As most people know, cell phones are a big no-no during landing and takeoff. What most people don’t know, however, is why.
The FAA says cell phones to be “radio transmitting devices” that could possibly disrupt the avionics of the plane. Interesting that they don’t call pacemakers transmitting devices, though. In 2007, the ABC news show 20/20, along with veteran airline pilot John Nance, conducted research disputing the FAA’s stand. Nance stated: “There’s little reason to worry about cell phones interfering with an airplane’s navigational equipment,” and went on to say airliners electronic systems are “heavily shielded” against stray radio or electronic signals.
Opponents claim that while one or two devices may not break an avionic shield, a lot of them could interfere with communication between the pilot and ground control–communication that’s especially critical during takeoff and landing. In the case of emergency, jammed communication with the tower could cause disaster.
So who’s right? Well, according to the MythBusters, it’s generally safe to use a cell on a plane. They did some similar debunking. However, because there are so many different types of devices and ways the phones can malfunction, there’s no way to test every single cell phone that’s been made. 20/20 determined that the primary reason for the ban on cell phone is that neither the FAA or the FCC are willing to spend the money to perform conclusive safety tests. Mmmm, okay.
According to Wiki: “Virtually every pilot headset sold on the market today comes with a cell phone adapter so that the pilot can use his cell phone.” While airlines claim that pilots never use their cell phones mid-flight, we’re not completely convinced.
Other research indicates that AT&T suggested in-flight mobile phone restrictions should remain in place in the interest of reducing the nuisance to other passengers caused by in-flight cell phone conversations – again, not at all a safety issue.
Some skeptics have posited the idea that the cell phone ban exists to spur use of the airline’s built-in phones, phones that charge a significant fee. There’s also some research stating that mobile phones are not all that reliable in the air in the first place, since they’re not designed to switch from cell tower to cell tower at the speed of an airplane.
Interestingly enough, the FAA gives the pilot of each aircraft the right to grant the use of cell phones mid-flight. So hey, maybe next time you should buy your pilot a cup of coffee at the terminal. Who knows, they might grant your cell phone an exception.
Comments (26)
Comment
- subscribe /
- give a gift /
- terms of service /
- about /
- contact us /
- write for us /
- ad info /
- subscriber services /
- press /
- privacy policy /
- rss /
© 2012 Mental Floss Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mental Floss is a registered trademark owned by Felix Dennis. mentalfloss.com is a trademark owned by Felix Dennis.
Disclaimer: All submissions made to mental_floss become the property of Mental Floss Inc and may be used without further permission by the submitter and without compensation to the submitter. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not submit anything to mental_floss.
I’m a pilot, and I have used my cellphone in a private flight–or rather, my passenger used it for me, to call someone on the ground to tell them to look up. I also use my phone before takeoff to get weather briefings and to validate flight plans. Phones typically can’t interfere with the systems, but I completely understand the FAA not wanting to test so many as the budget for such would be enormous.
However, it’s not true that “virtually all” aviation headsets come with cell phone adapters. Many do not; a few do. However, third-party adapters are made and sold that are compatible with many headsets.
posted by Joshua Murray (WordFlyer) on 2-10-2010 at 10:32 am
I think that a blanket ban is kind of stupid, but in general I’m for it — airplanes are just about the only place left in the world that’s free of obnoxious people having loud phone conversations, and it would be nice if they stayed that way. Besides, it won’t kill you to not talk to your friends for a few hours.
The ban that annoys me is the “no electronic devices at all during takeoff and landing” one. I have been using an e-book device for years, mostly because it reduces the amount of stuff in my carry-on, but I still have to bring along a paper book or magazine for those “no electronics” periods. If an electronic device is okay during the flight, what’s so different about takeoffs and landings that makes it bad to use then?
posted by Tina on 2-10-2010 at 10:46 am
I fly frequently, and I never turn my phone off. My PDA thru ATT loses signal shortly after take off, and regains it upon descent for landing. As it says above, cell phones are not made to hop from tower to tower at that speed.
posted by D Yunk on 2-10-2010 at 10:48 am
This is probably wrong, but I heard somewhere that since you’re travelling pretty fast up there, it’s hard for the cell towers that you’re flying over to track where you are. And if they can’t track you they have a hard time determining how many minutes or bandwidth you’re taking up. Again didn’t make much sense to me, but it’s what I heard.
posted by Dan on 2-10-2010 at 11:03 am
If pilots have the right to use their cell phones during flight is that a big safety concern? Talking on the cell phone and texting while driving can lead to accidents, wouldn’t it while a pilot is flying to? I think it’s kind of nice that the airlines ask you to turn your phones off because it would be super annoying to have to listen to other people’s cell phone conversation on a flight. I remember years ago (before ipods) whenever I flew I was told I was not allowed to listen to my discman for the same reason as they give for cellphones. That was always so annoying to me as a teenager, because that meant my only other option was to listen to their in flight music.
posted by Emma on 2-10-2010 at 11:29 am
One more thing..this is really random but I was glad to see this topic today because the other night I had a dream in which I was flying and had forgotten to turn my cell phone off and once I realized it I thought it was too late and we were going to go down because of it. What a nightmare. Good to know forgetting to turn your cell phone off probably wouldn’t cause a plane to crash or go down.
posted by Emma on 2-10-2010 at 11:32 am
I’ve always been amused by the warning signs at gas stations telling you to turn off your cell phone. I mean, really…. what’s going to happen?
posted by Pearl on 2-10-2010 at 11:48 am
Emma, regarding pilots using cellphones in flight, the difference is that in a car, you could immediately crash–the car requires constant attention to avoid running into things. In cruise flight, a pilot can fly almost hands-free–flying an airplane is easy–it’s following the rules, regulations, and trying to land that’s tricky.
posted by Joshua Murray (WordFlyer) on 2-10-2010 at 12:14 pm
I don’t mind the cell phone ban for he reason AT&T gives – I don’t need to listen to some loudmouth yapping away on the phone for the whole flight.
@ Pearl – I think those signs are telling you not to USE your cell while pumping gas. They are concerned that a spark from the phone (static, a short circuit) will ignite the gasoline vapours near the pumps.
It is for a similar reason that they recommend you not re-enter your vehicle (to grab a purse, etc) between beginning to pump and putting the pump away. You could become statically charged, and if you discharge to the pump or your car frame it could also cause ignition.
posted by Bert on 2-10-2010 at 12:21 pm
It’s not an FAA rule or regulation that bans cell phones in flight. It’s the FCC, and it’s there because it messes with the cell phone network. The network can’t handle seeing a phone from multiple towers and moving 500+ MPH. That’s why the AirPhone is satellite-based, not ground-based.
posted by A G on 2-10-2010 at 12:41 pm
I always think of Toby’s rant from the Pilot episode of The West Wing:
\We’re flying in a Lockheed Eagle series L1011. It came off the line 20 months ago. It carries a Sim-5 Transponder tracking system. Are you telling me I can still flummox this thing with something I bought at Radio Shack? \
posted by Miss Moneypenny on 2-10-2010 at 12:50 pm
Having worked with electronic equipment for over 50 years, I’ve seen all kinds of interesting effects of what is called Radio Frequency Interference/ElectroMagnetic Interference (RFI/EMI)from different generations of equipment. The one thing in common throughout the years has been the high cost of testing for these effects. So, I’m all for the FAA policy of better safe than sorry and NO electronics on during take off and landings.
posted by Prism on 2-10-2010 at 12:55 pm
It makes sense to me to ban devices during take-off and landing because they want you to be alert in case of an emergency since those are the times planes are more likely to have some sort of issue…
posted by Audra on 2-10-2010 at 12:57 pm
@Bert If all of the safety systems in my cell phone fail in such a way to produce the kind of spark required to ignite gasoline, along with the safety systems in the pump and my gas tank failing in such a way that the air around my phone is filled with gas and air in the proper mixture to ignite… It must be my time to go.
Gasoline really isn’t that easy to ignite and there shouldn’t be a cloud of gasoline vapors all around you while pumping gas. The chances of a cell phone putting out a spark *outside* of the case that is strong enough to ignite gasoline is nil and not using it isn’t going to reduce the risk any, it will still be on.
I’ll keep using my cell phone while I pump gas. If you hear about a guy in Houston dying that way, it was me.
captcha: unproven Demo
posted by Troy H. on 2-10-2010 at 1:02 pm
@Troy: wait, you guys have gasoline in Houston? ;-)
posted by David K. Israel on 2-10-2010 at 3:03 pm
When I had my daughter almost seven years ago, we bought a phone card to call family from the hospital, as there was a cell phone ban on the maternity floor. The official policy stated that it would interfere with the machinery. However, one of the nurses while we were there said it was OK to use the cell, and the rule was only in place to keep people from being rude. While I’m not sure if the cell phone would interfere on other floors, it apparently doesn’t on a maternity ward floor…sounds pretty similar to this.
posted by MarMarOhio on 2-10-2010 at 3:17 pm
Former air traffic controller here. Readily acknowledged back when I was on the job that cell phone signals weren’t (at that time) a threat — though I can understand the testing issue, especially given the marked increase in cell phone power since that period.
However, having recently flown in business class, I can attest that flight crew and passengers alike ignore the cell phone probition as a *matter of course*. It simply isn’t enforced in business class. If it really were a safety issue, you would think it would be.
posted by zaphod on 2-10-2010 at 3:26 pm
All about the Benjamins, baby. If you recall as recently as a few months ago, you were required to turn off your WiFi mid-flight, as well. That is until companies figured out how to make it a charge-able service and VOILÀ, WiFi is now deemed safe!
Personally, I agree with the take-off/landing ban (we’ll at least with radio devices, not sure about iPods/eBooks/Bose headphones), there are way too many devices on the market, and way too many people drop their phones (a lot!) making their transmitter that much more flakey. Additionally, with airplanes getting older and airlines getting in trouble with maintenances (see SWA news today), can we truly guarantee that the aviation’s “shielding” will always be protected against 100-500 active devices during a foggy, nighttime landing?
One last note, as a road warrior I travel a lot, and one thing I hate are people who debate the flight attendants on this policy. Sure, ignore they announcement, but if they personally, ask you…Don’t be a jerk. They are nice people just doing what they’re told.
@D Yunk: You never turn it off? Doesn’t that kill your battery, since your phone is always attempting to reconnect? Also, don’t you get looks when your phone starts ringing as you come in for landing?
posted by Tony on 2-10-2010 at 3:32 pm
Who CARES about the reason why? The net effect, so beautifully stated earlier, about preventing “obnoxious people having loud phone conversations” is to the greater good. I’ve had it with these jerks in trains, movie theaters, and every other public place. Make it a permanent irrevocable ban and be done with it, I say!
posted by JohnHo on 2-10-2010 at 3:37 pm
@Troy: Yeah, I don’t agree with the cell phone spark theory. I DO agree with the “Don’t go back in the car” rule…I have seen an internet where a lady sparks the nozzle and fire erupts. Never seen (or even heard) about an a real phone-spark-fire incident. Additionally, why is talking on the phone than having it in your pocket, at waist level where the gas nozzle is near? What if an email or call comes in? I see that as a more likely combustion scenario than actually talking on a phone 3-4 feet above the nozzle.
posted by Tony on 2-10-2010 at 3:38 pm
I found this interesting as I’m an Electrical Engineer at a major airline and I’m one of the guys who approves the use of electronics devices in flight.
In airlines “better safe then sorry” is not a saying it is an obsession. If you have ever had your cell phone go off right next to your computer it can make the speakers pop and the screen flicker. We can’t allow it to make the pop noise on the PA during important safety briefings and many cockpits now have all LCD displays which are super sensitive even to wifi.
Medical devices that transmit have to get approval before hand. If you have a pacemaker, we have to have tested it before you can legally get on the plane.
Someone made a comment about wifi in flight. This is something the companies have to go through extensive certification with the FAA and incurs a lot of cost.
As for the official government stance on cell phones, it comes from the FCC. Look at paragraph 7 of this public document from the FAA http://www.dac.public.lu/documentation/circulaires/AC91211B.pdf
posted by J on 2-10-2010 at 6:39 pm
Oh great, now all the terrorists have to do is get on a plane and call somebody, and we’ll have planes falling out of the sky all over the place…lol
posted by mrs.arno on 2-10-2010 at 10:03 pm
@Bert, the Mythbusters debunked the whole “cell phones start gas station fires” legend. They did confirm, however, that getting in and out of your car (building up static on your clothes), then touching the opening of the gas tank, has rather fiery results.
posted by Seanette on 2-11-2010 at 6:14 am
For the gas stations, I think older cellphones that didn’t use the new battery types were the ones that might generate a spark (between the battery and the phone). I’d feel safe using my new phone at the pump, but I don’t out of respect for others.
posted by Lilly on 2-11-2010 at 11:44 am
The whole cellphone/fire episode of Mythbusters coined the term “panty static generator”. The narrarator must have said it a hundred times. I love Mythbusters
posted by John the Third on 2-11-2010 at 2:53 pm
The real reason authorities don’t want you flipping open your mobile phone has less to do with crashing your plane and more to do with crashing the cell phone network. The Federal Communications Commission has determined that mid-flight calls have a direct impact on cell phone service on the ground. That’s because cell phones are primarily designed for callers who are firmly planted on land, communicating with a single, nearby tower. If you’re speeding through the sky at 550 mph, your phone will connect with multiple towers and eat up valuable space on their circuits, wreaking havoc on service. A 2007 plan to lift the ban was strongly opposed by cell carriers for this reason.
—http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/22729
posted by Berns on 2-19-2010 at 7:21 am