U.S. Department of Transportation to Pursue Ban on In-Flight Cell Phone Calls

[ChrisCW11]

Fud

It's amazing how a government organization can be paralyzed by FUD rather than by FACTS.

I guess its better to be safe then sorry, but its been several decades that cell phones have been in existence, and I mean it is not that complicated a technical task to prove one way or another. I mean throw some of the sensitive parts of a plane's control and communications system into a chamber and then flood it with noise from all frequencies cell phones operate on, if the part works 100% properly after weeks, months, heck even a few years of a constant barrage of cellular "interference" then I think we can put this one to rest.

Also realize that everything on the ground is flooded by radio signals, so it is ridiculous to think that in-flight a cellphone might cause an issue when planes function properly at an airport where they are surrounded by wireless signals.

Also someone mentioned about how rude it would be for someone to talk on a plane on the phone, but I mean when was the last time you sat on a plane and NOBODY talked? If its the red eye and someone is yapping loudly on a phone, then the flight attendants can deal with that situation, but in reality people can talk to each other, we are a social culture, if you don't like someone talking near by you get a pair of noise cancelling headphones and stop being an anti-social curmudgeon prick.

There is no real reason to ban cellphones, or the use of any electronics within a plane as this is a law inspired more by FUD than by any known scientific hypothesis or fact.

 

[greenmeanie]

We don't need the GOV making more RULES for us.
Let the Airline Dictate if they want a BAN or not!

 

[AppleDude]

What Cell Phones Are People Using?

I guess I'm the one person who doesn't see a problem with talking on the phone. To me it is EXACTLY the same as holding a conversation with an actual person sitting next to you, which isn't illegal...

Agreed, but I would go a step further--talking on the phone is less intrusive than talking to the person next to you.

To speak to the person next to you, you have to speak loud enough to overcome all ambient noise. When speaking on my phone on a plane, I can't hear myself talk and neither can my neighbor yet the person on the line hears me loud and clear.

From the discussion here, it sounds like many posters are long overdue for an upgrade from the iCan.

 

[greenmeanie]

Now that I think about it just BAN talking on the plane and that will stop all the problems. Well if you must BAN things which people on here seem to love to do.

 

[LordVic]

Can you imagine…? Sitting next to a bunch of teenagers or snooty business peple yapping into their cell phones for an entire flight??? NO THANKS! At least I listen to music, but it would still be very annoying.

It is already too loud on an airplane, we don't need people loudly shouting into their phones as well.

it has already gotten bad enough on busses and trains. Publish enclosed spaces, people should be limiting their calls. it's called Consideration for those around you.

It had gotten so bad on Go Transit in Ontario that now on all go Trains, there are "Quiet Zones". Anyone using any device that are audible by anyone else, or talking, eating, or anything that can impact the quiet ride of others will be kicked out of those zones, or if they are loud enough, Kicked off the trains.

 

[C DM]

We don't need the GOV making more RULES for us.
Let the Airline Dictate if they want a BAN or not!

That would be better in what way?

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Agreed, but I would go a step further--talking on the phone is less intrusive than talking to the person next to you.

To speak to the person next to you, you have to speak loud enough to overcome all ambient noise. When speaking on my phone on a plane, I can't hear myself talk and neither can my neighbor yet the person on the line hears me loud and clear.

From the discussion here, it sounds like many posters are long overdue for an upgrade from the iCan.

The reality is that people are much more ignorant of the environment and can't pick up on expressions and other visual cues of those they are talking to which makes for louder or at least less environment (around them) sensitive conversations.

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Now that I think about it just BAN talking on the plane and that will stop all the problems. Well if you must BAN things which people on here seem to love to do.

So because all problems wouldn't be solved by something then it's not worth doing?

 

[LordVic]

I'm sorry it bothers you, but sometimes some people like to know when the person coming in is actually about to get there.

Just because you don't find it necessary doesn't mean it isn't.

HERE'S somethign you should relay to your friends and family, especially if someone is meeting you or picking you up.

ALL commercial airlines and airports in North America have flight lookups for arrival and departure times. Most have mobile compatible sites. Some even have alerts that can be set up to automatically email / text message if changes occur to schedule!

Remind them before you get on the plane, that, they are in fact capable of doing their own due diligence, by looking up your flight times and details before heading to the airport.

it is not your responsibility when you are actually on the flight to be constantly relaying flight details to those on the ground about your where-about.

 

[kenroberts83]

Is the federal government going to ban cellphone use in movie theatres as well?

This is a cultural issue, and not the place for criminal law. Occasionally someone might actually need to make a short phone call. Leave it up to the airlines for now. If it gets out of hand, THEN you can pass a law. We shouldn't be in the habit of banning things until they're proven okay, it should be the opposite. There is no safety issue here, so there is no place for DoT intervention.

On a side note, people are mostly texters these days anyway.

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Now that I think about it just BAN talking on the plane and that will stop all the problems. Well if you must BAN things which people on here seem to love to do.

While we're banning things, lets ban babies as well.

 

[FlatlinerG]

this is Mac news because we have iPhones?

The new and improved MacRumors..

 

[KdParker]

People that are worried about everyone talking on the phone while in flight is forgetting one critical thing: most cell phones can't reach a tower reliably while cruising.

That means that the airlines would have to put into place their own microcell on the plane to provide reception -- like they do for wifi.

And access to that won't be cheap or free.

Exactly, and you will probably have to deal with a week connection at best.

 

[IJ Reilly]

The DoT/FAA has passed tons of regulations that the industry would prefer they didn't. Noise abatement flight paths that cause increased fuel costs. Just so some airport neighborhoods can get more sleep.

And the FAA has also strenuously fought against local government efforts to impose noise abatement rules of their own, so now we know the more complete picture of that story. It is not to say that they get everything they want, but the reality is, the regulated industries have the most powerful voices when it comes to both legislation and administrative rule making.

 

[gbc204]

One thing people seem to be forgetting- Who the hell even talks on the phone anymore?

 

[mobilehaathi]

Yeah, I'm okay with this. I'm not thrilled with the idea of people chatting endlessly, which of course would turn to screaming over the ambient noise.

 

[C DM]

Is the federal government going to ban cellphone use in movie theatres as well?

This is a cultural issue, and not the place for criminal law. Occasionally someone might actually need to make a short phone call. Leave it up to the airlines for now. If it gets out of hand, THEN you can pass a law. We shouldn't be in the habit of banning things until they're proven okay, it should be the opposite. There is no safety issue here, so there is no place for DoT intervention.

On a side note, people are mostly texters these days anyway.

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While we're banning things, lets ban babies as well.

Quite a difference between movie theaters and airplanes as been discussed in quite a few earlier posts in the thread.

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One thing people seem to be forgetting- Who the hell even talks on the phone anymore?

A whole lot of people.

 

[KdParker]

it has already gotten bad enough on busses and trains. Publish enclosed spaces, people should be limiting their calls. it's called Consideration for those around you.

It had gotten so bad on Go Transit in Ontario that now on all go Trains, there are "Quiet Zones". Anyone using any device that are audible by anyone else, or talking, eating, or anything that can impact the quiet ride of others will be kicked out of those zones, or if they are loud enough, Kicked off the trains.

wow...People really need quiet zone on the transit? Is this for sleeping and don't that have cars for that?

 

[C DM]

wow...People really need quiet zone on the transit? Is this for sleeping and don't that have cars for that?

This generally isn't for overnight or truly long trains (although they might have that too) but commuter types where people might travel an hour or a few hours on daily.

 

[LordVic]

wow...People really need quiet zone on the transit? Is this for sleeping and don't that have cars for that?

you have hundreds of people who are packed into giant metal trains, shoulder to shoulder with their neighbours, and often people standing around.

its a consideration thing. Not everyone wants to have loud people talking around them all the time, Especially if you're stuck commuting everyday for an hour each way.

So yes, they needed to give people a zone in which they were reasonably assured that they could sit, relax and enjoy their commute home in peace.

the whole train isn't that way. you have the choice to go to "noisy" area, or be quiet in the quiet area.

everyone gets what they want this way.

 

[nburwell]

The last thing I want is to sit next to someone on a cross country or international flight with them yapping away on their phone. I wholeheartedly support a ban on in-flight phone calls. If you really need and/or want to communicate with someone, most airplanes are equipped with wi-fi, so use your messenging app of choice and text them. It's much quieter and you won't disturb other passengers.

 

[Mousse]

Is the federal government going to ban cellphone use in movie theatres as well?

This is a cultural issue, and not the place for criminal law. Occasionally someone might actually need to make a short phone call. Leave it up to the airlines for now. If it gets out of hand, THEN you can pass a law. We shouldn't be in the habit of banning things until they're proven okay, it should be the opposite. There is no safety issue here, so there is no place for DoT intervention.

Indeed. The airline industry has been pretty good at handling this issue thus far. As far as I know, no planes have dropped out of the sky because someone violating the airline's restriction on cell phone usage. The Gub'ment needs to stop trying to regulate everything. Down with Big Brother.

 

[Flight Plan]

I say we allow all the cell phone talking possible on planes!

Now, before you think I'm crazy, consider my plan:

We use the terminals in the seatbacks of most new planes. You know, the screens you can use to play trivia with your fellow passengers.

1. your fellow passengers get to vote on whether or not you can make a call
2. your fellow passengers get to vote on how long you'll be allowed to talk and how much it will cost you. I suggest options such as 2 minutes, 5, minutes, and 10 minutes at either $1, $5, $10, or $100 per minute.

This would be genius. If you have already annoyed them with your yakkety-yak loud kid climbing over all the seats because you were too cheap to buy a seat for him/her, or your body odor is worse than sneakers and cabbage, then I say the sky is the limit!

3. Any passenger can veto your phone use at any time, after which, you'll get a message that your call is ending in 30 seconds. And then you're done for the rest of the flight.

I also want to see reclining seats removed from all sections of the plane. It's just plain rude to recline your seat unless your back is against a bulkhead. But maybe we could vote on that too!

 

[IJ Reilly]

Indeed. The airline industry has been pretty good at handling this issue thus far. As far as I know, no planes have dropped out of the sky because someone violating the airline's restriction on cell phone usage. The Gub'ment needs to stop trying to regulate everything. Down with Big Brother.

Reductio ad absurdum. Classic.

 

[C DM]

Indeed. The airline industry has been pretty good at handling this issue thus far. As far as I know, no planes have dropped out of the sky because someone violating the airline's restriction on cell phone usage. The Gub'ment needs to stop trying to regulate everything. Down with Big Brother.

The difference being what?

 

[aristotle]

The difference being what?

The difference being that airlines can then tailor themselves to serve either angry curmudgeons or social people. The curmudgeons can fly on the no baby, no cellphone airlines and the regular people can fly on the other ones.

 

[Mousse]

The difference being what?

Would you want the Gub'ment dictating how you should eat or can you feed yourself properly? Do you want the Gub'ment telling you to walk a certain way or can you decide for yourself? Do you want the Gub'ment telling you what color to paint your house (fraking Home Own ASSociation) can you trust yourself to choose a tasteful color?

 

[C DM]

The difference being that airlines can then tailor themselves to serve either angry curmudgeons or social people. The curmudgeons can fly on the no baby, no cellphone airlines and the regular people can fly on the other ones.

Why have that when it's much easier to avoid it all with a regulation that would apply equally to them all? Seems simpler and less of a hassle with easier and more consistent experience and enforcement.