As you push your last message through or wait for a Netflix episode to finish downloading, you might wonder if your delay in compliance can actually cause any issues with your flight.
WHAT IS AIRPLANE MODE?
Airplane mode, identified by a plane icon, is a setting on phones, tablets, iPads, and many other devices. According to AT&T, "airplane mode disables all wireless services (calls, data, and text messages)" on your device. While you'll still be able to connect to Wi-Fi, when airplane mode is activated, it "prevents your phone from connecting to your mobile provider's cell network."
WHY IS AIRPLANE MODE REQUIRED DURING FLIGHT?
It is out of an abundance of caution that passengers cannot make use of cellular data networks. The concern is that "electronic devices can emit a signal within the same frequency band as the aircraft's communications and navigation systems, creating what is known as electromagnetic interference."
Voice calls are also banned. In 1991 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) blocked them over “concerns about interference with wireless networks on the ground.” While this perhaps is no longer an issue with today's technology, the FCC ban remains in place. A recent FCC proposal to reverse this rule was met with fears of the air rage and general noise that phone conversations could produce.
EXPERT OPINIONS ON AIRPLANE MODE
As with all issues, experts can be found with varying opinions. Professor Shawn Pruchnicki of The Ohio State University told USA Today, "There's no extensive testing that is done on all the different types of airplanes combined with all the different types of cellphones."
For as long as this is true, a blanket ban for all mobile devices will likely stay. The Federal Aviation Administration stated, "FAA regulations prohibit the use of certain portable electronic devices on aircraft unless the operator determined they won't interfere with navigation or communication systems."
Some experts are optimistic, especially in the U.K. and European Union, where different frequencies exist "and there are lower power settings than those that have been allowed in the U.S." Owing in part to this, the European Commission ruled "airlines can provide 5G technology on board planes, alongside slower mobile data."
The U.K. Flight Safety Committee's Dai Whittingham told the BBC "that airplane mode was historically important due to a lack of knowledge about how mobile devices affect aircraft." However, he adds, "what has been found with experience is the risk of interference is very small."
However, until U.S. regulators agree, airplane mode remains the law of the land.
