Why have American Airlines spent thousands of dollars so passengers can use mobile phones whilst in flight?

Question

If you believe the official line, then the mobile phones were working perfectly well on Sept. 11. So why do they now say because of recent investment. Customers can now use their mobiles.

Answer 1

PS During 911 people were using both the plane-based phones and their own cell phones.

Because during 9/11 people were using their cell phones via the ground-based cellular towers. If everyone did this, and moving quickly between towers (at 500+ miles an hour) tens of thousands of people in the air at any moment, this would overwhelm the ground network. To allow everyone to use their phones, the airlines had to install a "cell" receiver in the planes.

The ban on cell phones was an FCC thing not an FAA thing.

Answer 2

That's a common mistake, mobile phone's can't work ever on an airplane in flight... just think how often a send pole of a provider is being passed! And above the ocean, how much reach would there be from your provider? It could never work. On the 9/11 they used sattelite phones, the only ones that can work but cost a fortune to use. The airlines spend that much mony to show their extra service, and because there are people who can't afford or at least think they can't be missed at all times. There might be cellphones out now on the market that work via sattelite, but you would still not be able to use them on board an airplane, as the signal may interfare with the pilots instruments

Answer 3

Supposedly, the reason one could not use a cell phone during flying was that the phones could interfere with the electronic equipment and flying insturments. I don't know how true that is, but that is what they said.

I am sure that the "improvements" that were done was to make sure that the radio frequencies that the phones use can not do anything to detonate bombs in mid air, or interfere with the plane or radar tower workings. I bet that now the phone reception in the air is less than it was before the "improvements" made.

Just throwing it out there, but that is what I think is the "issue".

Answer 4

They could be doing it to attract customers
Or to make the planes safe because people use their mobiles phones any ways or leave them on by mistake
Or to be able to plant other type of electronic device on a plane.. manybe a back up mobile phone lol

Answer 5

They weren't using MOBILE phones on 9/11; they were using the phones already on the planes - you know, the ones in the back of the headrest in the seat in front of you.

Now can you see how these wacky conspiracy theories depend upon gullible people not even knowing the basic facts?

Answer 6

So that people can stay in tocuh with client's or family whilst in the air, as flight's can take upto 8 or 9 hours and especially australie can take upto 24 hour;s so it would be very important for people to stay in touch.

Answer 7

So they can put the price up for an extra service.
I should like to see airline paying tax on their fuel as they are the biggest polluter or all transport

Answer 8

the feds wants to allow passengers to use thier cell on flights. they also asked the FAA to switch channel so that cell frequency could be transmitted from planes to the earth.

Answer 9

Because customers come first on a competitive market

Answer 10

So they can make more money off the roaming call charges. Ryanair, the Irish budget airline, is also planning it.