I was on a short business
trip last week and something occurred to me... we can now do so much
while in the air, like use wifi to surf the web, watch movies or even
play video games – so how come we still can't use a cell phone
while on a flight?
The thing is, while in
theory a cell phone might interfere with avionics, in reality it's
pretty unlikely that making a call would send your aircraft on a
downward spiral ending in collision! Aircraft cockpits and
communications systems are heavily protected against electromagnetic
and other interference since the 1960s. So what is the deal with no
cell phones on flights?
Apparently a lot of it
does have to do with the call carriers, if cell phones search out
signals at 35 thousand feet they will hit hundreds of towers
simultaneously which can result in a need for complicated roaming
agreements and most providers just don't want the hassle of ensuring
they are properly compensated and so the ban has remained in place
despite the fact that it poses no risk. Of course much of the
carriers reluctance comes from the fact that there is not a huge
demand for the service. Airline industry analyst, Henry Harteveldt
recently said, “Americans
don't want to be stuck next to some Chatty Cathy bragging about last
night's conquest.” Recent surveys indicate that only 16 percent of
frequent fliers have any interest in using a cell phone inflight
while the rest are heavily opposed to it.
I
think I agree, I actually like that during the time I am on a
flight I am unreachable, I have the rare chance to just relax and
read a book or listen to music. It's bad enough when you have drunken
idiots or fussy children without adding 80 cellphones into the mix as
well!
