Study: Cell phones a hazard on flights

[Itsme]

Study: Cell phones a hazard on flights
By Amanda Termen

Published: March 1, 2006, 5:23 PM PST

Severe accidents could be the consequence of airline passengers defying the cell phone ban and making calls while flying, a new study has shown.

Despite the U.S. ban on cellular calls on airplanes, air travelers have a hard time keeping their hands off their mobiles and often make calls during critical stages of the flight such as final approach, according to a research team from Carnegie Mellon University.

As part of the study, released Monday, the research team filled their hand luggage with a broadband antenna and spectrum analyzer and boarded random airplanes crossing the Northeast United States. Picking up signals from cell phone calls onboard, they found that an average of one to four calls are made on every U.S. commercial flight.

"These devices can disrupt normal operation of key cockpit instruments, especially Global Positioning System receivers, which are increasingly vital for safe landings," Bill Strauss, an expert in aircraft electromagnetic compatibility at the Naval Air Warfare Center in Patuxent River, Md., and one of the researchers who conducted the study, said in a statement.

Strauss said risks are caused by radio emissions from cellular calls that are higher than previously believed.

The tests were aimed primarily at tracking emissions from cell phones, but they showed that other electronic equipment used on planes, such as laptops and game devices, also send out potentially harmful signals.

The report adds to the debate that was generated last June after the Federal Communications Commission proposed lifting its 1991 cell phone ban, letting passengers use their phones and other electronic devices while flying.

The ban was originally put in place to prohibit calls aloft from interfering with cell phone conversations on the ground and planes' radio communications, a risk that the FCC claimed might be outdated thanks to technical developments.

But lifting the ban is a bad idea, according to the Carnegie Mellon researchers. They recommended instead designing special tools for flight crews to track the use of electronic devices during critical stages of the flight.

The FCC proposal at the time elicited negative reactions from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, which expressed concerns that wiretapping guidelines would not be met.

The FCC said its move was triggered by the public's wish to make calls while flying, but not all air travelers agree. A National Consumers League survey last year showed that most passengers want to keep the ban in place, to avoid annoyance from yapping seat neighbors and trouble hearing emergency announcements.

The ban could be lifted as early as the end of this year.

http://news.com.com/Study+Cell+phones+a+hazard+on+flights/2100-1039_3-6044901.html?tag=nefd.top

[Dem0072]

All in all its pretty stupid, and sad.

We can have a GPS device using communications signals to pinpoint any modern cellphone user, and based on this (being a terrorist) could have the new fashionable haircut styled & designed from an AC130 gunships precision and accuracy... and the Navy can have Aegis, to defend a ship from up to 100 attacks at a time by land, air and sea processing every last micro calculation of the attack & automatically engaging automated defense proceedures.

Yet you cant make a phone call in the air.

If they are higher than expected (frequency ranges) then the FCC should quit mumbling about Janet Jackson & start worrying about proper ratings of frequencies.

Honestly, I've had more than one "FCC Certified" product in my home (for instance the light switch control for a flashing light on my computer case) interfere with with microphones and monitors. I've had monitors interfere with monitors. If they are FCC certified then its a false certification.

Personally I just don't like being told to put a laptop away on a plane especially when all I get is a bag containing roughly 37 peanuts for a 3 hour flight and a pilot whos equally interested in interrupting my time passing fragfest on a game, and how many peanuts I've eaten out of such a large bag... as he actually is flying the plane. (sarcasm rant there)

They should fix it & lift the ban. Theres no viable reason people have to stare at the odd nasal passage effects & noises of the wierdo stranger sitting next to them. (again, sarcasm rant, but meaningfully presented).

To anyone here who works at an airport, or who has snored on a plane - no intended offense:)

[Merlin]

So if all these flights have unauthorized calls going on and none of them crash then how am I supposed to believe that cell phones cause any danger at all.

And I don't care what the official story is the real reason they were banned in the first place was to force customers to use the airphone at the ridiculous rates.

Although due to the annoyance factor alone I can support the ban. Most people are cool but it only takes one obnoxious person to ruin a whole flight. We should put them and screaming babies in their own section of the plane.

[Dem0072]

Although due to the annoyance factor alone I can support the ban. Most people are cool but it only takes one obnoxious person to ruin a whole flight. We should put them and screaming babies in their own section of the plane.

good one Merlin.

Just because your riding on a plane which is public service transportation, doesn't mean your personal communications should be supressed.

If you dont want "Ali Abbu MahPeanutbutter" phoning home (terrorism) or any other sort of security breach, more thought should have been put into the engineering.

Personally, being late for a business conference that could cost a company millions of dollars if you dont get to show your presentation, being of an emergency last-minute call such as a death in someones family, and something like someones home catching fire - are all pretty big things in peoples lives, and shouldn't be supressed due to a lack of engineering and rating.

[_=DeltaForce=_]

Cant they install Cellphone jammers till the flight lands???? It probally would affect the flight communication I guess... How about VOIP communication inflight?

[Pemolis]

Honestly... The last thing I want to happen is for the Cell Phone Ban to Be lifted. I do not want to Overhear conversations like:

) Hey Tim.. hows the Hemmoroid treatment going.

) Dude.. stop screwing around and feed the cat.

) N-g--, f--k you honkey sh-- faced A- (censored repeatedly)

) Whos the big baby.. Goochii Goochi Goochi..

) Yes the Business meeting went well, I'll relay the entire 3 hour conversation to you right now, I have it recorded... Playing tape... now.

) I'm still trying to figure out what it is.... yes... its a rash.. yes down there. The guy from LA.. well I think it came from him. God it itches alot.... Herpes?... Maybe.

) Playing CS now.. k. cool you shot him.... do it again. Cool.. again.. Dude your so cool at CS. You should try World of Warcraft... its sarright. My friends play it too...

) <Really Loud Person> YES I HEAR YOU. YES. YES.. NO DON't DO THAT. THERE'S NO NEED <people restless in the background> YES.. HANG ON ONE SEC (annoying guy turns around to everybody else), CAN EVERYBODY SHUT UP!!! I'M ON THE PHONE!!! (sits down and gets back on PHONE). "YEA. Just EVERYBODY HERE ACTING LIKE ASSES!!! .. YEA I HAD BEANS THIS MORNING... NO I HAVEN'T HAD GAS YET.... LIKE I CARE!. ... WHAT!!!!!!. HANG ON LET ME PUT YOU ON SPEAKER PHONE (puts on speaker Phone). "NOW SAY THAT AGAIN!!!"

) <Beep>... <BEEP BEEP> (Guy Flips Open Boost Mobile Phone) YO YO YO! WHERE YA AT!!! <BEEP, BEEP><Annoying screeching on Boost Mobile Walkie Talkie Speaker Phone> <BEEP> YEA YEA THOSE B---HES WERE FINE!!! <BEEP>



...... Strangely.. most of those Conversations were not made up. Those were tidbits of Conversations I overhead While Riding the Express Bus Home from Manhattan to The Bronx.


Most Flights Provide ways of making Telephone Calls (using their telephones which are available on the flight). If its life or death, an emergency, or will cost your companies Millions if you are late to a meeting with no word... you can afford to pay the 4 to 6 bucks to make the call.

[zero2dash]

Just because your riding on a plane which is public service transportation, doesn't mean your personal communications should be supressed.

I think it's a little different; if a cell phone goes off while on a bus or a subway train, the bus or train isn't going to crash and kill everyone on board. :idea:

Why don't they put an officer on every flight (if they don't already; I remember after 9/11 they mentioned possibly doing so) that physically takes the phone away and the individual is fined and/or arrested upon landing.

Why in the hell do people make phone calls on an airplane any frickin' way??? :eek3: :stupid:


The tests were aimed primarily at tracking emissions from cell phones, but they showed that other electronic equipment used on planes, such as laptops and game devices, also send out potentially harmful signals.

These devices attempting to send out WiFi signals could cause problems, but I don't see how a non-WiFi enabled piece of equipment could cause interference. Simply make those with laptops or PSP/DS systems disable the WiFi and the problem is solved.

[mcs328]

Cell phones are the reasons why companies switch the kind of cables and wires used to detonate explosives to take down buildings according to the TLC or the Discovery channel I watched a few weeks ago.

I support the ban because of the annoyance factor not because of the hyprocisy of paying out the nose for the phone they have built into the seats already. Can you imagine the air rage if you get that one business man who has to make himself look important, the woman scorned who just found out their husband has been cheating on them, etc? People with short tempers would flip their lids. We already had one guy go after a baby that was crying and everyone on board wanted to kick his a$$.

[Dem0072]

Theres simple solutions.

Every other hour, a 15 minute phone call period.

Nevertheless I understand the annoyance and how you don't want to listen in with everyones personal lifestyle.

But at the same time I understand the importance of the individual, in which, well hell we have text messaging these days don't we?

You could allow 1 15 minute calling period and at the same time add unlimited text messaging throughout the flight, except for when the almighty captain starts taking a personal interest in how many peanuts your eating or gives his crew the go ahead for the delightful safety lecture (one of my favorite parts of the flight).

I understand (and didnt think about for the second) the on-the-plane screaching of people and cellphones. Silent(er) communications devices should be allowed though. Laptops, some kind of Wi-Fi ($5 extra per flight? 10?) so people may access the net, then text messaging on phones, etc.

Just things not to disturb the majority of people there.

[mcs328]

I would like to see a specialized "room" or designated area with sound dampening walls for people to talk on their cell phone.

[kgsilvas]

Keep the ban! It's the one place where we can be cell phone free!

[gwilks98]

Theres simple solutions.

Every other hour, a 15 minute phone call period.



I have a better idea. How about a cell phone booth in the back of the plane.
You need to make a phone call? Fine. But do it in private and quit bugging me.

[LegendKiller]

I agree with Merlin in one area. I think the phone ban is mostly due to the airphones installed on every flight imaginable.

If they can easily shield GPS and other navigation functions from jamming and such in the military they could probably use 1/2 strength equipment to shield commercial planes, thats even if there is a problem, which I doubt there is.

Sounds fishy to me.

[psycho-]

I agree with Merlin in one area. I think the phone ban is mostly due to the airphones installed on every flight imaginable.

If they can easily shield GPS and other navigation functions from jamming and such in the military they could probably use 1/2 strength equipment to shield commercial planes, thats even if there is a problem, which I doubt there is.

Sounds fishy to me.


GPS signals are relatively weak compared to the wattage output of radio emissions from a mobile phone. you obviousy don't know the magnitude of difference. (we're talking in the hundreds of times, if not thousands) So, that's a lame argument.

But, you are right..they can shield the aircraft. in fact, most aircraft electronics are shielded. But even then, there is a reason why electronics are to be kept off during take off and landing. The fact is, the best shielding can't prevent all interference from going through.

The idiotic thing is that most poeple don't know that the FCC doesn't allow mobile phone calls in flight is because it interferes with ground communications towers. The reason is because the tower actually has to put out alot more power to compensate for communicating with your phone. Likewise, your phone would work harder, hence increased interference and radio emissions. The result would be messed up performance on the towers for ground customers.

So, what the FCC is actually promoting (and this is conveniently left out of the article) is actually using Picocells and repeaters to create on-board networks that actually communicate to the ground in a different fashion, in an effort to prevent ground interference. The only thing is that it needs to be proven that your cell phone will not interfere with on board electronics in such a fashion.

2.4ghz has already been approved (hence wifi on board)

I know all this becuase I worked in the mobile phone industry. But, you guys need to be better informed before making rash generalizations about mobile communications or the FCC. (Hint Hint Dem0072)