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The Associated Press is reporting that US lawmakers are considering whether or not to allow cellular telephones onboard commercial airline jets.

A subcommittee of congress debated the issue in July, but many members of the panel quietly voiced their disapproval of the measure.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it will continue its ban on cell phones in planes even if the Federal Communications Commission lifts it. The FCC ban went into effect into 1991, after the agency feared ground users may face interference from cell phones in the air.

With the approval of cell phones on planes, the possibilities for communication are endless. In addition to regular voice calls, laptop users may be able to connect to the internet via standard modems, and use devices like BlackBerrys to communicate with others on the ground, or even on other planes.

I’m not too thrilled about this. The notion that I potentially will be sitting on a commercial airline jet listening to hundreds of people talking on their cell phones, and hearing obnoxious phone rings every few minutes, really turns me off to aviation travel.

The technology also doesn’t seem to add up. Airplane noise can out-shadow even personal conversations – and sometimes can prevent me from listening to CD players on standard headphones. So how are people supposed to hear cell phones?

Unless special airplane cell phones (or attachments) are created, and there is a way to prevent people from being forced to yell into their phones, I don’t see this idea ever getting off the ground.

Cell phones also are a source of fear. In 2004, terrorist who attacked train lines in Madrid are believed to have used cell phones to remotely detonate the blasts. And after the July 2005 London bombings, it was initially thought that blasts in the London Underground were triggered by cell phones.

My hope? I see the future filled with wireless broadband connectivity for computer users on jets. And I’m not alone.

Boeing recently announced it is working on new planes with wireless networking technology built in – allowing for roving hot spots in the sky. Today, Intel jumped into the limelight by signing an agreement to certify Boeing’s technology as part of the “Intel Wireless Verification Program.

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A quick update and reality check on the old thread: ’s noise/interference worries and ’s “broadband-but-annoying” point were exactly the issues regulators and carriers debated after 2005. The technical capability to put networks on planes has existed for years, but law, crew safety, and passenger comfort drove the policy choices that followed.

U.S. rules still prohibit operating cellular phones over terrestrial mobile networks while an aircraft is airborne; the FCC’s regulation requires that airborne cellular phones be turned off and warns violations can bring service suspension or fines. The DOT published a 2016 NPRM that looked at requiring ticketing/booking disclosure (and even whether a formal ban was needed), and Congress later added a directive in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 about issuing regulations on in‑flight voice communications. (law.cornell.edu)

In practice the industry response has been cautious. Flight‑attendant unions and many carriers opposed in‑cabin voice calls for safety and nuisance reasons; several major airlines publicly said they would not permit voice calls even if rules changed. At the same time, in‑flight Wi‑Fi (satellite or air‑to‑ground links) became the common path for internet access — but whether voice/VoIP over that Wi‑Fi is allowed remains an airline decision. ()

Useful, modern takeaways tied to the thread: passengers who dislike onboard chatter have tended to favor carriers and routes that explicitly prohibit voice calls; most U.S. flights still require airplane mode for cellular radios and treat VoIP voice as a policy question (not a technical right). Practical mitigations from cabin etiquette and design still matter: airlines set rules, crews enforce them, and choosing an airline or flight with a “no‑voice” policy (or using noise‑cancelling headphones/seat selection) gives the experience and preferred. (law.cornell.edu)

Member Avatar for MartyMcFly

Hey, thanks, that was really interesting reading. I agree, I think that constant mobile usage would prove too anoying, especially as the time you spend on board is much longer than a bus or train, and therefore, more to cope with. I could see it in moderation, 10mins after and before takeoff / landing. Otherwise it is an uneccesary disturbance.

On the other hand, I like the idea of wireless broadband, (although wonder about the extortionate pricing). My concern would be, that in the cheap seats, someone typing away for a few hours would be unbearable imbuggerance on neighbouring passengers, (but eh, you get what you pay for).

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