Cell phone nonsense

[Bill Greenwood]

For 20 years or so, the airlines and the FAA have been telling people the fantasy that they had to turn off cell phones and I pods and the like when flying or even taxiing on airlines, for safety reasons.
If you take a moment to think clearly about this, it is pretty obvious that this is nonsense which never had any basis in fact and certainly is not true now.

It doesn't take much common sense to realize that if you really could make a plane crash or deviate from an ILS , just by turning on a small, common electrical device, then it would be pretty easy for a few terrorist passengers to take advantage of this. Never happened.
And now not a week after American Airlines had actor Alec Baldwin denied a flight because of his device , their pilots were approved to use I pads in the cockpit; a lot closer to the nav radios than any passenger phone.


Despite this, there are still a few people that are fearful of flying and will believe any ridiculous story they are fed, if it confirms their paranoia.

Now it is announced that the FAA is "going to study the issue again".

I don't think they like to admit they are wrong, as a matter of fact in 30 years of flying, I have only once heard an FAA guy admit that, and then it was only when I had the printed copy of an official NOTAM in my hand.

Or I wouldn't be surprised if they come up with some supposed new justification that a cell phone can affect a plane.

[Todd copeland]

And you can't use your cell phone while gassing up your car because it can cause an explosion.......

[kscessnadriver]

You do realize that the FCC is more behind it than the FAA. The system is not designed to be used at altitude, and massive use of such devices at altitude could cripple the system. Additionally, there is interference, as I've seen it 1st hand while flying.

[CarlOrton]

Well, it really doesn't matter anyways. Just last week I was on a commercial flight and none of the folks next to me, across from me, or diagonal from me bothered turning them off. And they didn't put them on airplane mode either, cuz soon as we landed, they all came out and immediately made calls. I'm sure they were all RF avionic engineers who knew what they were doing. (sarcasm, if you didn't get it...)

[Janet Davidson]

Why leave the cell phone switched on after take off anyway? As soon as it is out of range of a signal, it starts hunting for a signal & runs the battery down. I'd have thought that would be more annoying than having someone ask/tell you to switch it off?

massive use of such devices at altitude could cripple the system

How could there be "massive use" if all they are doing is searching for a signal? And if most folks are forgetting to switch their phones off, as often happens, why hasn't the system been crippled already?

[JimRice85]

I read something recently which said typically only about 20% of passengers actually turn their cellphones off. I only put my iPhone on Airplane Mode, despite stews (yeah, politically incorrect) say it must be turned completely off. I fly commercially several times each month and nothing bad had happened...yet.

[steveinindy]

You do realize that the FCC is more behind it than the FAA. The system is not designed to be used at altitude, and massive use of such devices at altitude could cripple the system. Additionally, there is interference, as I've seen it 1st hand while flying.

How dare you suggest the FAA is not to blame for all that ails us with regards to anything remotely involved with aircraft! [/sarcasm]

You hit the nail on the head. The FCC has much more to do with this.

[steveinindy]

Cessnadriver, Cell phones may cause some problem for the towers or for FAA, but that is not the warning given by the FAA and airlines.

Honestly, I think they use safety as an argument because it shuts most rational folks up. You tell them its to avoid problems that don't directly affect them and your typical selfish American is going to go "So?".

And I pads and Game boys etc, don't affect cell towers.

You know the "shut everything off" attitude is simply a way to prevent folks from arguing with the flight attendant whether or not it is approved, etc. Also to keep people from being distracted/obstructed (such as by a laptop) during phases of flight where a rapid evacuation might be likely.

and I'll bet $100 you can't demonstrate that.

At least not legally. Mythbusters wanted to test this in flight and the local FSDO told them that if they did it off the ground, there would be issues.

[Bob Dingley]

Right on Steve. You can be hit by lightning with no effect on the avionics and autopilot.

Bob

[Bill Greenwood]

Okay, you guys win. There really is a Bogey Man, if not under the bed, at least in the passenger cabin, and he/she/it may strike at any time!

So what do I do now?
I was supposed to catch Southwest out of Denver Sat morning the 1st at 9:40 to go down to Austin for the game, but now, after reading all these ever so logical explanations of what might happen, I am afraid to fly?

What do I do? Do I start two days early and drive?

And by the way, some people use GPS when they drive a car. What if I am headed to Texas with my GPS on the dash and someone nearby turns on a cell phone? I could end up in L A?