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Story: Airlines ban mobile phones -- but why?

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How much research was done before writing this article?

The first part of your article is incorrect. In 2003 the CAA (That’s the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK) released a report specifically documenting the effects of GSM Cellular telephones to aircraft navigation equipment in a closed environment, particularly the VHF and VOR/ILS (the stuff that helps you land safely). This study found that significant anomalies occurred creating an unsafe condition (basically the pilots would not be able to rely on their instruments), bugger. Now these issues were created when a mobile phone was brought within proximity of the Avionics equipment and wiring, which sadly runs from nose to tail on the aircraft.

Now the FAA might have commissioned a study to look into cell phone interference in 1996, but back then there was only approx 300 million cell phones world wide at that time. In 2005 there are approx 1.5 Billion phones with about 75% of these running on GSM. So this study has next to no influence on the argument as the majority of the incidents are in the last 10 years.

Now you also mention that Airlines create revenue from the passengers using the phones installed on board. Well duh!!! Do you actually think that if Airlines have to install some equipment on board to allow passengers to use their cell phones, then they are not going to negotiate a deal with the Telcom companies for a cut in the profits?

The real reason that the FAA bans cell phone usage is the same reason they do not like electronic devices. Not only do they operate on a wide spectrum of frequencies, but they emit random and spurious electrical radiation that could, and I only say could here, have an effect on the aircraft. Aircraft equipment is manufactured to strict controlled specifications. With all of the devices available, manufactured by any number of companies to any number of standards, there is no way to guarantee that each and every device “safe” to use on an aircraft. The fact is there is no way to regulate the devices on the market now and also every new device being released other than tighten the design and manufacturing regulations that could add millions to production costs. How many people are going to pay and extra $500 to ensure that their electrical device is “safe” for aircraft use? Can you imagine a flight attendant at the beginning of the flight announcing that “Motorolla model A,B,C etc phones are ok but Nokia phones are not” at the start of each flight?

With no ability to accurately ensure that airline travel is safe for everyone all of the time, the FAA is doing the right thing by not allowing cell phones on board. Are you willing to gamble the lives of 150 thousand people that are in the air at any minute of the day around the world?

I think not.

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