Airbus: In 2006, keep your cell phone on

Passengers will be able to use their phones, PDAs and laptops--with no fuss from flight attendants, the plane maker says.

The story "Airbus: In 2006, keep your cell phone on" published September 15, 2004 at 1:51 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[ThatAdamGuy]

Oh, good grief! (Please, God, no!)

"Hi, honey? Yeah, it's me! I'm calling you from the plane. Yeah, in the sky. Neat, huh? And, like, we're moving really fast... I see some clouds. Wanna know what I had for dinner? Well..."

<sarcasm>I can't wait to add cell phone yakking on top of the din of screaming babies</sarcasm>.

When I grow up, I'm going to invent the world's first Quiet Airline. No loud yakking, no screaming kids, no squawking weather update from the pilot... just time to relax, sleep, read a book. Ahhhhhhhh!

Regards,
Adam
http://www.bladam.com/

[Tex Murphy PI]

Useless marketting

It really doesn't take much to "Harden" aircraft electronics against electronic interferance - it's just that manufacturers are just too darned lazy to do it, and pass the slight increase in cost over to the airlines.

The real reason I heard why cell-phone use were "forbidden" during flight was because it was "inconvenient" or "difficult" for the cell phone operators to track the charging rates as the call originates from one area, and then moves onto another.

If Computer, PDA, Walkmans and other electronics interfered with navigational computers, why then is it OK to use them in-flight, but not on Take-Offs or Landings? Isn't the Navigational computer critical during the in-flight proceedure?!

[Christopher Hall]

Is nothing sacred?

It's an interesting concept, that much is certain. If I'm going from New York to LA, though, and the guy (or gal, to be fair) yaks on the phone the whole darn flight, I promise you this: I will be homicidal upon landing at LAX.

Why not consider applying the "restaurant approach" to flying? Upon buying your ticket, get the option for "Phoning or non?" Sure, it sounds ridiculous, but I can't be the only one out there who is terribly annoyed by the person who gets on the phone the second the plane lands. I definitely don't want that drawn out over the course of an entire flight, regardless how long. I can't speak for the rest of the world, but cell phones in the US are nothing less than an infectious epidemic. They've invaded every facet of life and they're literally impossible to get away from. Now they're going to invade the sky? "Attendant, I'll take nine sets of earplugs, please."

Or, possibly only allow phones in a section of the aircraft designated as such? Like a sitting room. As an added bonus, the room could have power outlets and such for the wireless travelling businessman. The bottom line is that planes are far too cramped, especially in coach, for people to chat up a storm the whole flight (and I'd put money on it that you know someone who would). The airlines would be taking an already tense situation and turn it into a bloodbath.

Granted, you could call "slippery slope" on my points on the basis that phones are allowed in buses and trains, and that would be valid. However, have you ever tried to talk over the white noise of two (or four, depending on the plane) jet engines? It's no small task. Now imagine trying to talk over the guy talking over the two jet engines? Now you've got a problem.