FAA Looks to Revise In-Flight Electronics Rules

[Neo]

How many people get irritated at the requirement to turn off their cell phones prior to take off and landing? Now the Federal Communications Commission is seeking to change that. The chairman says that mobile devices are an essential part of our lives and allow businesses to be more productive.

The FCC is encouraging the Federal Aviation Administration to review the rules regarding use of electronics during flight. A committee has been formed to study the situation and make suggestions for alterations with the rules. The committee is made up of representatives of pilots and flight attendants, plane manufacturers, electronics manufacturers, and other government agencies to provide a well-rounded group. They will spend six months discussing and investigating the issue and will end with formal suggestions for the FAA.

The use of cell phones will still be prohibited but other devices will be up for discussion.

This is not new for the FAA. In fact, they admit that they have been studying this regulation for some time. They said in March that they were looking at the policy and will make decisions after they receive the committee’s information and recommendations.



The possibility of change is exciting to many frequent fliers. Business people can get started on their work and not have to shut down during the take off and landing. Parents of fussy toddlers and young children could occupy them from the beginning with games or videos on their tablets.

On the other hand, safety is paramount. No one wants to make any changes that will be detrimental to those on the flights. These rules were put in place for the protection of the passengers and flight crew. It just remains to be seen if technology has advanced to the point where it can safely co-exist with the electronics of the aircraft.


FAA Looks to Revise In-Flight Electronics Rules - TechBeat

[Spin]

Parents of fussy toddlers and young children could occupy them from the beginning with games or videos on their tablets.

If the only way to get your kids to sit quietly and nicely for 20 minutes is by throwing expensive electronics at them then I would say you pretty much failed at parenting, right from the get go.

[benbaaa]

I always liked Toby Ziegler's line in The West Wing. Talking to the flight attendant who'd told him to switch off his mobile phone...

We're flying in a Lockheed Eagle series L1011. It came off the line 20 months ago. It carries a Sim-5 Transponder tracking system. Are you telling me I can still flummox this thing with something I bought at Radio Shack?

[KiCanCummins]

The use of cell phones will still be prohibited but other devices will be up for discussion.

Cell phones using higher frequency bands will not work at higher altitudes, also the aircraft is traveling so fast that a signal to transfer from one cell to another could lead to data / voice loss, and you don't have continuous coverage across most countries, or over oceans. Most coverage is in congested areas or highway corridors. The Aviation industry does not want consumers to complain that they cannot get a good signal on their cell phones.

The aviation industry has a handle on this and there are some A/C fitted with cell phone repeaters that pickup the cell phone signal and then transpose this to a satellite receiver and back to earth.
The thing with this is that you get to use your cell phone on board the A/C any where and the Airline gets a good deal of money from you to be able to let you use your cell phone.

KCC

[Mid]

long may flights be cell phone free zones .

[benbaaa]

Quite agree. Imagine 12 hours on a plane next to some creep yakking into their mobile for hours...

[pseudolus]

The air carriers can not work out how to make sure they get to charge you a fortune to use it. This is the hold up. They need to find a way to ensure that you can only connect to the A/C own network and not bypass it. They spent so much on the in flight phones on your tv control that I have never ever seen someone using, that they want to continue that model of charging as much as they can because you have no choice.

[hazz]

long may flights be cell phone free zones .

best you don' fly emirates then and discover the terrible truth.

[Mid]

I don't , for that exact reason .