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Calling in the Air
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We've posted a number of times about the upcoming possibility of being able to use your cell phone while flying.
It looks like the future is almost here.
Budget airline Ryanair has recently announced they will provide their passengers access to this service in 2008.
But won't the calls disrupt the plane's navigational equipment and cause it to crash, you ask?
Apparently not: New technology minimizes "the strength of signals from passengers' phones and prevents them from seeking out ground networks."
While this is a great technological advancement, it will make flying infinitely more horrible in my opinion. A plane-full of yappy passengers droning on about their personal lives for five hours will leave me yearning for some navigational equipment disruption and a fiery crash to earth.
Time to get some headphones, I guess.
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Neil Sep 18th 2006 2:49PM
If the flight is delayed, everyone should get one free phone call, just like in jail!
Jocelyn Sep 18th 2006 8:10PM
I tend to agree with you, Neil. I can't imagine how many people will abuse the privileges. Likely, most won't (let's hope).
Mary Jo Sep 18th 2006 11:40PM
I don't want to sit in a restaurant next to someone who spends the entire time on the phone. An airplane situation would make me very cranky.
And the problem people are not just those making a quick call to whomever is picking them up. (Those people should be checking on the status of arrival anyway.)
It's going to be one non-stop gab fest!
Nick Persichet Sep 19th 2006 3:38AM
I just need to know if I can bring my cell phone on board a plane in my carry on luggage that I will position in the over head compartment
thank you
Warren Swabb Sep 23rd 2006 6:31AM
I have no problem with people using their cell phones while flying. But, just try getting a connection from 35000 feet! The airlines should charge you extra to use the aircrafts' cellular transmitter. That will keep a lot of cell phones down in the cargo bay!!!
Walter Kopilow Sep 23rd 2006 6:35AM
I fly frequently overseas. It is bad enough having to put up with screaming babies for over 11 hours; now the thought of having to listen to a bunch of clowns droning on about nothing is something that I am loath to listen to!
Charles E. King Sep 23rd 2006 7:05AM
Most importantly, is the safety and security o the passengers. If as you said, there is no navigational issues when using the celkl phones, OK.
There is another factor here however, and that is the loud talk of people using these phones. They do not seem to know how to talk low. You hear all about their lives and what they hqave to do, and worst still, the people in charge presently on busses etc, do not seem to care about how loud the passengers talk. If passengers will be told to talk only at a level where noone else can hear, tahts OK. But really, it gets a bit much.
brooks Sep 23rd 2006 7:13AM
We can't bring a cellphone with us for international flights so this won't affect us.
alacran Sep 23rd 2006 7:33AM
Horrible. All this talk about the "necessity" of cellphone use and how it's a great thing to be able to alert friends and family if your flight is delayed, or to get a little business done in the air. Yeah, like that's what the majority would be doing. People call for calling's sake. They're bored, antsy, whatever and they call and yak within earshot of everyone else. The idea horrific. People don't use all those minutes because they NEED to; a guy who spends 1000 minutes a month on the cellphone wasn't spending 1000 minutes on payphones back before cellular phones. Ease of use drives people to use it way beyond needs. I have no problem with that until I want to rest or I want peace and quiet and someone justifies ruining my flight because they "need" to talk on the phone. Even if it's not pleasure calling it's going to make flights wholly more unpleasant; businesspeople don't exactly do phone business in low, discrete voices, they do it in loud, confident voices for all to hear. But what can we do- some people just insist on making the world worse, not better.
Dick McLane Sep 23rd 2006 7:39AM
If votes count, put me down for being vehemently opposed to allowing passengers to make any more than very brief calls to persons regarding the status of their flight.
Barbara Sep 23rd 2006 7:45AM
There are "quiet cars" on Amtrak - no cells phones, and only short whispered conversations. Soon there may be "quiet" sections on planes.
Silver Sep 23rd 2006 7:46AM
You may bring your cell phone in your carry on luggage or your purse not a problem, I have problems with people who will be chatting while flying. If its for emergency purposes to let the people awaiting for your flight thats fine.
VF Sep 23rd 2006 7:48AM
I agree with Mary Jo- anyone making a pickup at the airport should be checking flight status. It's what we did before the advent of cell phones and still works pretty well. Nobody needs to be talking on a phone during the flight- for me, it's down time and I am a happy camper to just sit back and relax. I would have no objection to allow text messaging. Let those who wish to talk pay for it!
Don Sep 23rd 2006 7:59AM
Allowing cell phone calls in flight will take a bad flying experience into the horrible zone. The FAA better plan on placing at least 2 air marshals on each flight simply to handle all the fights that will break out. Now in addition to listening to screaming children, snoring old men and women and having the child behind you continuously kicking your seat, we get to hear loud conversations from people we don't know and really don't care to know.
Pam Sep 23rd 2006 8:00AM
If you have no desire to encounter any aspect of human behavior, including conversation, then charter your own personal flight. Some people like to talk. Moderate volume can be tolerated. Restaurants aren't totally silent, can you stand to be there? You cac always choose to eat at home -alone. Live and let live.!
Fran Arnold, RN Sep 23rd 2006 8:01AM
"But won't the calls disrupt the plane's navigational equipment and cause it to crash, you ask?"
Oh, for crying out loud! I said this once before,..they think we are stupid, don't they? Didn't 9/11 kinda blow that theory out of the water? This is just another brilliant business move geared to squeeze even more $ out of us. If it were even remotely true, why didn't the "early" Cell Phones have "Airplane Mode" or for that matter, why would they let us carry them onboard anyway. Please, give me a break! Having said that, I wish for everyone reading this the best day they can have today...
Later
ab Sep 23rd 2006 8:26AM
If using your cell phone on a plane was not available until now, then this must mean that calls from the planes on 09/11/01 were fake? If the technology wasn't ready then how do they explain the calls? That is quite interesting, any ideas?
R Sutton Sep 23rd 2006 8:31AM
Who ever said that flying is quiet time or time for anyone to rest? I have never heard of someone saying im going to fly to NY so I can sleep.
thomas lowry Sep 23rd 2006 8:33AM
Ninety percent of cell calls are just vapid yakking. If I sit next to a blabbermouth for ten minutes, I could easily become VIOLENT.
Johanna Sep 23rd 2006 8:36AM
Whoopee!!! We are already exposed to inconsiderate people who leave their phones on and accept calls in theatres, interrupting plays and movies with their chatter, and who flash their phone lights in the dark as they constantly check for messages in between calls (love to pay high $$$ for those wasted tickets), people who have near misses (and cause accidents) on the highways and streets as they have their "important" conversations, people who run into you with their shopping carts with their phone in hand, people who overall bore and bother you with their uninteresting, loud chatter. Now we will be stuck on a flight with them? Goodie, that will improve situations, air rage, etc. No more reading a good book, enjoying an in-flight movie,and just plainly trying to enjoy a flight with my OWN thoughts not the loud callers next to me! Why don't we just bring the smokers back, too? Second hand smoke, second hand conversations...what's the difference? They are both intrusive to your private space and bad for you and your health!