Phone calls won’t be allowed on planes anytime soon.
Years ago commercial planes had seatback phones that cost a fortune to use. Today, while airlines offer great tech options—live TV, free WiFi—calling people on the ground isn’t one of them. And thanks to a new ruling by the Federal Communications Commission, it won’t be anytime soon.
The FCC had been considering a proposal to allow in-flight voice calls from cell phones since 2013, but dropped it last month in response to “strong opposition” from pilots and flight attendants. The proposal would have allowed passengers to make calls above 10,000 feet, which is allowed in other places, including Europe.
“The record is insufficient to determine any reasonable solution that would strike an appropriate balance of competing interests,” the FCC wrote in its ruling. “There is strong opposition to the Commission’s proposals from many commenters in this proceeding, including our nation’s airline pilots and flight attendants, who argue that it ‘fail[s] to address significant safety and national security concerns.’”
To alleviate those concerns, the FCC noted “rigorous technical studies based on U.S.-specific standards remain necessary” but for now “it would not serve the public interest or be a wise use of the agency’s limited resources to continue to pursue this rulemaking proceeding.”
The FCC grounded its decision in safety; I think they should have cited sanity, too. Can you image a long-haul flight with a seatmate blabbing about business deals, dishing on her divorce, or cooing at the family kitty? #ShootMeNow
For now, would-be chatty flyers will have to content themselves with United Airlines’ Zoom backgrounds.
Twist’s Take: No phone calls on US flights, at least for now.
