Using A Mobile Phone On Aircraft

[peter991]

The in-flight use of mobile phones has come a step closer – a depressing prospect, some might argue – with the completion of on board trials at

the end of September. A five-month evaluation of the latest technology has been carried out on Connexion by Boeing's specially equipped 737-400 test aircraft.

Passengers have been able to make calls and watch video clips on a variety of devices, including 3G mobile phones, as well as wirelessly download

applications such as e-mails and instant messaging, business and other types of

information, and even 3D games. “It is estimated that 70% of US air travellers currently have phones, a figure that is expected to rise to 90% within three years,” says Paul Guckian, senior director of technology for Qualcomm, the

company involved in the test programme.

Safety remains a key issue and much of the research and testing is designed to ensure there is no potential for interference with either aircraft systems or terrestrial networks.

Source: OAG's September newsletter

[ovenman]

I can't say that I am looking forward to the day when one can sit on a plane and listen to nearby passengers yap incessantly on their mobile phone. Air travel is one of the few remaining phone-free sanctuaries.

[Rinrada]

Agree....

Got invited to a focus group once ...think it was Malaysia Airways where you site round the table and gives your views on travel while their managers are in the other room watching you on the TV.

They wanted to see/portray themselves as a "modern" setup and some of their suggestions were ludicrous...but might happen.

K.F.C /pittza Express/ big mac meals instead of the usual fare.

Fruit and Pin Ball machines as well as pool tables...wot happens when the ball goes through the window?

Massage while you fly...not a bad one....and a jacuzzi...

Video games arcade...???

On board Gambling-Blackjack-Chemmi-Roulette...(poss)

and last but not least ..... KAROKE:crying:

and this was all meant for Business Class Passengers ...up front.

maybe i am 2 old fashioned but I still prefer a decent meal,music/vids with secure headphones,bit of reading,good booze as well as peace and quite to snooze all the way...but as said....

[ovenman]

Fruit and Pin Ball machines as well as pool tables...wot happens when the ball goes through the window?

Massage while you fly...not a bad one....and a jacuzzi...

Video games arcade...???

On board Gambling-Blackjack-Chemmi-Roulette...(poss)

and last but not least ..... KAROKE:crying:

and this was all meant for Business Class Passengers ...up front.

I don't think you have to worry about any of that ever happening. The bottom line is still the bottom line. For every pin ball machine they put on a plane, that's how many less seats the airline can sell? Makes me laugh when I hear about all these literally pie-in-the-sky amenities that the airlines may provide with the new Airbus A380. Might start out that way but you just know that it's only a matter of time before they'll have that aircraft stuffed with as many seats as they possibly can.

[zaz]

I think rather than mobile phone useage I would like to see internet access to relieve the boredom of flying. I could surf for hours!!!

[cdnvic]

An article in Airliners (I believe) laid out the real reason that they were initially banned. It's been known for a long time that they didn't interfere with flight safety, but as the aircraft crossed the country at 500kts it meant that the phones were constantly switching from one tower to the other and the providers were unable to keep proper track of the signal for billing purposes. These problems have since been rectified as most networks have gone totally digital.

There's your conspiricy for the day.

cv

[zaz]

I wouldn't even have thought it possible to get reception up there though? Unless if the plane had a mobile signal booster.

[cdnvic]

I wouldn't even have thought it possible to get reception up there though?  Unless if the plane had a mobile signal booster.

From that vantage point you're within a direct line of many towers and the signal was constantly jumping from one to another. I think with digital you need to be much closer to the tower.

cv

[Davey]

I once flew from Singapore to Thailand and the people on that flight obviously weren't aware (or just didn't care) about the no mobile phones legislation as they were all bickering away during the flight, in particuarly our approach to land. Must have been about 20 people in my section, at least 15 were on their mobile phones at one point

[cdnvic]

I once flew from Singapore to Thailand and the people on that flight obviously weren't aware (or just didn't care) about the no mobile phones legislation as they were all bickering away during the flight, in particuarly our approach to land.  Must have been about 20 people in my section, at least 15 were on their mobile phones at one point

Normal rules of flight conduct don't seem to apply in asia. I've seen people get up and start dragging their luggage toward the exit three seconds after the wheels touched down.

To the cabin crew's credit, they didn't allow it.

cv

[cobra]

But it's vital communication !!

Typical Call:

... Hey, guess where I'm calling from, an airplane, yeap, ....

[Cheeky Farang]

Its bad enough travelling on the buses from BKK to Korat, last time I had to do it there was a woman next to me and she was on the phone all the time, I only peace I got was in-between signals, and as soon a the service was there she carried screaming down the phone, much louder she wouldn’t have had to use a phone they could have heard her where we where.

A good possibility of Air rage, can you imagine all you want to do is sleep and some ###### next to you talking crap on the phone for hours. God forbid they ever let mobile phone usage on the planes; many planes have air phones fitted in them anyway if there is a real personal emergency.

Like the idea of surfing the Net, that can kill hours and it very quiet, and if something is that important, people have access to live emails etc.

KEEP THEM BANNED that’s my vote.

[texan_cowboy]

guess they will have bowling in economy and syncrozied swimming in first class on the A380, wonder whats kind of foolish stuff is next?

Skeet shooting?

[Totster]

I think rather than mobile phone useage I would like to see internet access to relieve the boredom of flying.  I could surf for hours!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I had a e-mail the other day from a mate who was flying from HK with Lufthansa, and he said he had wireless internet access for $20 for the whole flight.

http://portal.lufthansa.com/online/portal/...1190456&ctest=1

totster

[Cheeky Farang]

http://www.connexionbyboeing.com/

Boeing have launched inflight internet, not to many airlines have taken on yet, but SG have it and no doubt Thai will follow suite, as they want to be the HUB of Asia, with the new airport.

http://www.connexionbyboeing.com/

see current airlines and routes here

[Flysiam]

I wouldn't even have thought it possible to get reception up there though?  Unless if the plane had a mobile signal booster.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

From that vantage point you're within a direct line of many towers and the signal was constantly jumping from one to another. I think with digital you need to be much closer to the tower.

cv

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It is true that the major reason is the shifting of signal towers as an airplane flys along. However, a cell phone is usually unusable above just a few thousand feet as the signal will not reach. Hence the people hearing the 'chatter' during approach and landing phases of the flight.

The idea that small electronics don't interfere with an aircrafts navigation system is a fallicy though. I have had a lap top computer totally distrupt my navigation system - it CAN and HAS happened.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Its bad enough travelling on the buses from BKK to Korat, last time I had to do it there was a woman next to me and she was on the phone all the time, I only peace I got was in-between signals, and as soon a the service was there she carried screaming down the phone, much louder she wouldn’t have had to use a phone they could have heard her where we where.

A good possibility of Air rage, can you imagine all you want to do is sleep and some ###### next to you talking crap on the phone for hours. God forbid they ever let mobile phone usage on the planes; many planes have air phones fitted in them anyway if there is a real personal emergency.

Like the idea of surfing the Net, that can kill hours and it very quiet, and if something is that important, people have access to live emails etc.

KEEP THEM BANNED that’s my vote.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I SECOND the motion. AIR RAGE WOULD SOON FOLLOW

[cdnvic]

The idea that small electronics don't interfere with an aircrafts navigation system is a fallicy though.  I have had a lap top computer totally distrupt my navigation system - it CAN and HAS happened.

I've seen some pilots using laptops to handle alot of paperwork, fuel calculations, and other work that used to be done manually, especially on older aircraft that still have mostly analog cockpits. Are these laptops made to not disrupt insturments, or are they just not used during flight?

Another question. They always seem to allow them (laptops, etc) in the cruise stage of the flight, but not on takeoff or landing. Is it a disruption of signals from the ground (ILS for example) that is the concern?

cv

[Flysiam]

The idea that small electronics don't interfere with an aircrafts navigation system is a fallicy though.  I have had a lap top computer totally distrupt my navigation system - it CAN and HAS happened.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've seen some pilots using laptops to handle alot of paperwork, fuel calculations, and other work that used to be done manually, especially on older aircraft that still have mostly analog cockpits. Are these laptops made to not disrupt insturments, or are they just not used during flight?

Another question. They always seem to allow them (laptops, etc) in the cruise stage of the flight, but not on takeoff or landing. Is it a disruption of signals from the ground (ILS for example) that is the concern?

cv

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I hear ya - I still use my notebook inflight on occasion. I don't know if laptops are designed with shielding or other devices to eliminate interference. I have wondered if the location of the device is an issue as well. The instance I had was a laptop at a window over the wing. The wiring to the aircraft's compass ran along the same area (The aircraft compass 'sender', if you will, is in the wingtip). It could have been a fluke where the wiring was unshielded as well.

I don't think the powers that be are worried about small electronic devices on an aircraft interferring with ground based equipment. More so they are concerned with these small electronic interferring with with the aircraft's receivers and interferring with the ILS signals during an actual instrument approach. My dealing with a 'fluke' navigational interferrence in cruise is a relative nuisance as compared to having things go haywire while I am conducting an approach to minimums in actual weather. So erring to the side conservatism and not allowing small electronics during those phases of flight is very reasonable. IMHO

[cdnvic]

That fills a few gaps, thanks

cv