Originally posted by Mikey likes it:
[b]
a) Is this a real problem? If so, what are the physics behind a little cell phone disturbing the big, bad, fully redundant instrumentation of a commercial aircraft?
[b]
this is not a real problem according to some studies. there are conspiracy theories that GTE/etc tried to advaocate this as an issue such that you have to use their rip-off in-plane-phone.
the only possible reason is that the electromagnetic wave of the cell phone somehow interfere with the wiring (e.g. the entertainment system) and it somehow (again) get magnified and interferes with the plane communication system. but in this respect cell phone effects could be compared to any other electronic equipments (CD player, computer, etc.)..i.e. noise generated from the chips.

while i believe such interference might add <1 billionth of a percent to an accident. there is no harm taking extra precaution. however, what i am disturbed was the fact that people always blame passengers who talk on the phone, but ignored those phones which were left on or other elctronic equipments. if there is interference, the effects on all the above are similar.

it also follows that since when u r in the sky (i.e 20 min after takeoff, or before landing), u r allowed to use your notebook/MP3player/CDplayer/etc. there is no reason not to allow cellphone to be operating -- though for most cellphone you wont receive any signal at all then.


[b]


b) I do not believe the FAA, FCC or anyone else for that matter would ban cell phones as carryon items. Does anyone on this board possess such a belief?

[b] i don't [b]

c) If in fact it is possible for an active cell phone to affect the instrumentation of an aircraft, is the craft I was on somehow more susceptible than all others to this kind of interference? Why? If so, why is it flying?

[b]
if what i tried to reason (not that i believe in it, i was jsut trying to find the seemingly convincing reason for GTE's friends) is true, your aurcraft is more susceptible.