Comments on: “Please turn off all electronic devices” – Why?

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:14:04 +0000

I am not qualified to say whether these small electronic devices could cause interference. But I can use logic, so think about this: If this interference claim is even remotely true, why are passengers allowed the devices at all? What about the risk of someone ignoring or innocently forgetting to follow this instruction? Would this be allowed to occur if there really were a clear and present danger caused by someone listening to their iPod? No.

I made sure to pay attention on my flight yesterday, and the flight attendant specifically stated the reason as “the devices can interfere with important flight systems.”
Hmmmm….this does not make sense

By: Paul Pilkington

Paul Pilkington — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:16:04 +0000

That still doesn’t explain why the Airlines tell you to turn off your phone. You just told what happens with the calls being handed off. I think that “Matt @ Corporate Hack” has the most accurate answer about the interference. Also i think they tell you to turn them off for safety purposes. When the plan is landing and taking off that is the most crucial time of the flight. So if they have to give safety instructions. They don’t want to be liable for some idiot listing to their IPOD all the way up and not hearing the instructions. I understand the phone concern just not the mp3 player, dvd player, or laptop with the wifi off. My main concern is the idiot that forgot to turn there cell phone off or is doing it because they don’t see any reason in it. It is a possible hazard to the flight. I really think people just need not wine about having to shut them off and just do it. Is it really that big of a deal to shut off you phone for the flight. you can’t use it anyway you are out of range of the towers. Also is it that big of a deal to not listen to you music for the first 5 minutes of the flight and the last 15 of it.

By: Imano

Imano — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:12:07 +0000

I am a Computer/Electrical Engineer myself and have friends who worked in the Wireless/Telecom industry… On such friend who does research on wireless cell networks etc. told me the real reason behind why Airline industry asks passengers to turn off their phones. It has nothing to do with interference with airplane navigation… in fact, it is done to keep airplanes loaded with “on” cell phones from taking down surrounding cell-towers and wireless infrastructure down. Our phones “register” with the nearest towers to let the phone companies know where the phone is and which tower will receive/send call to that phone. As we travel around in our car, we are sometimes “handed off” from one tower to another tower, even during a phone call. Now think about an airplane loaded with 200 phone, multiply that times 5-10 airplane taking off/minute around, larger airports, compare speed of an airplane vs car, imagine thousands of phones trying to do the “hand-off” from cell tower to another during take-off and landing (when they are “in-range” of towers) and you have makings of being able to cause havoc on cell-phone companies’ infrastructure – given that cell phone towers are only few miles apart, plane load of phone going across them every few seconds is too much for the cell-companies to handle – now you know the real reason you can have cell-phones on during take-off/landing

By: fathersez

fathersez — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:28:48 +0000

I suspect that the airlines will find it a lot more difficult to get people to shut off their phones if they don’t use the safety threat.

Imagine having a plane load of people yakking away throughout a flight! Should be enough to drive a lot of the saner passengers insane.

By: daver

daver — Wed, 07 May 2008 02:51:15 +0000

Do you really think you could carry a device on a plane if it was that dangerous? I’m pretty sure the truth is they don’t want to deal with the noise.

By: Steven Rothberg CollegeRecruiter.com

Steven Rothberg CollegeRecruiter.com — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:40:42 +0000

There’s a huge difference between turning off electronics like phones to prevent people from being annoying versus safety. I think that we’d all agree that if turning off these devices would help keep us safer then we’d happily do it. But the airline industry doesn’t have much credibility these days. Telling the truth seems to be pretty difficult for many. It is a pretty sad statement, but I am actually surprised when a flight attendant or pilot is candid with us (their customers) when they’re telling us about a flight delay etc. But if they can’t tell us the truth about when our flight will actually depart then how can we trust them to tell us the truth about using electronics?

By: Brandon Alsup

Brandon Alsup — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:50:35 +0000

I may have to shoot myself on the plane if I am stuck sitting next to some idiot on a conference call. Unfortunately people are not always born with manners and it is the airlines job to step in and enforce them to ensure everyone has a nice trip. I would hate to see cell phones allowed on planes.

You think crying babies are bad, what about cocky businessmen and teenagers!

By: Jennifer Robinson

Jennifer Robinson — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:45:19 +0000

I think it’s hokey, too. Some planes are offering in-flight cell phone service now. Maybe we’ll see it soon.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24355296/

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:39:13 +0000

Yah, I think there is a lot of anecdotal evidence like this. I’m hoping the wisdom of the crowd can weigh in on this one to sort it all out.

By: Matt @ Corporate Hack

Matt @ Corporate Hack — Tue, 06 May 2008 02:34:52 +0000

Well, it’s a fine question and the hassle is annoying. Though for the sake of discussion, I’ve seen a lot of cell phones that consistently mess with landline telephones, computer speakers, and sound reinforcement sytems (you know, that loud buzzing-clunking noise… AT&T phones are particularly susceptible).

Playing devils advocate, I don’t know, it might be worth the precaution. One blackberry buzzing on a conference call is annoying, but on a plane with 400 passengers, each with a cell phone and the outside potential to interfere with the pilot’s communication systems, I wonder if it might not just be a good idea to have us turn them off during approach.