IP: cellular in planes

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> I was told that

It is my understanding that the problem with cell phones in planes has as 
much to do with cell tower confusion as many towers hear roughly the same 
signal strength and will misbehave . While private planes sometimes use 
cell phones, they fly slow and low. The cell phones that are approved for 
business jets and high performance "small" planes use a separate system and 
different protocols.

Jets fly high and fast. While the use of cell phones in emergencies such as 
9/11 is clearly justifiable, the reasons they are not normally allowed is 
both FAA regs worrying about possible inflight interference (unlikely but 
possibel)and FCC regs which are concerned with the operation of the 
national cell system (likely and damaging).

Dave



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