US says no to in-flight mobile use

Authorities in America have ruled out allowing mobile phones on planes following a public outcry over safety, reports Charles Starmer-Smith.
Aviation authorities in the United States have ruled out the use of mobile phones on planes for the "foreseeable future".
Les Dorr, of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), told Telegraph Travel this week that proposals to lift the ban on in-flight mobiles had caused such an outcry they had been dropped.
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The US opposition echoes that of Daily Telegraph readers who have lent their support to our campaign to prevent the introduction of mobile phones on planes.
American resistance to in-flight mobile use is born out of fears that phones interfere with the controls of a plane.
In Britain, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) found that between January 2000 and August 2005 up to 20 incidents of aircraft malfunction were linked to the use of mobile phones, However, earlier this year, the European Aviation Safety Agency gave the green light for in-flight mobile technology provided by the communications company ON Air, whose new system will allow mobiles to transmit less powerfully and avoid possible interference.
Within Europe, airlines planning to allow mobile use include Ryanair, Tap Air Portugal and Air France. Farther afield, Emirates, AirAsia and Kingfisher airlines intend to do likewise.
Our campaign has already received more than 3,000 letters and emails of support. The majority of signatories on the petition say they would boycott any plane that provided such technology.
Hopes that some airlines will not allow mobile phones on planes have been boosted by news that Bmi had delayed the start of its trials by six months.
06/10/07 Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom

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Categories: Foreign Oct 2007, Kingfisher Oct 2007, New Oct 2007, Safety Oct 2007