Why the use of cellular phones is not permitted on airplanes

by Maria C. Collins

Airlines have not allowed the use of cell phones on aircraft in flight but this may soon be changing. RyanAir, an Irish Airline, announced on 20 February 2009 that it would soon permit the use of mobile telephones on its aircraft.

There are two reasons why airlines forbade passengers to use mobile phones on aircraft in flight. Firstly, old mobile telephones interfered with some of the delicate instruments on aircraft causing them to read incorrectly. Ryan Air said that passengers would still not be allowed to use a cell phone during take off and landing for safety reasons. There will be a light in the airplane cabin similar to the fasten seatbelt light which will indicate when passengers may use their mobile telephones. How long before some idiot cannot wait to use their phone and defies the light?

The second reason is terrorism; apparently, terrorists can use mobile telephones to detonate explosives remotely. In the present climate, it is likely that the British and Irish governments will not allow RyanAir to offer customers the ability to use cell phones on aircraft in flight.

Ryan Air is a short haul airline and flies from Ireland and United Kingdom to destination Airports in Europe. They will charge a heavy price for their proposed cell phone service but it is unlikely that mere steep prices will deter mobile telephone addicts. In any case, their flights to Europe are for the most part under 3 hours in length, most are much less than that. If people cannot be without the use of their telephones for that amount of time then there is something seriously wrong with their lives.

An aircraft was a peaceful haven from these irritating demons of technology. On other forms of public transport (buses, coaches and trains), one can move away from those who cannot restrain themselves from constant use of their mobile telephones and find another seat where one can enjoy a book and endure the journey in peace. This is not possible on an airplane. Flying makes people irritable, tired and edgy it is easy to conjecture therefore that the use of cell phones on aircraft could lead to more incidents of air rage causing fear, distress and possibly violence to the cell phone user, other passengers and cabin crew. Cell phone users on public transport for some unknown reason always shout whilst using their phones. This conjures up the prospect of a few people all yelling away on their phones disturbing a whole planeload of passengers. It seems like perfect conditions for a riot, not very safe on an airplane!

RyanAir thinks it will attract customers and make money from its proposed mobile telephone service but it may be unpleasantly surprised. Most airline passengers want to travel in peace and quiet away from the infuriating disturbance of other people's inane, unnecessary and, often, intensely personal telephone conversations. Governments may well not allow RyanAir to offer the service. If the service is introduced perhaps all the mobile phone addicts will fly RyanAir together, and annoy only one another, and leave the rest of us to fly safely, and in peace on other airlines who will, sensibly, still ban customers from using mobile telephones.