Why Can’t We Use Phones on Airplanes?

When we get on a plane we automatically shut our phones off or put them on airplane mode and on the off chance that we forget we get reminded 100% of the time, but do phones really affect anything and could they cause a crash?

Phones emit waves in the radio frequency and it is said that these radio waves may, though unlikely, interfere with aircraft communications, flight control, pilot cockpit equipment and other electronic equipment on the plane.

BUT this is more to do with what the public believes than what Science confirms. In the past few years, Science has been examining the electromagnetic interference of electronic devices on aircraft. The general rule of thumb is anywhere below 10,000 feet and electronic devices (phones/ laptops and handheld gaming devices) are basically harmless.

Since it is better to be safe than sorry, electronic devices are banned on airplanes HOWEVER, this ban has been lifted and are being lifted by different companies as time progresses. Airfrance was the first to do this to allow for texting, e-mailing and for even making calls.

When you use your phone on a plane you are thousands of feet above a cell tower (cell tower in image below) and are travelling at 500 miles an hour. When you are on the ground your phone doesn’t work very hard to make a call and in the air, your phone gets confused and doesn’t know which cell tower to use due to travelling so high and so fast. This makes your phone emit stronger signals increasing the possibility that it will interfere with plane equipment.

Newer plane technology use PicoCells which is basically a mini cell tower on board which allows phones on the plane and cell towers on the ground interact normally.

I wonder how long it will take before all planes have this technology.
Any questions leave them in the comments below and I will do my best to answer them.
Until next time, take care.

~ Mystifact