cellphone calls on planes

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If luke'd, move to appropriate thread.

http://news.yahoo.com/cellphone-calls-planes-don-39-t-ask-feds-192327690--finance.html

Do cell phones get enough service during flights to even make calls?

If so, isn't the obvious solution to allow texting via cell service but not calls?

[Skipper44]

Almost anyone can text over WiFi now

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Almost anyone can text over WiFi now

If the plane has wifi and if they buy it.

So the airlines' true motivation is to block "calling" which would also block texting and force people to keep buying wifi?

[steve dave]

I think the main motivation is I don't want to listen to all these fuckheads talk on the phone the entire flight

[Dugout DickStone]

I think the main motivation is I don't want to listen to all these fuckheads talk on the phone the entire flight

This is obviously the reason. 

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I think the main motivation is I don't want to listen to all these fuckheads talk on the phone the entire flight

This is obviously the reason. 

Great.  So is it even possible to make a call from 30K feet, and if so why not ban calling but allow everything else one can do with cell service?

[GoodForAnother]

No you wouldn't be able to make a call from 30k feet.  The cell phone towers aren't pointed straight up, they're pointed out and downwards to maximize ground coverage.  An airline could install a small "tower" in their planes and route calls over the radio and/or satellite that they use for wifi connectivity.

Hopefully it never happens because I can't stand the idea of a bunch of poors on planes making calls and screaming into their phones.  I also hope fuel and airline fares continue to rise so that I don't have to deal with so many poors in general.

[ChiComCat]

I heard that cell phones constantly trying to find and switch to different towers at that speed would kill their battery pretty quick

[star seed 7]

I heard that cell phones constantly trying to find and switch to different towers at that speed would kill their battery pretty quick

yes they do

[Mikeyis4dcats]

cell use is allowed internationally, but the high cost ($3-5/min) generally reduces it's use.    Airlines would sell the access just like airphones/wifi.

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No you wouldn't be able to make a call from 30k feet.  The cell phone towers aren't pointed straight up, they're pointed out and downwards to maximize ground coverage.  An airline could install a small "tower" in their planes and route calls over the radio and/or satellite that they use for wifi connectivity.

Airlines should do this as an alternative or additional option to wifi, and people should be banned from talking on the phone during the flight.