Passenger Accused Of Slapping Air Marshal after refusing to get off cell phone

[rh71]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: royaldank
You phone isn't going to do anything to the plane's capacity to fly. Using a cell phone at a gas pump isn't going to start a fire, either. Both are common misconceptions.

it may not do anything to the plane's capacity to fly, but it sure can affect the flight instruments, which interfere with the pilot's ability to maintain his cool and not throw you out the door at 35,000 feet.

None of this matters... it's still a requirement for all electronic devices to be off when the plane is taxi'ing the runway like this was. I'd like to slap that woman myself... how important could it have been ?

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: slick230

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: upsciLLion
Cell phones generate EMI which could potentially interrupt the normal functioning of the aircraft's electronics. Having people not use them on flights is more than a courtesy issue.

Actually that has never been proven. The main reason for the requirement is from the air your phone can reach many more towers than it can from 'ground level' and is moving much faster than the cell systems are designed to handle.

Bill

So why would the FAA care if your cellphone's carrier can't keep up with your signal? :roll:

Actually Bill is only partially correct. The reason it's banned b/c cell phones at high altitudes will try to connect with many base stations at once, which risked overloading the network for the people on the ground. (3G phones were designed to help stop this problem though)

The FCC is actually the one which banned cell phones from airplanes back in 1991, before cell phones were ever really prevelant in society. The FAA just "supports" their decision.

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-11-501431.html?legacy=zdnn

http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,41273-2,00.html?tw=wn_story_page_next1

Two articles over the subject. I've found other articles about the overloading of base stations but none of them are "big name" sites so to speak. It's not necessarily the FAA that cares - it's because of paranoid idiots and the media who falsely claim that cell phones interfere with plane equipment. It's the miseducation of the public. That and airlines get a fat cut from pay-per-use phones in airplanes.

My mother works in the aerospace industry. While it is true that it is incredibly unlikely that cell phone transmissions would directly interfere with airplane operations, it is a possibility. The issue is that cell phones automatically increase/decrease the amount of signal output based on the distance to the nearest cell tower. On a plane that signal output increases dramatically, since the distance is great. Because of diffusion and the frequencies cell phones operate on it is theoretically possible for a cell phone to disrupt equipment on an airplane.

For any of you who doubt this, make a call on your cell phone and put it next to an active stereo somewhere where your reception isn't so good. You hear that buzzing coming from the speaker? Imagine it doing that to airplane equipment.

Now true, most airplane equipment is heavily shielded, and the only equipment that is particularly vulnerable to that type of interferrance are non-essential things, but it could interfere with stuff like GPS equipment, etc. which while not vital could seriously inconvenience the pilots.

Anyway, apparantly some British airlines have come up with an interesting solution to the problem: put a miniature cell tower on the airplane. That way all the signals from onboard cellphones go to the local minitower, not ones on the ground. The signals between the minitower and ground towers would be transmitted via a directed antenna or antennae, which would be directed so as not to have any potential to disrupt plane operations. I'm thinking this will catch on here; then the FAA won't be able to stop us from yakking away on planes anymore. YAY!

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: royaldank
You phone isn't going to do anything to the plane's capacity to fly. Using a cell phone at a gas pump isn't going to start a fire, either. Both are common misconceptions.

it may not do anything to the plane's capacity to fly, but it sure can affect the flight instruments, which interfere with the pilot's ability to maintain his cool and not throw you out the door at 35,000 feet.

And when it comes to landing safely, that's probably the most important thing. I'll keep the phone turned off, thank you.

 

[Apathetic]

If it wasn't for that pesky "explosive decompression" thing, I'd say throw her off mid-flight.

Dave

 

[Kelvrick]

Anyway, apparantly some British airlines have come up with an interesting solution to the problem: put a miniature cell tower on the airplane. That way all the signals from onboard cellphones go to the local minitower, not ones on the ground. The signals between the minitower and ground towers would be transmitted via a directed antenna or antennae, which would be directed so as not to have any potential to disrupt plane operations. I'm thinking this will catch on here; then the FAA won't be able to stop us from yakking away on planes anymore. YAY!

When I rule the world (shortly) I will have one of those antennas. Some will shoot your signal out to space, wasting your time. Others will broadcast only to my recording station where I will have the meanest most bitter people go over them minute by minute to extract the juicy details so they can be sent to you and everyone you know (then blackmail).

 

[Demon-Xanth]

You're going to be 7 miles above the ground traveling at 500MPH in an aluminum can. The guy driving it asks you to quit yaking for a couple of hours. Is the yaking REALLY that important?

 

[gsaldivar]

Originally posted by: slick230
They should have stuffed her in the landing gear compartment for her chilly trip. Bitch.

LMAO!!!

 

[JackBurton]

The marshal should have shot her in the face after he was slapped. It would have been one less annoying person to deal with in the world.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: yukichigai

For any of you who doubt this, make a call on your cell phone and put it next to an active stereo somewhere where your reception isn't so good. You hear that buzzing coming from the speaker? Imagine it doing that to airplane equipment.

That's how I know my cell phone is about to ring while I'm at work. My speakers start buzzing for about 3 seconds, and then like magic, my phone rings.

 

[virtueixi]

Can anyone really just open that emergency door?? Scary as hell!!!!!!!!!!!:shocked:

 

[Childs]

I wonder if she asked the Marshall "what do these 4 fingers say to the face?"

*SLAP*

I know its getting old, but I read this entire thread just to see if someone said it.

 

[Twista]

Originally posted by: virtueixi
Can anyone really just open that emergency door?? Scary as hell!!!!!!!!!!!:shocked:

ins't that the point of the door ;p

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: virtueixi
Can anyone really just open that emergency door?? Scary as hell!!!!!!!!!!!:shocked:

No, not when the craft is preasurized....
Bill

 

[DrPizza]

I don't care if they ARE safe on an airplane. I don't want to be stuck in a cramped seat next to an obnoxious overweight woman who can't keep her mouth closed for 3 hours.

 

[virtueixi]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Originally posted by: virtueixi
Can anyone really just open that emergency door?? Scary as hell!!!!!!!!!!!:shocked:

No, not when the craft is preasurized....
Bill

Oh ok. Not so scary.

 

[V00DOO]

What a bitch!

 

[yukichigai]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior

Originally posted by: yukichigai

For any of you who doubt this, make a call on your cell phone and put it next to an active stereo somewhere where your reception isn't so good. You hear that buzzing coming from the speaker? Imagine it doing that to airplane equipment.

That's how I know my cell phone is about to ring while I'm at work. My speakers start buzzing for about 3 seconds, and then like magic, my phone rings.

Yeah, I do that too.

 

[MillionaireNextDoor]

charge her with 229 attempted manslaughters by using her cellphone on a plane against directions and one assault on a federal officer.