Originally Posted by
tyberius
I've only ever once with a turned on cell phone gotten a connection with a tower on the ground...
Do these phones really have the kind of range that can reach from a plane to the earth reliably?
Generally, no. I fly a corporate airplane all the time with my BB on (and transmitting) and have yet to notice the faintest flicker in any of my instruments. I'm able to talk while flying (not yet banned as in driving), but only at altitudes below the flight levels.
I've forgotten at times to turn off the cell when flying commercially, and for the most part, there is no service until very close to the ground. The talk of "wreaking havoc" on the ground networks is debatable; I bet they don't pick up most phones whizzing far overhead.