In the pilot episode of The West Wing, one of the main characters receives a distressing message during his flight back to Washington and immediately pulls out his cell phone. The flight attendant reminds him that he’s not allowed to do that to which he responds, “We’re flying in a Lockheed Eagle Series L-1011. Came off the line twenty months ago. Carries a Sim-5 transponder tracking system. And you’re telling me I can still flummox this thing with something I bought at Radio Shack?”
While the real point of the question was for Aaron Sorkin to demonstrate what a witty writer he believes himself to be, it still does raise a few real geeky questions. What’s the real reason they tell you to turn everything off? Is your cellphone really a Typhoid Mary of communications, or do they just want to relieve the rest of the passengers from having to hear your banal conversations in-flight? Would it even work on a plane at altitude?
["User Input" is the AtomicToasters Question of the Day™ asking you, the teeming millions, to answer our pressing questions.]
We discussed this in one of our classes in university. Apparently, their initial concern was that cell phones would interfere with aircraft communication and guidance systems. Rather than every cell phone having to be tested, which would be nearly impossible with the rate at which cell phones are released, they just banned them. Years later, after extensive testing, it was found that the chances of mobiles interfering with aircraft systems were slim, but that it was more for passenger comfort that they would continue prohibiting them. Well, that, and cellular carriers don't like phone calls from aircraft since they can wind up tying up bandwidth on multiple towers at once.
Personally, whatever the reason, I enjoy this ban. I don't need to hear the guy next to me arguing with his girlfriend and telling her the rash will go away in a few days. Yes, I have overheard a conversation like that. In line at a McDonalds.
Here's the answer from a pilot. If you aren't familiar with Patrick Smith's excellent column, Ask the Pilot, get stuck in. His perspective is both fascinating and very entertaining:
http://www.salon.com/technology/ask_the_pilot/200…
Excellent article, and an entertaining read. Thanks for the link…!
Great read – I hope this doesn't serve and an end of line to more discussion in this space.
That article did have one thing missing that I expected to see, though. I recall reading an article by another pilot a while back who mentioned the buzzing/popping noise that your speakers (especially on your computer) sometimes make just before your phone rings. He said that, sometimes, that same phenomenon occurs in his headset when passengers leave phones on. While it was more annoying than dangerous, that extra popping could be the difference between instructions being heard clearly in an emergency.
I, for one, wholeheartedly would embrace a blanket ban based on nothing more than keeping the cabin quiet.
I know this is OT, but since most of the readership here is likely busy stuffing their gullets with turkey anyway, I thought I'd put it up.
I like Patrick Smith's articles. One of the best I have read concerns the TSA (many do) and having the airline-certified safety knife from his overnight kit confiscated as he tries to board. http://www.salon.com/technology/ask_the_pilot/200…
I guess it'd be nice for the cabin to be quiet, but usually (ok, fine, the once or twice in half-decades) I have my earphones plugged in and am chain-
smokingwatching movies anyway. Air Canada trans-continental flights are equipped with personal screens in economy class! Woohoo!About the only thing that bugs me are the double-pin headphone jacks. I want to use my noise-muffling earbuds, dammit!
Adaptors are available, probably at the purgatory formerly known as Radio Shack.
One more geeky question – when did Lockheed reactivate the TriStar line? Or were they telling him to turn off his DynaTac in a flashback?
Or was that the joke and I missed it?
MythBusters – S04E06 Cell Phones on Planes: http://tinyurl.com/39kb95a
If they allowed the use of cellular telephones on airplanes, I would take a train. In a train, I could sock people having inane conversations, and just get kicked off at the next stop. Much better than being arrested, right? Isn't that how it goes? You know, with assault? Anyone?