Yay! FCC continues to block cellphone use in-flight
 

Read all about it

Finally, the federal agency that destroyed broadcast radio gets something right.

Great news. Just got off a night flight. Would have been tough to sleep with cell phones ringing throughout the night.

keith

Here's an MSNBC commentary about the decision. Apparently the public input was overwhelmingly opposed to allowing the cellphone calls.

The writer thinks the market could work in this situation by pressuring airlines to ban using the cellphones if the federal rules were someday lifted. I wish I could agree, but I don't. People often have to choose an airline (or have it chosen for them) because they live in a hub or need a particular schedule or for any number of reasons other than cellphone policies.

Without the government mandate there will also be pressure from workaholic higher-ups on the ground to stay in constant communication; if Larry Tate isn't on the plane then he could care less what the other passengers sitting around Darrin Stevens think when he calls Darrin. But he'll get upset if Darrin doesn't answer and Darrin doesn't want to lose his job. Spouses already feeling somewhat neglected might also take it as a slight if their calls keep rolling to voice mail.

Very important to have it government-mandated. Self-regulation won't work.

However, note the FCC's sphere of influence is restricted to the technology. They can ban if it they think it will jam the terrestrial network, but not because people will be jerks while using them.

The FAA might have a broader mandate with respect to passenger conduct, but I'll bet it won't go that far.

FCC says no to cell phones
 

The FCC is keeping its rule in place about turning off cell phones during airplane flights.

At the risk of sounding like a clucking maiden aunt, the standard of manners in America has been going downhill for decades. If people were allowed to use their cell phones during a flight, they would subject everyone in the plane to their loud, inane chatter -- it would be a new form of extended torture for travellers. And the flight attendants would have to break up fist fights.

I recently travelled first class from Fort Lauderdale to New York and the loudness of people's conversations was deafening. There were constantly passengers from economy demanding to use the first class bathroom because an exception had to be made in their case. Of course, as soon as we landed the cell phones got turned on and I had to hear the person next to me issuing executive orders to his secretary. At one point, a very drunk guy in the opposite aisle accused me and the person sitting next to me of being brothers. He started yelling over and over again that we must be brothers (we had never met before).

Thank you Flyertalk for allowing me to rant. And thank God that there will be no cell phones turned on during flights!

FCC says 'no' to cell phones on planes (not quite on topic)Merged threads
 

Thankfully someone has seen the light ^ ^

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/04/03....ap/index.html

I think this topic is more appropriate for TravelBuzz.

I agree that I don't want cell phone access during flights. It's annoying! But, don't tell me it's for security reasons, but bravo anyway!

Actually it's for 3 Reasons. 1 There are so many different types of phones that they can't all be tested on an aircraft.. Some have shown to actually have an effect on the planes wiring system. Not many but a few. The FAA believes it's better to ban them all then to have the wrong person get on the plane and cause a mishap.
2. They can jam up the system on the ground due to the plane passing from tower to tower quickly.
3 They want your undivided atterntion while taking off and landing. If the sh*t hits the fan you dont want to get stuck behind some idiot that didnt hear the instructions because he was too busy talking on the phone and doesn't know what to do.

Amen. Best news this week.

Thanks for making my point that a cell phone is not a requirement for an inane, boring, obnoxious or loud conversation being conducted on a plane.

I fail to understand why this decision should not have been based entirely on technical reasons.

Simply put, if the airlines truly thought the mobile phones were a serious risk to their equipment's functionality, they would confiscate them in security.
As it is, they just issue a friendly reminder to please be sure all cell phones are powered off. Can you imagine them saying, "Please ensure all firearms are unloaded and have the safety feature turned on."

http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/report_sets/ped.pdf

Nothing surprises me on the FLL-NYC route on any carrier anymore...this is not the route most favored by the olives in America's martini

This is the part that I find funny. So what if you were brothers?