Airlines push to allow cell use

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MongooseMan

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Cape Town - Airline passengers will still be unable to make telephone calls during a flight but, if South African Airways (SAA) gets its way, they will at least be able to play music and games on their phones during a flight.

The airline has applied to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for permission to allow cellphones to be used during flights in its aircraft.

The CAA has so far disallowed the use of cellphones as they can affect an aircraft’s on-board systems.

A CAA spokesperson said that the authority had received SAA’s request in April.

Comair, which operates kulula.com and British Airways in South Africa, has several times tried to get permission for limited use of cellphones on aircraft, and said it would again approach the CAA should SAA succeed.
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Could this be the end of the dark ages of flight?
 
smtgra011 said:
Link

Could this be the end of the dark ages of flight?
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Dark ages? Screw that...Imagine trying to catch some sleep on a flight and hearing everyone's BBM popups every 2 seconds or crappy cellphone game noises.

No thanks. I'd rather die of the black plague.
 
Voicy said:
Dark ages? Screw that...Imagine trying to catch some sleep on a flight and hearing everyone's BBM popups every 2 seconds or crappy cellphone game noises.

No thanks. I'd rather die of the black plague.
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With limited use I assume that they mean phones that have a in-flight option. In that case, there won't be any BBM popups etc. Just playing games on your phone or listening to music.
 
i don't mind putting my phone to flight mode.
just don't lie to me and tell me it will interfere with the avionics.
 
Old hat, my fone goes into flight mode for flights, i dont see any reason to turn it off. If your radio is disabled, your phone cant effect the equipment, the only reason they still maintain this is because guaranteed dumbasses will ignore flight mode all together and just leave them on.

They either need to ban or allow - but they need to be sure that cell radio wont negatively effect a flight, cant even get reception up there. possible that its a remote possibility that it can effect onboard system, but even a remote possibility is enough to take into account within air safety standards. So ya..

No biggy really.
 
I see their are once again lots of technical passenger plane experts present.
 
Surv0 said:
Old hat, my fone goes into flight mode for flights, i dont see any reason to turn it off. If your radio is disabled, your phone cant effect the equipment, the only reason they still maintain this is because guaranteed dumbasses will ignore flight mode all together and just leave them on.

They either need to ban or allow - but they need to be sure that cell radio wont negatively effect a flight, cant even get reception up there. possible that its a remote possibility that it can effect onboard system, but even a remote possibility is enough to take into account within air safety standards. So ya..

No biggy really.
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Do you really believe that on any given flight there isn't at lease one passenger who has neglected to switch off their phone?

Has there ever been an accident/incident attributed to cellphones being used during a flight?
 
Yeah, I agree with most of you. Its bad enough being in a lift with someone on their cellphone...let alone hundreds in a plane!
Just keep the ban, for peoples sanity.
 
Why don't SAA just install the Cell Equipment on the planes. Again as normal we will be left in the dark ages. More and more international planes starting to get in flight cell service. Go check out AeroMobile, OnAir, Aircell, Row 44 just to name a few.

I bet you no one is asking for the Ipad's with 3G to be turned off, not to even mention most of the new laptops that have 3G built in.

PS for those that think you get no reception, next time go visit the loo with your phone ;)
 
bwana said:
Do you really believe that on any given flight there isn't at lease one passenger who has neglected to switch off their phone?

Has there ever been an accident/incident attributed to cellphones being used during a flight?
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Im with you on this one, there are hundreds and more people who just dont switch them off or put into flight mode, which is exactly why ive just started doing the same. Makes absolutely no difference imo.

I only mentioned that because thats the logic the airliners use... not very logical, and if you fly enough in this country, you will learn that everything is ass about face. ACSA cant even run the airports properly let alone control people on a flight. The whole system needs to be reworked if you ask me, flying is an absolutely nightmare.

But ya, not one single flight accident in the history of cellphone usage. So im not that worried. And im sure theres no signal, ive never received any, so phones are good for media only really.
 
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bwana said:
Do you really believe that on any given flight there isn't at lease one passenger who has neglected to switch off their phone?

Has there ever been an accident/incident attributed to cellphones being used during a flight?
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+1- most telling aspect of how useless this rule is. Rules is Rules, after all :rolleyes:

Elimentals said:
Why don't SAA just install the Cell Equipment on the planes. Again as normal we will be left in the dark ages. More and more international planes starting to get in flight cell service. Go check out AeroMobile, OnAir, Aircell, Row 44 just to name a few.

I bet you no one is asking for the Ipad's with 3G to be turned off, not to even mention most of the new laptops that have 3G built in.
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I took SAA to task a while ago- they had published an article (copy paste, obviously) on some cellphone review, where it was proclaimed to be 'great for easing boredom on long haul flights' HTF can that be the case when you cannot turn it on?

CAA < Phone and Plane manufacturers anyway.
 
Budza said:
I took SAA to task a while ago- they had published an article (copy paste, obviously) on some cellphone review, where it was proclaimed to be 'great for easing boredom on long haul flights' HTF can that be the case when you cannot turn it on?
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That is why I say if they go for one of the in flight cell systems, they can turn off voice and allow for data, this will cause a phone to link to the system and not transmit at max power as it is connected and getting a signal. They can then use the mobile broadband service for people that want to read and send emails + +

It will be a basic hit 2 birds one stone solution.
 
To all the people against letting people use cellphones in flight: does anyone have a good reason why not?

if your only reason why they should still disallow cellphones in flight because of teens tapping on thier BBs then I must say your reason isnt substantial. with that reasoning then we should ban all toddlers from flights.

I am a frequent flyer, I find it annoying that i have to use my dedicated MP3 for music, and I find it even more irritating that I cant watch content off my cellphone that would be great.

There is NO argument for cellphone signals interfering with in flight radios as that is a totally old age untested myth, most (read commercial) aircraft use military grade materials anyway so the wiring is even less susceptible to interference.
 
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CrazYmonkeY159 said:
To all the people against letting people use cellphones in flight: does anyone have a good reason why not?

if your only reason why they should still disallow cellphones in flight because of teens tapping on thier BBs then I must say your reason isnt substantial. with that reasoning then we should ban all toddlers from flights.

I am a frequent flyer, I find it annoying that i have to use my dedicated MP3 for music, and I find it even more irritating that I cant watch content off my cellphone that would be great.

There is NO argument for cellphone signals interfering with in flight radios as that is a totally old age untested myth, most (read commercial) aircraft use military grade materials anyway so the wiring is even less susceptible to interference.
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They should ban babies under 2 and also ban cellphones. :mad: Nothing worse than travelling overseas and you have a snot nose brat screaming the whole bloody flight
 
h0ll0w said:
I see their are once again lots of technical passenger plane experts present.
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The airlines are asking for this, I guess that they know what they are doing.

In addition, on a recent Emirates flight, passengers were allowed to have their cellphones on and even to make calls!

Maybe Emirates uses special planes?
 
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