Text Messaging In-Flight?

JetBlue is considering an in-flight text messaging service but does not want noisy mobile phone calls on its aircraft. Not that they COULD have noisy mobile phone calls during flights as it is not allowed by FAA regulations at this time.

According to an article in Silicon.com, “David Neeleman, founder and chief executive of JetBlue, said text communications could prove attractive but agrees with the misgivings of many US airline executives about the on-board use of mobiles for voice calls.

A spokeswoman for JetBlue told silicon.com in-flight text messaging could happen in the near future and said if the company allows mobiles on its flights then they will only be used as “silent options” – meaning passengers would be allowed to send and receive text messages and listen to voicemails but incoming and outgoing calls would be barred.”

That statement makes no sense to me, as you can’t PREVENT incoming calls if your cell phone is turned on during your flight. Do they really assume people will turn on their phones to make text messages and actually remember to turn their ringers on silent. And if they do, it’s a pretty big presumption that passengers wouldn’t answer any calls they received anyway. I think a no phone policy is a no phone policy. The way cell phones operate, there is no room for grey area.