Cell phone regulation on airlines?

"DaveC" wrote in message
al.net...
Cell phone usage is restricted on all domestic commercial flights by the
FAA,
so the flight attendant keeps telling me.

I seem to recall that this wasn't so, early in cellular history. Weren't
we
able to use cell phones on flights, long ago?

Is cell phone usage also restricted on private jets, etc. for similar
reasons?

So my question... what is the technical reason for restriction of cell
phone
us on commercial flights? Is this reason valid, technically? Or is it
simply
an excuse to force anyone who needs to make a call to use the airline's
on-board phones (and pay their outrageous rates)?

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC

This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group


No you cannot use your phone, But you can use their phone at $3.00 a min.

No you cannot use your phone, But you can use their phone at $3.00 a min.

Actually, on my last commercial flight (United) I noticed that Verizon
(cellular?) customers can use the airphone at much lower rates if they register
first. Apparantly there's a deal going.

Jose

--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

No you cannot use your phone, But you can use their phone at $3.00 a min.

Actually, on my last commercial flight (United) I noticed that Verizon
(cellular?) customers can use the airphone at much lower rates if they register
first. Apparantly there's a deal going.

Jose

--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...
DaveC wrote:
Cell phone usage is restricted on all domestic commercial flights by the
FAA,
so the flight attendant keeps telling me.

Nope. The FAA rules have not changed on this, nor have the FCC ones.
You can't use Advanced Mobile Phone Service (i.e., traditional cellular)
airborne. That is an FCC rule.

The FAA rule is just that the airline (i.e., the operator) must
determine when electronic devices are safe to use. The only thing that
has really changed is the "conventional wisdom" on the FAA's part got a
little tighter after some supposed interference issues (primarily blamed
on laptops) a few years back.

Is cell phone usage also restricted on private jets, etc. for similar
reasons?

Yes, all airborne use is prohibited. On cell phones permanently
installed on private jets, there has to be a warning label attached to
prohibit it's use in the air. (FCC rule).

So my question... what is the technical reason for restriction of cell
phone
us on commercial flights? Is this reason valid, technically? Or is it
simply
an excuse to force anyone who needs to make a call to use the airline's
on-board phones (and pay their outrageous rates)?

Forcing you to use the Airphones is the least of the FAA's or the FCC's
concern.

The real reason is that the cellular phone industry does not want you
to. Their bread and butter is the ground based caller, and their
systems are not designed to work with callers that have some altitude on
the system (there are techncial deficiencies in this that I won't go
into unless you really want to know). As a matter of fact, the cellular
industry fought a company who wanted to share the spectrum
tooth-and-nail over airborne use.

Oddly, this prohibition is NOT written into the rules for the newer
wireless services (PCS, NEXTEL, etc...) that operate outside the AMPS
(800MHz) band. However, most of the carriers with these services still
discourate airborne use.

Later this month an industry group is going to announce standards and an
icon that will come on to show that a device that is not in a transmit mode,
even if it is turned on for other uses.

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...
DaveC wrote:
Cell phone usage is restricted on all domestic commercial flights by the
FAA,
so the flight attendant keeps telling me.

Nope. The FAA rules have not changed on this, nor have the FCC ones.
You can't use Advanced Mobile Phone Service (i.e., traditional cellular)
airborne. That is an FCC rule.

The FAA rule is just that the airline (i.e., the operator) must
determine when electronic devices are safe to use. The only thing that
has really changed is the "conventional wisdom" on the FAA's part got a
little tighter after some supposed interference issues (primarily blamed
on laptops) a few years back.

Is cell phone usage also restricted on private jets, etc. for similar
reasons?

Yes, all airborne use is prohibited. On cell phones permanently
installed on private jets, there has to be a warning label attached to
prohibit it's use in the air. (FCC rule).

So my question... what is the technical reason for restriction of cell
phone
us on commercial flights? Is this reason valid, technically? Or is it
simply
an excuse to force anyone who needs to make a call to use the airline's
on-board phones (and pay their outrageous rates)?

Forcing you to use the Airphones is the least of the FAA's or the FCC's
concern.

The real reason is that the cellular phone industry does not want you
to. Their bread and butter is the ground based caller, and their
systems are not designed to work with callers that have some altitude on
the system (there are techncial deficiencies in this that I won't go
into unless you really want to know). As a matter of fact, the cellular
industry fought a company who wanted to share the spectrum
tooth-and-nail over airborne use.

Oddly, this prohibition is NOT written into the rules for the newer
wireless services (PCS, NEXTEL, etc...) that operate outside the AMPS
(800MHz) band. However, most of the carriers with these services still
discourate airborne use.

Later this month an industry group is going to announce standards and an
icon that will come on to show that a device that is not in a transmit mode,
even if it is turned on for other uses.

"Spike" wrote in message
...
PCS is a marketing term invented by cellular
carriers. Both 800 and 1900 Mhz are still
"cellular."

Nevertheless, the FCC rule applies only to the 800 Mhz band.

"Spike" wrote in message
...
PCS is a marketing term invented by cellular
carriers. Both 800 and 1900 Mhz are still
"cellular."

Nevertheless, the FCC rule applies only to the 800 Mhz band.

"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in message
...
I noticed on the evening news the other night that someone is trying to
get
a modular mobile "cell tower" approved that would be installed in
commercial
aircraft so that passengers can use their own mobile phones. It will be
interesting to see how the FCC and FAA handle this one.

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


Still won't work. The frequency the cell in the air is on, will be hitting
dozens of towers on the ground, making them unable to use that frequency for
other users on the land.
--
Jim in NC


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"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in message
...
I noticed on the evening news the other night that someone is trying to
get
a modular mobile "cell tower" approved that would be installed in
commercial
aircraft so that passengers can use their own mobile phones. It will be
interesting to see how the FCC and FAA handle this one.

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


Still won't work. The frequency the cell in the air is on, will be hitting
dozens of towers on the ground, making them unable to use that frequency for
other users on the land.
--
Jim in NC


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.774 / Virus Database: 521 - Release Date: 10/7/2004

"DaveC" wrote in message
al.net...
Cell phone usage is restricted on all domestic commercial flights by the
FAA,
so the flight attendant keeps telling me.

I seem to recall that this wasn't so, early in cellular history. Weren't
we
able to use cell phones on flights, long ago?

Is cell phone usage also restricted on private jets, etc. for similar
reasons?

So my question... what is the technical reason for restriction of cell
phone
us on commercial flights? Is this reason valid, technically? Or is it
simply
an excuse to force anyone who needs to make a call to use the airline's
on-board phones (and pay their outrageous rates)?

Oh good. Let's list all the reasons why cell phones belong in airplanes:

1) Airlines in bankrupty which (and I say this with enormous sarcasm) has NO
effect on the morale of people who should be happy, like mechanics

2) A random selection of pilots who partied way too late the night before

3) Sky marshalls who saunter aboard like what's-his-name from Miami Vice,
thereby making it perfectly clear who to strangle if you're a hijacker and
need a gun.

4) Passengers who think flying is a convenient excuse to get plastered
within 15 minutes of takeoff and mouth off to the crew.

5) People who've lived on potato chips and cheesecake since birth, but think
they shouldn't have to buy two seats to contain their lard, and end up
flowing all over your for 4 hours.

6) Air traffic control computers which are, in many cases, antiques.

7) Morons who will look right at you while you're listening to quiet music
with your eyes closed and begin telling you their life story.

8) Fools who SLAM their seats backwards within seconds of the warning lights
being turned off, and pretend they're instantly asleep?

On top of all this, you think there should be lots of cell phones in use on
airplanes? I've got news for you: Do that, and it'll be more comfortable to
take a bus through a Central American jungle with goats & pigs roaming the
aisles. I don't know how old you are, but there was actually a time when
flying was comfortable and enjoyable.