Why should phones be turned off inflight?

Replies

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  zaki_whiz03

  Dear friend,
  It is believed that the electronic gadgets like mobile phones create trouble for the pilot in communicating with the ground staff during flight take off. It is perhaps the signals that are received/sent to your phone that create the problems. That is the reason why everybody is asked to turn off their electronic devices during the flight take off and then when the plane reaches a certain height above the ground level you can turn it on.
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  Kaustubh Katdare

  Interesting! Not sure what operating frequencies do pilot's communication devices use to communicate with the ground crew. But if these can be different from the GSM quad band; there should not be any problem.
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  zaki_whiz03

  The devices emit radio signals that can interfere with cockpit instruments and flight systems.​
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  Harshad Italiya

  In some flight say Jet Airways they are even not allowing to keep your cellphone in Flight mode. 😕
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  Ramani Aswath

  The_Big_K

  Interesting! Not sure what operating frequencies do pilot's communication devices use to communicate with the ground crew. But if these can be different from the GSM quad band; there should not be any problem.

  The issue is that some of these concerns are not real. I have seen air hostesses themselves using the cell phone in flight.
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  adren022

  Becuase at Higher altitudes if all of the phones in cabin were turned on and each phone keeps searching for the signal It'll cause huge amount of interference (communication engineers will know the exact term, It's like turbulence in fluid mechanics) to the signals sent and received from the aeroplane.
  
  Cabin crew and the pilot represnt less than 10% of people on board so they can let it be 'on' if no rule existed and all the phones were switched on inside the cabin then there is supposedly a problem.
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  Kaustubh Katdare

  adren022

  Becuase at Higher altitudes if all of the phones in cabin were turned on and each phone keeps searching for the signal It'll cause huge amount of interference (communication engineers will know the exact term, It's like turbulence in fluid mechanics) to the signals sent and received from the aeroplane.

  Nope, the point is - the phones cannot interfere with the signals used by communication systems installed on commercial flights. Although - cell phones searching for signals would be heavier on the batteries.
  
  I'm more interested in knowing what communication system do the commercial airplanes use so that we know whether it's okay to use cell phones on the plane. In either case, you can't argue with the air-hostess in technical terms unless she's a communications engineer. 👎
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  adren022

  The_Big_K

  Nope, the point is - the phones cannot interfere with the signals used by communication systems installed on commercial flights. Although - cell phones searching for signals would be heavier on the batteries.
  
  I'm more interested in knowing what communication system do the commercial airplanes use so that we know whether it's okay to use cell phones on the plane. In either case, you can't argue with the air-hostess in technical terms unless she's a communications engineer. 👎

  In 1991, the Federal Communications Commission (#-Link-Snipped-#) banned passengers from using their cell phones while on board an airplane that is in flight. The ban was instituted because the FCC suspected that the radio frequency emitted by cell phones could malfunction an airplane's equipment systems. In complying with this rule, different airlines have instituted different policies about when phones can be turned on and off. In 2005, the FCC announced that it might consider lifting the ban on the use of cell phones on airplanes, with certain restrictions.
  The FCC regulates the use of all electronic devices, including cell phones, on airplanes under the assumption that they may affect the communication systems on board. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) agrees with the FCC that cell phones may cause substantial interference with #-Link-Snipped-# systems and supports the ban for all commercially operated airplanes. The use of cell phones on private or charter planes is not regulated, however, and many private flights permit passengers to use cell phones while in flight.
  
  Lots of debate has surrounded the use of cell phones on airplanes. The primary concern is that cell phones may interfere with the navigation and communication systems of the plane, potentially resulting in devastating failure. Numerous airlines have reported disruptions in cabin pressure, compass function, and wireless navigation systems associated with the use of cell phones on board. The FCC, it seems, erred on the side of caution when it enforced an outright ban on the use of radio frequency emitting devices which could potentially cause an aircraft to crash.
  There have also been some reports that the use of cell phones on planes may cause disruptions in ground communications because of interference. Others claim that the airlines and the FCC would simply prefer that consumers use the #-Link-Snipped-# systems mounted on most seat backs in commercial airplanes, because these phones are said to be highly profitable. Newer cell phones are capable of operating on very low power settings, which may not interfere with the aircraft as much. The FCC is attempting to establish an acceptable threshold of radio frequency #-Link-Snipped-#, so that cell phones could be used on airplanes without any fear of the navigation system failing or service on the ground being disrupted.

  source: wiseGEEK
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  adren022

  on a lighter note: There also might be an issue with noise in the cabin, if everyone one kept getting calls or were found constatnly talking it might end up being a nuisance. 😀
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  born_star16

  zaki_whiz03

  Dear friend,
  It is believed that the electronic gadgets like mobile phones create trouble for the pilot in communicating with the ground staff during flight take off. It is perhaps the signals that are received/sent to your phone that create the problems. That is the reason why everybody is asked to turn off their electronic devices during the flight take off and then when the plane reaches a certain height above the ground level you can turn it on.

  I think this is the perfect reason. Airplane Mode supports the same "Making calls is generally prohibited due to the potential impact on aircraft avionics and the potential for interference with ground cell networks."