Should cell phones be permitted on airline flights?

[Grimmy]

If I had a terror cell to manage and relatively deep pockets to draw funds out of, I would not hesitate to spend a few thousand bucks here and there to jump on a plane and ensure no one was able to listen in on my conversation....if such phone tapping was made illegal in this country...and loudly publicised by those that seem to believe it their duty to announce any and all things that help and assist the terrorists in their efforts to kill us.

[Donald]

I think the point that has been over looked, this that Airlines do not like mobile phones (cell phones) being used while flying, is that they interfer with the aircraft electronics. Remember civilian electronics are not as well shielded as military electonics so are more vunable to the signals generated. While I was flying SAR, any medical electrical/electronic equipment I carried/used on the helicopter (SeaKing Mark's 5 & 6) had to be cleared for use in the cab itself and during in-flight ops.

[SGRock]

I agree with Donald. I don't think it will cause a flight to fall from the sky in flames but I do think that it can cause enough interference to throw off signals and direction instrumentation.

[AmericanGirl]

I know this is obvious, and yeah I am being paranoid, but they are using cellphones to explode ieds, what is stopping them if somehow some one managed to check luggage filled with a form of explosive, and then dialed while in mid flight... I dont know how tough our security has gotten for checked bagage, but I can see something like that happening.

[SGRock]

I know what you mean AG. Just remember; If they want to blow something up, they'll find a way.