mobile phones on planes

[Markh]

Apart from being annoying, is there a safety reason why you can't use mobile phones on planes, I notice more more people texting/emailing during flights

[LeftBack]

It can interfere with internal and external flight communication lines.

[just me]

LeftBack said:

It can interfere with internal and external flight communication lines.

No it can't.

[Silver993tt]

so eventually the airlines will install their own system wherby you can make a call via their transmitter on the aircraft. That way they will be able to charge you extortionate rates for making a call under the guise that their system is "safe" to use in the air.

[elster]

LeftBack said:

It can interfere with internal and external flight communication lines.

Yes in the same way using your MP3 player on takeoff will interfere with electronics.

In the same way that the life jacket is going to any more than a chocolate drill

[LeftBack]

just me said:

LeftBack said:

It can interfere with internal and external flight communication lines.

No it can't.

In the same way it can't interfere with speakers.

[ian in lancs]

Maybe 20 years ago I was testing avionics for electromagnetic interference at signal strengths of 20v/metre. That took some serious equipment to get that field strength. No way on this planet would a mobile phone even get remotely close. I believe equipment is now tested to at least 10 times that level so no there is no technical reason for mobiles to be a problem.

To take another perspective to design any avionics system that would be susceptible to interference from a mobile or other portable radio-magnetic device would be foolish in the extreme and wouldn't pass design review. It would be a safety or in extreme a terrorist threat. So again I can't see the problem.

Now the irritation from a fellow passenger on a mobile - that's a safety issue; their own safety!

[BigBen]

elster said:

LeftBack said:

It can interfere with internal and external flight communication lines.

Yes in the same way using your MP3 player on takeoff will interfere with electronics.

In the same way that the life jacket is going to any more than a chocolate drill

More to do with buggering up the ground network wherever you are flying over.

Do a search for a thread quite recently where this was discussed in detail including how the systems being installed on some aircraft works.

Ben

[The Excession]

LeftBack said:

It can interfere with internal and external flight communication lines.

Utter Rubbish.

Ahh Ise I was beaten to it.

just me said:

LeftBack said:

It can interfere with internal and external flight communication lines.

No it can't.

There's already plenty of trial going on with micro/pico cells on aircraft so that you can use your phone on a plane.

This nonsense about turning off your laptop/dvd-player/cd-player/mp3-player/cell-phone/digital-watch/hearing-aid/heart-pacemaker the whole shebang is utter nonsense.

So why do they make sure we turn everything off? I have no fvking idea.

[Silver993tt]

If it was truly dangerous to have a mobile phone switched on, they would all be confiscated at security just like knives etc. It's odds-on that at least one mobile phone has been left switched on on every aircraft that flys either because a) someone has forgotten to turn it off b) It's in a jacket/bag in the overhead locker c) someone can't be bothered.

So how many aircraft suffer a problem let alone major one due to a phone being left turned on aboard an aircraft? - none

Edited by Silver993tt on Thursday 20th November 21:05

[LeftBack]

The Excession said:

LeftBack said:

It can interfere with internal and external flight communication lines.

Utter Rubbish.

Ahh Ise I was beaten to it.

just me said:

LeftBack said:

It can interfere with internal and external flight communication lines.

No it can't.

There's already plenty of trial going on with micro/pico cells on aircraft so that you can use your phone on a plane.

This nonsense about turning off your laptop/dvd-player/cd-player/mp3-player/cell-phone/digital-watch/hearing-aid/heart-pacemaker the whole shebang is utter nonsense.

So why do they make sure we turn everything off? I have no fvking idea.

Before you go categorically rejecting the possibility that i can interfere with communication I suggest you brush up on the current theories behind the prohibition of mobile phones on planes. You might wish to look into susceptibility levels of equipment.

While it is just a theory, studies have concluded that

LeftBack said:

It can interfere with internal and external flight communication lines.

and it is the theory that the service providers choose to follow and why mobile phone use is prohibited.

On a side note, did anyone else try to steer the plane with their gameboy when they were young?

[Finlandia]

Ryanair, believe it or not, are about to allow inflight calls, it won't be cheap though.

[Healey73]

Many people have beaten me to it on this thread, but it is total bullsh*t. I have a couple of friends who are both co-pilots and use their mobiles whilst flying, when they can get a signal that is. I would never even try as I would hate for it to become the norm. Imagine sitting on a plane for hours with someone shouting into their mobile!!!!!

[LeftBack]

You'd be lucky to hear them over the noise of the crying baby.

[LotusACBC]

When I went to Hawaii they announced on the plane to turn off all cell phones and electronic devices. I wanted to see what would happen if we didnt, so I left my on.

Still here :wave:

[benoli]

LeftBack said:

On a side note, did anyone else try to steer the plane with their gameboy when they were young?

i tried it with my Sega GameGear when i was young, and it worked too - i put my GameGear down, and we landed !


ETA : wouldn't it have something to do with the fact that your moving @ 500mph, isn't that a bit too fast for the cells to transmit and receive calls to you.
you'd be passed between cell towers about every 30secs - what a great conversation that'd be "hold i'll call you back in a min"

Edited by benoli on Thursday 20th November 21:17

[Bing o]

Silver993tt said:

If it was truly dangerous to have a mobile phone switched on, they would all be confiscated at security just like knives etc. It's odds-on that at least one mobile phone has been left switched on on every aircraft that flys either because a) someone has forgotten to turn it off b) It's in a jacket/bag in the overhead locker c) someone can't be bothered.

So how many aircraft suffer a problem let alone major one due to a phone being left turned on aboard an aircraft? - none

Edited by Silver993tt on Thursday 20th November 21:05

I thought I'd turned my Blackberry off last time I flew (it turned itself back on) - 12 hours and 6,000 miles and we arrived safe and sound...

[Healey73]

LeftBack said:

You'd be lucky to hear them over the noise of the crying baby.

Why is that worse on a plane? I really don't know. Too be honest a crying baby does not bother me, whether it be out or round someones house but on a plane it just makes me turn the volume up on my headphones and grind my teeth!!

Edited by Healey73 on Thursday 20th November 21:15

[Muze ST]

A Mp3 player can't interfere with the systems as it sends out no signal into the air. The electric pulse travels down the copper wire and sound comes out of the speakers.

All signals on a aircraft should go upwards while a phone signal should go downwards to a transmittor. (not 100% sure, someone could correct me). Then you have to ask yourself this question, WHY do they ask you to switch of your PSP when your playing a game that doesn't send out a signal. Is it just so your don't bug the other passengers.

[Mr Trophy]

Surely you will not get a signal that high anyway?