Why do they tell you to turn off electronics on a plane?

Question

i left everything on and nothing happened...

Answer 1

The portable devices you are asking about can and do sometimes interfere with aircraft navigational systems.  In the real world, it seldom happens but the possibility does exist so to error on the side of safety you are asked to turn the devices off.

If your device had been leaking RF due to poor design or damage, your idiotic action could have caused you aircraft to collide with another.  I am glad you are so lucky, I may have been on the other plane with my laptop turned off.

Some people are just SAD.

Answer 2

thats a good question.

but i always thought it might interfer with some radio tranmiting stuff

i found this site

http://www.wisegeek.com/why-do-all-elect...

Answer 3

It interferes  with the radio transmitting devices

Answer 4

it could infer with the pilots instruments like {telling them the wrong stuff} etc.

Answer 5

so you're the one. I was accompanying a flight as a flight mechanic and was in the cockpit smoking when we could hear the someone perhaps doing SMS, we could hear the tones as one hits the keypad. It does interfere with some radio signals and most cockpit instruments rely on radio signals as carriers.

Answer 6

cuz it may disrupt a couple of the delicate instruments on the plane. there is really the potential of this. i think it has something to do with the climbing in atmosphere and decending. they may have technology on the plane that prevents this, but dont want the everyday passenger to know this, so as an added precaution and becuz they are quite possibly ***** they dont tell us that.

Answer 7

Because first of all, if you have a radio or cell phone it could interfere with the plane's  communication with the airport if signals are mixed.

And other electronics (DVD, Cd players, Mp3, games...) I'm guessing because they don't want you distracted if they say something important concerning flights, delays, your safety.. etc.

Answer 8

Heres the legal answer.  There was a plane crash about 10 years ago where it was found that a radio spike (possibly a cell phone or some other electronic device) occurred just before the crash.  These days, everything is so shielded that nothing will really happen, but all operating electronics generate an electromagnetic signal, that could interfere with the electronics.  Basically, the FAA has passed a regulation that all electronics must be ceritifed to be used during landing and take off.  However, no electronic devices have been certified.  So those of you who dont want to be annoyed by turning them off probably arent hurting anything, but you are risking hurting everyone, and are breaking federal law.

Answer 9

OK, there seems to be MANY misinformed opinions here amongst these responses.

The truth is this:

In the aforementioned comment above, stating the FCC put the rule into effect many years ago in order to rule out risks involving interference with the aircraft's navigation system.

They ask you to turn off your Portable Electronic Devices for a few reasons. The first and most obvious being interference with instrumentation, second to charge you the expensive rates for using the phone on the back of the seat in front of you (this costs money as in the U.S. these phones communicate through one of the 135 land-based radio towers [like cell-towers] or when over the ocean, they transmit to satellite, which is very costly).

In 2004 the FCC  was actually considering lifting this ban because of today's shielding used in PEDs and required by all modern aircraft via the FCC and FAA, but in March of 2007 they ruled against and terminated the proceeding due to the fact that it could be negligence should there be, in the rare event, an incident regarding interference with the VOR.

And honestly, a subject as delicate as someone's cell phone crashing a plan, wouldn't you think they would regulate the use much more stricter? Such as having cell phone bins that are kept in a locked area at the back of the aircraft. There would probably also be metal detectors ON the plane as well as frish searches. Suddenly, flying wouldn't be so much of a convienence if terrorists need only to use their cellphones to hijack the planes controls.

So, put in short, there are no commercial aircraft in operation today that would be affected by a cellphone manufactured within the past 10 years. Which would be 99% of cell phones.

Answer 10

They may interfere with some of the electronics being used on board.

Answer 11

Some MAY interfere with the electronics on the plane. I sure wouldn't want to be the moron responsible for a plane crash because I was too stupid, selfish or ignorant to follow a simple request.

Answer 12

well, if u use them, most likely it will interfere with the navigation systems.

Answer 13

Because if you were using a ipod during landing or takeoff and the F/As saw a crash was imminent you couldnt hear their instructions on what to do. Also it can become a "projectile" in the cabin if you let go of it during takeoff or landing.

It can also interfere like stated above.

Answer 14

It can affect the VOR navigation system.  Saw Mythbusters prove this just recently.

Answer 15

I think it's mostly so you won't annoy other passengers (cell phones etc) . It will not interfer with the plane

Answer 16

Your lucky you didn't take the plane down. It can mess up the nav igation systems ,they dont want to take the chance.

Answer 17

it "could" interfere with their electronic signals.