Turn Off Those Cell Phones 6
There is more and more talk that cell phone use may be allowed in flight. Nevertheless, there appears to be some science, not just fear, behind the requirement to turn off those cell phones in the air. From an interview on this week’s Living on Earth (Steve Cherry is the interviewer; Bill Strauss is the researcher):
STRAUSS: The Samsung phones were basically emitting RF energy in the same band as the GPS navigational systems. The problem there is that the GPS system uses very low-level signals, and these were quite large signals, essentially blinding the GPS onboard equipment. So any aircraft that’s navigating using GPS navigation solely, or at least as a primary system, will have a very difficult time. Not so much of a concern at 30,000 feet when you’re going coast to coast, but a big concern if you’re using a GPS landing aid system and you’re coming in on approach.
Frankly, I would rather not see cell phone use allowed on planes. Airplanes, the cell-phone free coach on Amtrak, and my little yellow truck seem to be about the only places any more where I can be free from hearing the disgusting details of the personal lives of whatever luser$ happen to be in the neighborhood.
March 11, 2006 at 10:04 am
I was standing in line, waiting to place my order at a Starbucks, & the female in front of me was talking so loud, in Asian, on her cell phone, that the person behind the counter couldn’t get her attention to get her order. She did, in effect, stop business for a few seconds. Cell phones in a plane? I shudder at the thought.
March 11, 2006 at 11:58 am
I was recently at a sandwich shop in Morton, IL that actually had the guts (or some would just say common sense) to put a sign on their front door saying “No Cell Phones While Ordering At The Counter, Please!”
March 11, 2006 at 5:05 pm
I was in the local convenience store yesterday and some bozo was carrying on a running conversation into one of those wireless headsets (you know, the ones people stick in their ears so they look like zombies under control of some evil power) through his transaction.
I wonder why folks don’t realize how rude that is! And the people who talk from the restroom. TMI!
March 11, 2006 at 9:35 pm
I will never, ever use one of those. They are degrading. They are the high tech equivalent of having a broom stick stuck… never mind.
March 12, 2006 at 4:20 pm
I wonder what people who those wireless thingees think they look like to everyone else?
Early adapters? Cutting edge? Dumb shits?
March 12, 2006 at 11:01 pm
I can honestly say I’m the only one of my circle of friends (small it may be) that doesn’t have a cell phone. It’s a point of pride for me, almost.