Timeline for Why don't airlines install Faraday cages in their planes?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
11 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 4, 2017 at 20:24 | comment | added | Jan Hudec | @Quentin, the received power is known to be sufficient at the typical cruise altitude. | |
| Oct 4, 2017 at 20:16 | comment | added | Quentin | @JanHudec Until you take received power into account. | |
| Oct 4, 2017 at 18:49 | comment | added | Jan Hudec | @Quentin, the range is given by timing (for GSM; CDMA and UMTS don't have hard limit; not sure what is the limit for LTE). It has nothing to do with the radiation pattern. | |
| Oct 4, 2017 at 13:26 | comment | added | Quentin | "since the range is 35 km and the cruise altitude is only 10–12 km." Given the radiation pattern of cell phone relays (mostly parallel to the ground), I doubt that we can compare the "horizontal" range with the height of the aircraft. | |
| Oct 3, 2017 at 6:32 | comment | added | Jan Hudec | @TomMcW, yes, it is actually large part of the reason. However, I think that while 3G would be relatively immune, the Doppler shift would wreak havoc in the LTE (4G) orthogonal frequency multiplex. | |
| Oct 3, 2017 at 6:30 | comment | added | h22 | It is quite common to hear the interference from the cell phone on the sound amplifier present nearby. If there is a possibility that this "Bu-bubu-bububu" will interrupt a critical message inside the cockpit, I understand why not allowed. | |
| Oct 3, 2017 at 4:33 | comment | added | TomMcW | Afaik, the network problems are no longer a concern with newer wireless systems. The FCC was all prepared to lift the ban and the airlines managed to get them to continue it. I believe the airlines are citing safety concerns, but passengers are also against it. They don't want to listen to people on the phone the entire flight. | |
| Oct 2, 2017 at 21:40 | comment | added | Jan Hudec | @mins, yes, that's the case that is permitted. If the plane has its own cell, you may use it (subject to horrendous roaming charges, of course). | |
| Oct 2, 2017 at 21:39 | comment | added | Jan Hudec | @mins, the phone also probably would work as is, but the connection would be somewhat unreliable and the battery would be draining quickly. The main reason it is forbidden is the associated load on the ground network. | |
| Oct 2, 2017 at 21:37 | comment | added | Jan Hudec | @mins, yes. FAA and EASA both allow (see this related answer) airlines to install a cell that forwards calls via sat link and then cell phones may be used on board. Not sure how many actually do it; it's not that common in practice. However, the same rule permits installing WiFi servers and that is quite common now. | |
| Oct 2, 2017 at 21:18 | history | answered | Jan Hudec | CC BY-SA 3.0 |