Mythbusters Takes on the FAA

by Alex Harris on November 2, 2008 · Comments

As Adam Thierer has previously commented on this very blog, Mythbusters is “the best science show on TV in years.” Since the show tackles ridiculous beliefs that have entered the popular culture, it would make sense that at some point, they’d expose some dumb government policy. But, generally, the Mythbusters stay away from terribly controversial topics. So, unlike Bill Maher, they don’t debunk religious beliefs. And, unlike Adam, they haven’t shown that concerns over airplane terrorism are overblown.

But maybe Adam and Jamie’s policy is changing. I just watched an episode (which originally premiered in 2006) where they test whether cell phone signals can interfere with airplane avionics. Shockingly, even when they hauled into a real plane a radio transmitter broadcasting all kinds of cell phone signals at hundreds of times their normal power, there was no interference at all! This makes sense; after all, there are lots of radio signals travelling through the air everywhere anyway. Airplanes are built to ensure that these signals don’t affect their navigation equipment. And the EU has allowed cell phone use on planes for years, without incident. Plus, we all know that people have used their phones on planes in the US, just more covertly.

I reported on the US’s absurd ban before over at OpenMarket. And it looks like, in spite of liberalizing moves on the part of the FAA and FCC, the ban isn’t going anywhere, thanks to Congress. I guess you can bust myths with science, but the government won’t listen. If only we could recruit Mythbusters to show that the FDA does more harm than good or that Social Security creates fiscal insecurity.

Comments Posted in: Uncategorized

  • kjordan
    They most likely do it anyways since who wants to hear someone blab on their cell phone for two hours in an enclosed space.
  • Ryan Radia
    No reason the FCC or FAA needs to make these rules. Buses and trains often have limits on cell phone use but these are imposed by the owner, not government. Some people want to talk while on a plane and don't mind if others do the same. And a lot of travelers just want peace and quiet. Both groups of travelers can be satisfied if we allow "quiet" sections on planes to coexist with sections where cell phones are OK.
  • Actually, the FCC and the FAA both admitted long ago that there was no real risk to airplanes. There were problems with what phones in-flight did to on-ground wireless stations, but that can be fixed with picocells.

    Right now, both the FCC and the FAA have said the reason they're not allowing in-air mobile phone use is due to complaints from people who fear sitting next to someone yakking away for a whole flight.

    So, while I agree that it's silly, no one's claiming that interference is an issue any more.
  • How about a conspiracy angle? For a while, the airlines had cell phones installed on the seats on airplanes. Naturally, I speculate that these so-called government regulations banning personal cell phone usage were really industry sponsored "regulations" to give the cellular provider a monopoly.

    I don't know the origin of regulation banning in-flight cell phone usage. I am just throwing out a conspiracy thought. Have to keep up my image.

    PS: Carrying the cell phones in the airplanes must have added to the overall weight of the airplane, meaning increased full costs and a reduction in the net load that an airplane can carry. So I wonder if these installed phones even paid for themselves?
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