For years the rule has been to turn off the cell phone, and every other digital device, once a plane starts heading toward a runway, whether it's during takeoff or landing. A while back, there was a big story about how cell phones don't impact flight navigation. I wish I could remember where I read the report or who authored it because this week brings another report [1], courtesy of TechWeb, that sticks to the traditional warning that cell phones can impede airline safety. I've always felt that there had to be some legitimacy about the issue. What could airlines gain by preventing cell phone use? It's not like they can't be brought on planes and customers are forced to use those 1970-looking handsets packed in the back of plane seats.

We've all read or heard some of the phone call transcripts from the horrendous actions on 9/11, and there has not been one report that the calls during those flights impeded flight travel or airplane navigation. Not surprisingly, the FCC is still studying the issue and hopes to render some sort of official dictate later this year. One big impetus to settling this debate is that wireless vendors want access to in-flight customers. Right now that's a bit limited thanks to the FCC; only foreign airlines can currently use Boeing's Connexion Wi-Fi [2] service during international flights.

My take is that just a few years ago, a laptop here and there and the few cell phones being used by travelers likely wouldn't impact anything during flight, even GPS transmissions. But today every business user has at least those two mobile devices in play, and likely even another PDA or digital recorder/player device strapped on under their business suit. The crowded mobile airways aren't the same scenario presented just a few years ago.

What I do find frustrating is that the Carnegie Mellon study noting cell phone use isn't safe during certain navigation times also notes that the FCC and FAA clearly aren't working together on the issue and haven't been in the past. I'd think that this kind of issue falls squarely on both their shoulders and presents a ripe opportunity to illustrate that federal agencies can work together and collaborate and share resources in the name of air travel security. - Judy [3]