What is it that cell phones are supposed to do to planes if you use them while landing?

Question

What is it that cell phones are supposed to do to planes if you use them while landing?

Answer 1

One phone: probably nothing.

A plane full of people talking on phones: a lot of distracted people who aren't paying attention to anything going on around them.  People on the brink of insanity because of 200 other people around them all talking on a phone.  Incredible amounts of radio activity bouncing around the cabin.  Unknown effect on aircraft communication and navigation equipment.

The FAA does not allow any electronic device capable of transmitting to be used on a plane unless extensive testing has been accomplished by the operator.  There are just way too many different phones and devices out there to test each kind.  The FAA and airlines are not going to take any risks of a new type of phone interfering with the airplane's equipment.  Nor are they going to take the chance of allowing a plane full of people talking on cell phones having a cumulative effect on the aircraft's electronics.

Answer 2

It drives the cell-phone companies nuts--or at least it once did, with the old equipment--and it makes the airline people uncomfortable.  

That said, there are a heck of a lot of cell phone signals floating around every airport because that's where the cell towers are, and they put out several hundred watts of telephone signals.  Ergo, it's pretty clear that the flight systems are immune to cell-phone signals and other forms of radio interference, as one would expect.  

The IEEE (look it up) did a study on the problem and ruled that any danger of rf devices was negligible, but it still made the airlines uncomfortable, and they own the airplanes.  

The cell phone rules on aircraft are probably going to be changed within a year or so; I believe that the FCC and FAA are taking opinions right now.

Answer 3

It affects the radio systems in the aircraft.  I would be more into about whats going on in the plane than whats happening at my mom's house wouldn't you?

Answer 4

Shut your pie-hole RED and let the man land the plane already!!!

Answer 5

I think it's interesting that on the mythbusters show they tried to interfere with an ILS signal, and it DID!  Then, they tried it in the mock up plane, and the real jet, and nothing happened.  Well, to me that means it's inconclusive!  They would have to test every type of phone on every type of aircraft, and that's just not possible.

Anyway, it's illegal under the FAA rules, as well as the FCC.  So, even if you are in a glider, and you know the signal won't do anything to the aircraft, it's still illegal because of the FCC.  Hopefully, this will never change, as flying is the one time I can get away from those things!!

Answer 6

I cannot believe how many people think Mythbusters has a clue.  Their test was complete bollocks.

An airliner is essentially, a long aluminum tube with wings.  Cell phones, and other similar devices send out a constant signal, looking for a tower.  Within the confines of that aluminum tube, a signal can bounce around, and actually increase in it's intensity.  Now multiply that by a hundred phones on a given flight.

They can interfere or cause static.

My wife is an airline CSA, and she had to remove a passenger from a flight before the door closed, because they wouldn't shut off their phone (probably some idiot who watched Mythbusters).  The Flight Attendants didn't know the person was on the phone... it was detected in the cockpit by the flight crew.  Interference was observed that they knew was caused by a phone.  They called the F/A, who found the passenger.  They refused to turn it off.  The FA's then called the gate, and my wife took them off the flight.

Answer 7

It could interfere with the plane's navigation system, but the odds are very low, and your personal conversation is more important than the safety of hundreds of people including yourself, isn't it?

Answer 8

I was told by someone its something to do with the network and it doesnt charge you while your in the air??

But its suppost to mess about with the navigation etc. Dont risk it..

Answer 9

They can supposedly interfere with the electronic navigation systems but this has never been conclusively proven. The FAA and airlines are apparently not willing to pay for the lengthy and expensive testing required, so instead they just ban them. However, don't get caught using one in flight or you could wind up in a Federal court for doing so.

Answer 10

it boils down to the airlines and the cell companies don't want to pay for testing this.  As with everything else in this country it comes down to the almighty dollar.  Airlines are haveing enough problems with profit and don't want to pay for extensive test and the cell phone companies aren't going to pay for the test.

Answer 11

Cellphones send out radio waves that can interfere with the flight director(a.k.a. FD) and the auto pilot. When an aircraft reaches it's cruising altitude, the pilot switches on the auto pilot. The auto pilot then maintains the altitude thats dialed on the altitude selector. If a cellphone interferes with the Flight Director (tells the auto pilot what to do) or with the auto pilot (does what the Flight Director says) then the aircrafts avionics  fail then the aircraft simply nose dives THEN the pilot has to switch off the auto pilot then switch off the flight director then recover the aircraft from the nose dive. If the pilot fails to do so. Guess what?

Answer 12

Its just a myth that isn't true.  It was said that they mess with the  airplanes controls from PEDs   but it was busted on mythbusters.

Answer 13

On rare occasions they can interfere with the autopilot and navigation system. For the most part this has been fixed and does not really do anything. Mostly it for a safety. They don't want people to be distracted in case instructions are given.

Answer 14

It's really a myth.  I was sitting next to a pilot awhile back on a flight and we started talking about different things.  That subject came up and he said it was not ture.  From what he said, it was more that the cell phone service providers had difficulty in tracking the call as you were changing cells so frequently.

On the other hand, I am happy not to use mine on the plane or having to listen to some idiot jabbering for hours on end, thinking the world can't survive without him.