Cell phone used on plane likely by 2006

[lizardking]

The Federal Communication Commission (FCC), the telecom regulatory body of the USA, is contemplating lifting the ban on the use of cell phones in aircrafts in the country. This decision could pave the way for other countries to follow suit.

“The FCC proposes to relax its current ban on the use of cellular telephones on airborne aircraft. The commission addressed policy and technical options for permitting controlled use of cellular handsets and other wireless devices in airborne aircraft. This would increase communication options available to the travelling public as well as public safety personnel,” said a spokesperson for the commission.

In India, passengers are allowed the use of cell phones in aircraft before the doors are shut and after landing, when they have opened.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has banned cell phone use in an aircraft because of potential interference to cellular phone networks on the ground. In addition, in-flight cell phones can also interfere with navigational and aircraft systems, which is hazardous to flight safety.

However, the move has to be ratified by the International Civil Organisation (ICAO), a UN organisation. The ICAO will recommend guidelines for use for the respective regulatory bodies in the contracting countries, in India’s case, the DGCA.

The Director General of Civil Aviation, Satinder Singh, was in Mauritius and was unavailable for comment but a top DGCA official in Delhi confirmed that the ICAO was doing research on the possible use of mobile phones in aircraft. The implications of the research would be worldwide.

“The problem is the bandwidth; how can one determine which bandwidth will not interfere with a plane’s navigational aids and which will? The FCC and the ICAO are also conducting research and hopefully by next year we should be able to use cell phones in aircraft,” said the DGCA official.

But he also added that the ICAO only lays out the guidelines, and it was up to the regulatory authorities, in India’s case the DGCA, to approve or reject them.

http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/city/2005/march/106376.htm

[charterdriver]

What's the problem with using cellphones in the air anyway (if you can get signal)? I have identified no adverse affects other than a buzzing in the headphones. It would be an excellent tool following comm. failure.

[No comment]

Apart from being in a tunnel on a train, an aircraft is pretty much the last refuge from the blight of mobile phones on public transport.

I for one will dread the day that I pay £400 for a ticket and get stuck next to some mug shouting into a phone for 9 hours.

[sammypilot]

If it does happen in the U.K. (God forbid) will airlines follow the example of some railway companies and have 'phone free zones? When checking in will we be asked Cellular or Non-Cellular?

[Jump Complete]

I understood that, apart from the apparent risk of causing interference with systems, the problem with using mobiles in the air was that they don't lock onto one station and can cause problems accross a wide area of the mobile network. Or has that been now proved to be not the case, (or been resolved?)

[Rupert S]

Jump Complete: I remember reading (on an earlier thread?) that to get round this supposed problem, the aircraft will have their own transmitters on board. Apart from meaning that the cellular phones could be used anywhere, I would imagine that the airline would take a cool cut of what ever the call charges are. I reckon €3/min
I for one would hate to be stuck next to someone nattering (not to mention the irritating click of the buttons when texting) for several hours, so perhaps we can seek solus in that using the phone will be prohibitavely expensive?

[exvicar]

It is an excellent tool post comm failure, save regulation there is nothing to stop you using a phone now. I for one hope the law doesn't change, I can see several phones being rammed down inconsiderate passengers throats. Cannot believe this will be good for the airrage stats. If you are in business use e-mail it is relatively quiet and is becoming more available for airborne use.

[Gertrude the Wombat]

I have identified no adverse affects other than a buzzing in the headphones.

That suggests to me that it's interfering with the com radio, which suggests to me that until I read otherwise there's no good reason for me to suppose that it isn't also interfering with the nav radio.

So, is that needle pointing the right way? Turning on my cellphone might seem like a sensible option if I lose all the com radios, but at that point I'll stop believing the needle.

[poorwanderingwun]

The problem with the existing system is that cell-phones when unable to easily contact nearby antennas will boost to high power in hope of finding one outside its current range...one cellphone on an aircraft behaving in this way is not a particularly high threat to the systems ....200+ cellphones most certainly are.. To overcome the problem the aircraft will be fitted with its own antenna and all calls routed through it... (why this overcomes thr problem is beyond my knowledge of electronics but it is....In spite of all the exams to get my ATPL I still can't work out how people get inside my television ).

In an ideal world the airlines would conduct a survey to find out just how many of its clients are happy to listen to some total A*se bellowing into a cellphone in the mistaken belief that he's... (and lets face it guys...it always is a 'he')... impressing his neighbours....however...as the airline will be able to add to the cost of a call routed this way I won't be holding my reath waiting for the survey results....

[JJflyer]

hope not...

... As some of you said, aircraft is about the last mobile phone free area, I would like to keep it that way. If a matter is so pressing that it just can't wait, use the satellite phone if one is available, if not, though luck.

JJ

[cwatters]

“The problem is the bandwidth; how can one determine which bandwidth will not interfere with a plane’s navigational aids and which will?

Well I hope the research is being carried out by someone who knows more about it than this official.

[brockenspectre]

I spend several thousands of my personal GBP on travel each year (nothing compared with corporate spenders, of course) but for me the airline that permits general use of cellphones in every seat is the airline I will avoid. I just hope that those airlines who want to provide this "service" will consider the creation of a "cellphone suite" where folks who just HAVE to use that means of communication will provide soundproof areas which are non-invasive of the personal space of non-cellphone users

[Jerricho]

Very true Broken.

Thing is, it's those hosers that believe they have to be contactable 24 hours a day that are probably the driving force. You're on an airplane for **** sake. Enjoy a drink and go to sleep.

[cavortingcheetah]

Mobile telephones are all very useful when the children or the wife have a problem. Not much I could do about that anyway at some ungodly flight level halfway around the world.
So then, either I am talking with the mistress in order to establish our next assignation or I am using the cellular for business.
I am not a failure. I expect my mistress of the moment to collect me at my port of arrival. So, I don't need to talk with her. Anyway, she's a paid employee, one way or the other.
If you are then unfortunate enough to have to use your mobile for business; then I fear; you really haven't got the show together. I, having delegated authority to suitable and sometimes, qualified underlings, sit back and enjoy my compartment on the aeroplane. How dreadful it must be to have to talk business when I could be either in the cockpit, explaining the finer points of FMSs to the Skipper; they usually need help with descent planning anyway, or down at the back, organizing a date with a suitably qualified hostess. They're getting a tad thin in the ether those though. I suppose there might be a female pilot or so worth standing to a bottle of the bubbles. They really are getting quite scarce too, ever since Amelia popped off. I am sure it's the trousers and the ponytails. I guess I just miss the goggles and the leather bone dome.
More boarders?

[Ian Corrigible]

Has Danny run a poll on this issue yet ? Might be an interesting stat for the media at least, and would offset any concerns over the potential for bias in airline-sponsored surveys.

(Put me in the 'no thanks' column...)

I/C

[Quidnunc]

Why would poll from this forum be of interest to the media? First of all none of us have any verifiable tech knowledge in this area, and secondly Pprune is full of... well, anyone. It would be about as interesting as stoppping 100 people on the street and asking them. Very dull.

[Gertrude the Wombat]

First of all none of us have any verifiable tech knowledge in this area

Some of us have a little. I can, for example, answer the question about why having a base station inside the aircraft makes for less interference: the base station tells each phone how much power to transmit, and will tell phones to turn down the power to the level at which they can be received but there is no excess power. Each phone will then be transmitting vastly less power than if it were trying to talk to a base station on the ground. Plus, each phone would stay permanently registered with the base station inside the aircraft and would not be doing location update transactions with base stations on the ground every few minutes, so each phone would transmit rather less often. (The "verifiable" bit: I'm sure you don't really want me to quote the protocol details from the GSM specs, but I could find them if pushed.)

[Quidnunc]

This is an anon forum. You sound very convincing, but how do I know that you are not just some wombat called Gertrude? That's the point I'm making. It doesn't matter how you come over, your (and everyone else's) credentials cannot be checked, thus, a poll is a waste of space.

[poorwanderingwun]

Quidnunc....
I think you're missing the point here...The poll would have nothing to do with the technical aspects of the proposal....just a simple question along the lines of:-

" Do you relish the idea of being stuck within earshot of a total pratt for 8 hours ? "

Anyone who has ever shouted into a cell-phone about their tedious work-life in a train or other public place will recognise their description in the question.

[BEagle]

OK, so perhaps the following would be OK:

1. General use of cellphones whilst on the ground would be permitted when the Aircraft Commander so permits.

2. In-flight use of cellphones would only be permitted inside designated soundproofed booths (like a public call box). That would mean that any airline intending to allow cellphones to be used would lose seat revenue as these booths would need to be installed in the cabin.

3. Call charges should be €25 per minute at the very least. Incoming as well as outgoing.

Personally I can think of nothing worse than the continual racket of silly musical ringtones and Kevin from Marketing yapping on about his meeting throughout a flight - airlines should not underestimate the irritation that general use of cellphones would cause to other passengers.