Cell phone usage on airplanes

I heard on the news awhile back that airlines were going to allow use of your cell phone on airplanes while in flight. Can you do that now? I haven't flown for awhile, but I would get real irritated having to listen to someone constantly chattering in my ear the whole flight!

Some airlines (BMI and Tap Portugal) are indeed thinking of allowing it but it will cost you - your mobile will hook up to a special onboard transmitter supplied by OnAir and each minute will be charge at the $2 mark.

See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9406948/ for more info.

Personally I think it's a bad idea - if you have to make a call use the onboard SatPhones on long-haul else if you're on short-haul sit tight - there's nothing much you can do about anything while at 35,000 feet.

Cheers,
Charles

i dont like the idea of phones on airplanes, the noise would be terrible! plus, why cant it wait untill the airport! i can understand on long flights, but small ones it is not a good idea.

I don't like the idea of phones on an airplane. It's already awful enough to put up with people talking, but to have 10 business people talk for an "in call conference' meeting would be the most annoying thing.

I give this a thumbs down.

I'm going to agree with the 'bad idea' people. For a different reason, however: I'm afraid of flying, and I'm convinced that if cell phones are in use it will mess with the instruments somehow.

I also have to agree that it is a bad idea. Why in the world would the FAA allow something like that? It irritates me, just to be in the store and people are chit chatting about what they are looking at....blah, blah, blah.

I can't imagine being able talking to someone while on your cell phone on an airplane! That would be so distracting, not to mention if you are on a long flight and trying to sleep and the person next to you gets a call!!

I would only see them as being useful in this situation as an emergency. You know how the phrase goes a time and a place for everything. So yes they should be allowed, just not for pleasure.

If there is enough reason to ban phones now then there is enough reason to keep phones off airplanes!

They said in the future. The cell phone hardware can still interfere with the technology the pilots need. Wait a few more years.

I recently heard that some flights are currently allowing this, i guess a few planes have already been upgraded.

I don't know about you guys but even if I disagree with using cellphones on the plane, it does have an advantage using it while on the plane.

Anyone remembered the 9/11 attacks on US soil? The plane that is due for the White House, which crashed before it reached its destination, has passengers that used cellphones. Because of that, they have contacted their love ones before suffering that tragic fate.