Why can we still not use cell phones/hot spots while on airlines?
I just got back from a trip where I had to fly. Uggg. After the experience of going through the body scanner and knowing a stranger somewhere was having a peek through my clothes, I stood in line waiting for those fortunate few who had priority boarding to pass by the huddled masses of my fellow steerage passengers. This gave me some time to think. and wonder whether the ban on using pretty much any electronic device is based on valid concerns, or if it is like the TSA person who seized and threw away my "dangerous" body wash? I can see how older devices could be "leaky" but every device I can recall purchasing recently was certified to comply with FCC regulations, which I assume would mean very little signal leakage occurs.
Answers
I didn't read the question quite the way that jimlynch did, which is to say that phone use wasn't allowed while waiting in line, but if that was the case, I can't think of any reasonable basis. Maybe to prevent recording of the security process, as if anyone who has gone through it doesn't remember how demeaning and absurd many of the security measures actually are. There remains a long standing ban on use of cell phones aboard US commercial planes during flight. What's amusing (in a way) about this is that outside of the US on many airlines, perhaps even most, you can use your cell phone to make a call on a flight. There was a review of the ban by the FCC in 2007, but it was kept in place based on a finding that there wasn't enough information to show one way or the other whether cell phones could cause problematic interference. I think it is basically no one at the FAA or FCC wants to take the slightest chance of being wrong. A more cynical person might think there is a relationship between the ban and the amount airlines can charge you to make an in-flight call using their equipment.
- Share this answer
- Permalink
I haven't flown since two years before 9/11. I hated it as I felt like they were treating passengers like cows on a freight train to the slaughterhouse! It seems like it's only gotten worse and worse as time has gone by. I have no desire to fly anywhere these days. Ugh, what a nightmare.
So let me get this straight...they won't let you use your device while you are waiting to board the plane? That seems quite odd and strange to me. I know that you have to turn them off at certain times while the plane is landing or whatever. But I have never heard of them forcing you to not use them while waiting to board the plane.
It seems that the TSA idiots are out of control.
- Share this answer
- Permalink
Related Questions
I know this is a broad question, but looking for a solid smartphone with a good all purpose camera.
What makes sense?
Is this bait and switch? How concerned should I be?
Ask a question
White Papers & Webcasts
White Paper
IDC Vendor Spotlight
White Paper
vRanger Helps Cut Replication Time by Almost 70%
White Paper
Forrester Report: The ROI of Cloud Apps
White Paper
The Cloud: Reinventing Enterprise Collaboration
See more White Papers | Webcasts
If the question is "why can't I use my cell phone on an airplane", the short answer is that there's a federal law prohibiting it, and that law wasn't passed on pressure from the airlines but on pressure from the cell phone companies. Powered-on cell phones flying over cell towers can really confuse the cell towers (because of the speed the phone is traveling at), especially if there is a call in progress. Rather than try to design cell towers that could deal with the rapid cell-to-cell handoffs that would be required for trouble-free use from airplanes, the phone companies lobbied congress to prohibit cell phone use on airplanes instead.
If the question is "why can't I use my cell phone while I'm in the security line", I suspect it's more a matter of the hassle factor for the TSA agents when they're trying to talk to you while you're on a phone call. I other words, I don't know that it's actually illegal, but just like the post office and lots of other places, you really need to hang up your phone when you're talking to any of the security personell or putting your stuff on the conveyer, etc., just as a courtesy to the staff and your fellow travelers.