You may have heard the warning that your electronic devices should be put into airplane mode on airplane journeys. While other take-off warnings, such as storing stuff and keeping seats upright, are reasonable enough to warrant no objection, there are more questions and debates about putting electronic devices in flight mode. But why do we need to put our phone in airplane mode on flights?
Aviation navigation and communications have been based on radio services coordinated to minimize interference since the 1920s. The digital technology currently in use is much more advanced than some of the older analog technologies used 60 years ago, but it’s that simple. Research shows that personal electronic devices can create a phenomenon known as electromagnetic interference by emitting a signal in the same frequency band as aircraft communication and navigation systems.
Takeoff and landing problem
An independent study by the US Federal Aviation Authority and Boeing in 1992 investigated the use of electronic devices on aircraft interference and found no problems with computers or other personal electronic devices during non-critical phases of flight. However, it may be worth noting that takeoffs and landings are considered critical phases.
In addition, the US Federal Communications Commission tried to curb this attempt by starting to create dedicated frequency bandwidths for different uses, such as mobile phones, aircraft navigation, and communications. Governments around the world have developed the same strategies and policies to avoid interference problems in the field of flight. In the EU, electronic devices have been allowed to remain powered on since 2014.
Danger of overloading networks
With all these global standards in effect, it may seem strange that the aviation industry continues to ban the use of mobile phones. But it is not.
Wireless networks are connected by a series of towers. If passengers flying over these ground networks are all using their phones, the networks can become overloaded. The number of passengers flying in 2021 was over 2.2 billion, which is only half the number of passengers in 2019.
Why does the aviation industry ban the use of mobile phones while these global standards are in effect? One reason for this has to do with something you probably wouldn’t expect: Ground interference.
What is a ground parasite?
Wireless networks are connected by a series of towers. Networks can become overloaded if passengers flying over these ground networks are all using their phones. The number of passengers flying in 2021 was over 2.2 billion, only half of the number of passengers in 2019.
Of course, when it comes to mobile networks, the biggest change in recent years is the transition to a new standard. The current 5G wireless networks preferred for high-speed data transfer are causing concern for many in the aviation industry.
Radio frequency bandwidth is limited, but we are still trying to add more new devices to it. The aviation industry points out that the 5G wireless network bandwidth spectrum is very close to the reserved aviation bandwidth spectrum, which can cause interference with navigation systems near airports that assist aircraft landing.
Airport operators in Australia and the US have raised aviation security concerns associated with the rollout of 5G, but it appears to roll out in the European Union without such issues. In either case, limiting cell phone use on airplanes is seen as a necessary precaution as 5G-related issues are resolved.
Most airlines now provide pay-as-you-go or free Wi-Fi services to their customers. With new Wi-Fi technologies, passengers can theoretically use their mobile phones to make video calls with friends or customers on board.
If everyone on a plane talks on the phone…
But the problems do not just have technological resources. On a plane with hundreds of people, if even some of the passengers are talking on the phone at the same time, it can be a huge mess. From the need for flight attendants to wait until their phone calls are over to provide service, to the extreme behavior people may display while talking on the phone, phone calls can have a significant negative impact on the experience of other passengers.
In short, currently using a mobile phone during flight (except during critical phases such as takeoff and landing) does not seem to have an impact on the aircraft’s operational ability. But it does affect the cabin crew’s ability to perform their duties quickly and effectively. 5G technology, on the other hand, is approaching the radio bandwidth of aircraft navigation systems, and more research needs to be done to answer the 5G question about interference with aircraft navigation during landings.
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