the _FAA_ had no problems with
people using cell phones on planes but the _FCC_ did. The concern
was not interference with avionics, but potentially confusing the
cellular switching network because a phone at high altitude might
be within range of more towers simultaneously than a phone on the
ground ...
... and the cellular networks had not been adequately tested in that
mode to determine whether it was an _actual_ problem or not ...
... and a bunch of people were bitching at the FCC for being so slow
to do the tests and accusing them of delaying such tests out of fear
that there _wouldn't_ be a problem and then the payphones on planes
would lose customers.
At that time, the big question was whether such devices needed to
be switched off for safety specifically during landing and takeoff;
the consensus among experts was that they were safe to use mid-flight.
If commercial avionics were that vulnerable, then we'd just be
waiting for terrorists (domestic or foreign) to put a jammer
more powerful than any pocket-sized device in their luggage on
a timer. (Okay, _that_ might still be a vulnerability anyhow;
but I hope not.)
If they were really worried about interference, intentionally or
otherwise, well the skin of the aircraft is metal, right? And
_their_ antennae are mounted on the outside? So all they have
to do is put screens on the windows with a spacing smaller than
the wavelengths they're worried about (if the windows are tinted,
just using a thin metallic tinting would do and the passengers
wouldn't see a visible mesh) and the plane turns into a big
Faraday cage -- nobody's cell phone will work at all and we'll
all be forced to use the payphones without any arguments over
the rules. If the bulkhead and cockpit door are metal and
connected to everything else, then they can even keep any RF
leakage from PDAs and DVD players from getting to the cockpit.
The last time I flew (several years ago but post-9/11), I think
they asked us to turn off all personal electronics for takeoff
and landing but said we could turn them back on when the "fasten
seat belts" sign went out. I thought it was silly but didn't
mind turning off my phone for those brief periods.
The _ettiquette_ concerns of cell phone use during a flight
are another matter entirely. I don't see any problem with a
seatmate making or receiving a couple of brief calls, but a
long conversation would be equally annoying on a cell phone
or on the plane's payphone. Videos on a DVD player, PDA,
or laptop seem like they wouldn't be a problem if headphones
are used.
-- Glenn
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