“So did you hear what happened to Sarah? Yeah, she got totally drunk at Benny’s party…”
It happens almost everywhere you go. Snippets of conversation hang in the air like tree branches waiting to poke you in the ear. The culprit? Someone on a cell phone.
“…no, talks with Cavenaugh are confidential at this point. The last thing we need is for the competition to hear about it.”
It’s odd how conversations that would be hushed in person can get quite loud in public. There seems to be an assumption that nobody is listening, but all too often we can’t help but hear. Is there really any harm in that? It’s proven to be distracting but, for the most part, it’s annoying at worst.
Guess where I’m calling you from!
After the FAA recently moved to allow the use of personal electronic devices throughout flights, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hinted that the ban on in-flight voice calls may soon be lifted as well. That is raising concerns among frequent fliers, flight attendants and others in the industry who say this is not a good thing.
Obsolete? The FCC may consider easing the ban on cell phone calls in flight.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said the agency is working with the FAA and airline industry to review “new mobile opportunities” for customers, citing the governments “outdated and restrictive rules.” That includes cell phone usage above 10,000 feet, but it won’t automatically happen overnight if the ban is lifted. Each airline will have to decide whether to allow usage on their planes, and there will likely be a major investment in technology. Customer surveys have consistently found passengers opposed to the idea, so it’s not clear whether the airlines would drop the ban. Virgin Atlantic and Emirates Air already allow voice calls in flight; their experiences will help determine what happens here.
There is another possibility that seems far more likely. The folks at Gogo, the in-flight internet service provider for several US airlines, are pitching a new “Text & Talk” smartphone service that could be used without any new equipment. Essentially, customers would download an app for their smartphone which would let them “roam” on Gogo’s in-flight Wi-Fi just as you would roam on a terrestrial cellular network. While Gogo says they think of this more as a text application for commercial airlines, they say several business aviation firms already using the service are asking for the voice component, as are international carriers. It would be an easier, less expensive way for carriers to allow voice calls and may be an option even if the FCC does not drop the ban on cell calls.
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
One way or another, technology is no longer the gate keeper for voice calls in the air. The question that remains is whether we NEED this service. As a society, we’ve proven that we don’t know when to use our “inside voices” while on a cell phone, prompting most passengers to say we really don’t need this. Aside from the annoyance, many believe there is real danger in passengers absorbed in conversation instead of heeding instructions from the flight crew, and so flight attendants, pilots and others say we really don’t need this. Thankfully, at least Delta appears to be listening and has said they do not plan to allow in-flight calls, while other US carriers have said they will evaluate any new rules and customer sentiments.
Personally, airplane cabins have always been my respite from the business world of phone calls and emails. It’s a convenient excuse for unplugging for a few hours. For that reason, some of my most productive and most relaxing travel hours have been in the air. Even if we can eventually make a phone call above 10,000 feet, you won’t overhear conversations from my seat. However, you can bet I will be Instagramming my next Mt. Rainier flyover, as will millions of others. Which may be reason enough to say we don’t need this service.
