When you’re getting ready to board a flight, putting your phone into airplane mode seems like a common practice. Concern that a telephone signal could interfere with an aircraft’s navigation systems and cause a crash has led many to accept this measure as necessary to ensure in-flight safety. However, the reality behind all this is much less alarming than you think. Here we explain The real reason for using airplane mode on airplanes.
Why do airlines require airplanes to be in airplane mode?
The need for airplane mode on commercial flights is largely a myth. Although it was initially thought that telephone signals could interfere with the aircraft’s communications systems, this fear was largely refuted by the facts.
In 2022, Europe decided to allow phone calls and data use on flights. It has also begun requiring all aircraft to install “picocells,” which act as traffic controllers and ensure that phone signals do not interfere with aircraft communications systems. However, even without this measure, there is limited evidence that the phone ever interfered with the aircraft’s electrical systems.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a 2012 study that found very few conclusive cases of aircraft systems malfunctioning due to cell phone use. Most of the evidence on this matter seems anecdotal or very outdated.
So, if the risk of interfering with flight systems is minimal, why do airlines still insist that you activate airplane mode? The real reason for this policy is much more mundane: “air violence.
This phenomenon, characterized by violence against flight attendants and other passengers due to the stressors associated with air travel, has increased significantly in recent years.
The FAA reported more than 10,000 unruly passengers between 2021 and 2023, an increase of about 300% from 2018 to 2020. Therefore, airlines fear that allowing phone calls and data usage during flights will only worsen this situation, leading to more incidents of violence in the air.
When did the airplane mode myth begin?
In 1991, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned the use of cell phones on airplanes due to “terrestrial network interference.” However, despite technological advances such as picocells that eliminated this problem, the ban persisted.
The possibility of allowing in-flight calling and data use was raised in 2013, but concerns about airborne violence led to the rule being retained. The decision reflected concerns about passenger behavior more than concerns about technology.
Thus, flight mode, although usually seen as a safety measure, in fact remains more courtesy introduced by the US government to prevent disruptions during flights. This approach has resulted in the persistence of outdated regulations and the misconception that flight mode is necessary for aviation safety.
Flight Mode Recommendations
Despite the reality of the Airplane Mode myth, it is still important to follow the instructions of the aircraft crew, including activating Airplane Mode during takeoff and landing. Failure to do so may result in severe penalties under federal law.
The requirement to activate airplane mode on flights seems plausible given the extreme precautions we take when traveling, such as removing our shoes and walking through metal detectors at airports. For this reason, some may follow this instruction to feel safer, assuming that cell phone use may cause discomfort to passengers, although there is no conclusive evidence to support this claim.
The collective fear of flying influences our belief in the necessity of airplane mode. We all want to follow the rules to ensure a safe flight. The myth of the importance of airplane mode is so ingrained in our minds that we feel guilty if we don’t activate it.
However, these days, most flights offer Wi-Fi for a small fee, allowing you to make calls, surf the Internet and play video games. If more aircraft had picocells installed, we could use these services for free.
Now that you understand that flight mode is more a matter of courtesy to your fellow passengers than safety, remember that by doing so you are helping to create a more relaxed and comfortable in-flight environment for everyone on board.
Source: Digital Trends
