Why We’re Still Told to Turn Off Our Phones on Flights
We’ve all been there – stuck in a cramped economy seat, forced to endure a long-haul flight with nothing but our thoughts to keep us company. The ritual of turning off our phones on planes has become second nature, but have you ever wondered why?
Source: media.cnn.com
The answer lies not in the fear of interfering with the plane’s navigation systems, but in something much more complex. The real reason we’re told to turn off our phones on flights is not because they pose a risk to the aircraft itself, but because of the potential for ground interference.
Source: media.cnn.com
Wireless networks are connected by a series of towers, and the networks could become overloaded if passengers flying over these ground networks are all using their phones. This is a problem that affects not just individual flights, but the entire wireless industry as a whole.
The number of passengers that flew in 2021 was over 2.2 billion, and that’s half of what the 2019 passenger numbers were. The wireless companies might have a point here – if everyone on a plane were using their phones at the same time, it could cause a significant strain on the network.
The Impact of 5G on Aviation Safety
But there’s another reason why the aviation industry is hesitant to allow phone use on flights. The move to 5G wireless networks has caused concern for many within the industry. Radio frequency bandwidth is limited, yet we’re still trying to add more new devices to it. The aviation industry points out that the 5G wireless network bandwidth spectrum is remarkably close to the reserved aviation bandwidth spectrum, which may cause interference with navigation systems near airports that assist with landing the aircraft.
Airport operators in Australia and the US have voiced aviation safety concerns linked to 5G rollout, however it appears to have rolled out without such problems in the European Union. Either way, it’s prudent to limit mobile phone use on planes while issues around 5G are sorted out
