I may never fly again

Daddee · Posted: 8/30/2007, 12:07 pm Post subject: I may never fly again

Holy. Crap.

I wonder how that looked/sounded to the folks inside the plane.

Now, can anyone explain how 100 trillion (million million) watts can hit a plane and nothing happens to the electronics inside, and somehow danger abounds in the presence of just a few microwaves when I use my cell-phone, or (heaven forbid) my iPod?

Maybe this explains it:

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CatValet · Posted: 8/30/2007, 2:41 pm Post subject:

You think that's scary.......what if you were onboard and ate your spent fuel rod chili just before takeoff??? KaBloooey

jdahling · Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 233 Location: East Valley

I fly a lot for work - fortunately nothing like this has ever happened to me.

Although, since I've not eaten the chili just before takeoff - perhaps I wouldn't know! Laughing

I have to imagine that it is still safer than Arizona roads and our crazy drivers.
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Hnak · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 1766 Location: Prescott, AZ

Well, the explanation is pretty mundane... The risk of cell phones and other electronic in the airplane isn't that they will hurt anyone, it's just that they might interfere with some of the plane's instrumentation. If you're flying is lousy weather, through mountainous terrain, you want all the equipment to be functioning properly.... Well, actually you'd want it to perform properly ALL the time!

Yep, flying is still much safer than driving....
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azhiker96 · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1419

Maybe I'm too demanding but I'd kinda like the planes to be designed so that a cell phone wouldn't interfere with it. However, there is a worse alternative. Imagine being on a 2 hour flight next to someone talking on their cell phone!! Eek

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sacred_datura · Posted: 8/31/2007, 11:32 am Post subject:

kurthzone · Posted: 8/31/2007, 12:57 pm Post subject:

I don't believe all this cell phone crap. If they were that detrimental they wouldn't be allowed on board. Can anyone explain the technology that makes them a hazard? The same with hospitals. Is there really some danger? The last two times I've been in a hospital I've seen patients, doctors and nurses blabbing away on their cells. What's up? I do believe the satire in the cartoon is apropos.
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azhiker96 · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1419

Hey Stan, stop making sense! Everything is dangerous! Fingernail clippers and toothpaste can bring down a plane! (The preceding was satire.)

Really though, I haven't found any hospital equipment that was affected by a cell phone. I think hospital lawyers make that call though to help defend against lawsuits. If cell phones were allowed in surgical areas, that could become the basis for a lawsuit when someone has a poor outcome. Lawyers have made fortunes with less credible theories.
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RC · Joined: 07 Jun 2005 Posts: 109 Location: Irwin, PA

We have satellite and cell phones on all of our a/c and they are used in flight. I doubt anything would ever happen, but I suppose there's a chance that a plane full of 150 people using all types of different electronic devices could interfere with instrumentation (as Hank mentioned) or worse could interfere with the signals the instruments receive for approach guidance. That would be worse case scenario.
My $.02
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kurthzone · Posted: 9/3/2007, 9:29 am Post subject:

fritzski · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 50 Location: Gilbert, AZ

I've flown for America West/USirways for 18 years and I can tell you on any given flight there are numerous pasengers who forget to turn off their phones, although I could never imagine one of the pilots ever forgetting... Rolling Eyes

It's no big deal. The rule stemmed from an ultraconservative FAA dealing with new technology way back when. The fear was possible interference with aircraft instrumentation. This is why they request that ALL electronic devices be turned off prior to approach and landing. Very low risk of interference, but always better safe than sorry.

Since then the FAA has recently considered dropping the cell phone ban during cruise, but never did for fear of creating an obnoxious environment in the confines of the cabin.

Arizonaheat · Posted: 9/6/2007, 4:37 pm Post subject:

Fritzski. good to see you.
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IGO · Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 4144 Location: Las Vegas

Hikngrl · Posted: 9/6/2007, 5:58 pm Post subject:

Awsesome new avatar IGO!
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evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA