We all know the routine: "please ensure your seats are upright, tray tables are stowed, window shades are up, laptops are stored in the overhead bins, and electronic devices are set to flight mode"
The first four are not bad. We can see if there is a fire by looking at window shades. We can get out of the row quickly if the tray tables are upright.
Seat back pockets are not strong enough to hold laptops in an emergency.
Setting mobile phones to flight mode will prevent them from causing an emergency for the plane.
It depends on who you are talking to.
Since the 1920's, radio services have been coordinated to minimize interference.
The digital technology we use today is more advanced than the older technologies we used in the past. Research shows that personal electronic devices can emit the same signal as the aircraft's communications and navigation systems.
In 1992, the US Federal Aviation Authority and Boeing investigated the use of electronic devices on aircraft interference and found no issues with computers or other personal electronic devices. Critical phases include take-offs and landings.
The FCC created reserved frequencies for different uses so they don't interfere with one another.
The same policies and strategies were developed by governments around the world. The EU allows electronic devices to stay on.
Why has the aviation industry not allowed the use of mobile phones? Ground interference is one of the problems.
If passengers use their phones while flying over the ground networks, they could overload the wireless networks.
In the year of 2021, the number of passengers was over 2 billion, but that was half of what the year before had. The companies may have a point.
The biggest change in recent years is the move to a new standard. The aviation industry is concerned about the current 5G wireless networks.
We are trying to add more devices to the radio frequencies. The 5G wireless network bandwidth spectrum is close to the reserved aviation bandwidth spectrum, which could cause interference with navigation systems near airports that assist with landing the aircraft.
Airport operators in Australia and the US have voiced safety concerns related to 5G, however it appears to have rolled out without such problems in the EU. It is wise to limit the use of mobile phones on planes while 5G is being worked on.
Most airlines offer free or pay-as-you-go wi-fi. Passengers could theoretically use their mobile phones to make video calls in-flight.
On a recent flight, I spoke with a cabin attendant and inquired about the use of phones during flights. She stated that it would be inconvenient for cabin crew to wait for passengers to finish their call to ask if they would like a drink or snack. If everyone made phone calls, in-flight service would take more time.
The social experience of having over 200 people on a plane and all potentially talking at the same time is more important than the issue of in-flight use of phones.
In a time when disruptive passenger behavior, including "air rage", is more frequent, phone use in flight might be another cause of change.
Not wearing seat belts, verbal altercations with fellow passengers and cabin crew, and physical altercations with passengers and cabin crews are examples of disruptive behaviors.
In conclusion, in-flight use of phones does not affect the ability to operate. It's a lot of people to serve and cabin crews may prefer not to be late.
We need more research to answer the 5G question regarding interference with aircraft navigation during landings, as 5G technology is encroaching on the radio bandwidth of aircraft navigation systems.
The two most critical phases of flight are take-offs and landings.
Professor/Head of Aviation at the University of Australia.
Under a Creative Commons license, this article is re-posted. The original article is worth a read.
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