Why are celullar devices not allowed on the plane?

Question

Why are celullar devices not allowed on the plane?

Answer 1

An FCC regulation prohibits the use of cellular telephones on an aircraft.

An airline must additionally determine that electronic devices do not interfere with aircraft systems before allowing them on the aircraft.  Cellular telephones don't normally interfere with anything, but airlines are reluctant to bite the bullet and take responsibility for that.

There has been a movement to change regulations to allow cellphones on aircraft, but many businesspeople are very opposed to the idea, since the only break they get from a constantly ringing cellphone is when they are riding in an airplane.

Answer 2

Because on some aircraft it interferes with certain devices on board. As it generates a magnetic field it could interrupt navigation and communication devices.

On our aircraft it can disrupt a device similar to power steering, which cannot be reset in-flight and severely increases the musclepower needed to control the aircraft manually (during landing).

Edit: radar is not used to navigate the plane, and is least disrupted by phones.

Answer 3

The operation of cellular devices isn't allowed not because of possible interference to avionics, but the physics of cell towers.

Cell towers' coverage radiates upwards like an inverted cone: the higher the altitude the further the spread.  At typical commercial altitudes, cell towers overlap complicating the acceptance and handoff of signals.  (You're not only at altitude, you're also moving at 7-8miles a minute).  The simultaneous processing of multiple cell towers could potentially bringing down a network.  

There is a fix in the works, that looks promising BTW.

Answer 4

Jim is correct, and as an FYI:  It's the FCC (federal communications commission) that bans the use of cellphones on planes, not the FAA

Answer 5

The use of cell phones is banned on airplanes in flight by the FCC.

Some electronic devices can interfere with navigation equipment.  They generate an IF frequency that is the same as a VOR receiver's IF frequency.  Cell phones don't do that.  Commercial flights use GPS in practice but published airways that they use are based on VOR signals.  Therefore, the VOR is still the official primary navigation tool and must be kept free of interference.

Answer 6

Wow ........there are allot of misinformed folks on this one. It is a FAA regulation 14  CFR 91.21 & 121.306)  as well as a FCC regulation.

Straight from the FAA website:............

"For Immediate Release

Most airline passengers know the drill. Turn off all pagers, electronic games, PDAs, MP3 and CD players and the like once the cabin door is closed, until the plane gets above 10,000 feet. No using cell phones at any time while the plane is in the air. But hardly anyone knows the real reason why they have to follow these rules.

It's a Safety Thing

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is concerned that there are still many unknowns about the radio signals that portable electronic devices (PEDs) and cell phones give off. These signals, especially in large quantities and emitted over a long time, may unintentionally affect aircraft communications, navigation, flight control and electronic equipment.

FAA regulations (specifically, 14 CFR 91.21 and 121.306) prohibit use of most portable electronic devices aboard aircraft. The rules specifically exempt portable voice recorders, hearing aids, heart pacemakers and electric shavers because they don't give off signals that might interfere with aircraft systems.

The regulations also let airlines independently determine if passengers can use PEDs not specifically mentioned by the rules. An airline must show that a device does not interfere with safe operation of the aircraft during all phases of flight. In its oversight capacity, the FAA ensures that the operator complies with regulations by reviewing the results of the carrier's tests and analysis of pertinent data.

The FAA has issued guidance to the airlines allowing passengers to turn on most PEDs after the plane reaches an altitude of 10,000 feet. The agency chose that altitude because, at a lower height, any potential interference could be more of a safety hazard as the cockpit crew focuses on critical arrival and departure duties.

Cell Phones: A Different Animal

Cell phones (and other intentional transmitters) differ from most PEDs in that they send out signals strong enough to be received at distances far away from the user.

Since 1991, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned the inflight use of          800 MHz cell phones      

because of potential interference with ground networks. This ban requires that in addition to the testing the FAA requires to show non-interference to the airplane systems, an airline would also need to apply for an exemption to the FCC rule before it could allow cell phone use inflight.

Today, airlines may let passengers use newer-model cell phones in what's called "airplane" mode, which essentially disables the transmission function so they can't make calls. This mode lets users do other things, such as play a game, check an address or look at the phone's calendar.

In February 2005, the FCC issued a proposal to lift the restriction on 800 MHz cell phone calls while airborne if such phones are operating under control of equipment installed in the airplane (e.g., "pico cell" technology) that acts as an antenna for onboard callers and controls the power level of the phones themselves.

Even if the FCC rescinds its ban, FAA regulations would still apply. Any installed equipment would be subject to FAA certification, just like any other piece of hardware. The air carrier would have to show that the use of a particular model phone won't interfere with the navigation and communications systems of the particular type of aircraft on which it will be used

Answer 7

you can bring them on the flight, just not use them, it has something to do with the radar they use to navigate the plane and if you use your cell phone it throw of the radar

Answer 8

What I've heard is that if you try to make a call in the air, instead of just reaching your normal local station, your phone will make contact with all the stations you can reach from your airplane and cause a lot of traffic.

Maybe that's why the FAA has imposed this on airliners, I don't think it really has a severe impact of any avionics in flight  

Answer 9

actually cellphones will not do any harm to a plane because they only have low frequencies. it's just a safety procedure cause we don't know if a new model of phone can interfere with the planes frequencies..........,

Answer 10

Long time ago, it was believed that cell phones can interfere with the communications between the aircraft and the tower.

However, recent research is showing the cell phones operate on a totally different frequency and that they won't cause interference with communications.

However, it is FAA law to have your cell phones turned off on an airplane, but after some more research is done the FAA may life that law.

Answer 11

They shouldn't be because the technology used on airliners isn't affected by cellular frequencies or anything of that sort.

I'm a pilot, and I often call people and send text messages while in the air and no instruments are affected at all.

The only reason this rule isn't being changed is because at the altitudes that airliners fly at, there wouldn't be any service anyways. Also, many people obviously still believe that it could cause accidents and changing one rule isn't worth trying to explain something like this to all the stubborn people in the world.

Answer 12

Because it BARELY interferes with the crafts Gidgits and Gadgets. Also, airliners are greedy and only want you to use their phones so they get money.

Answer 13

Back when I worked for Trans States Airline and on repair flight (on a Baron acft) to fix a ATR-72 and a EMB, I ask the pilot about this.  

He said that it does nothing to the acft avionics or flight, but he did say that he cannot make a call past (I think) 5000ft.

I think it may interfere with the many radio's freq that a acft has.