Why on airplanes....?

Question

you have 2 turn off your phone when your landing or taking off?

Answer 1

It inter fears with the signal from the control tower and can cause a problem.

Once my friend told me he was about to land and it rang then when they where at the gate the flight attendant said 'wait here the pilot wants to talk to you'.

Answer 2

It is because they feel the signal from the cell phone will interfere with the aircraft's electronics.  There has never been any strong findings that it does, but they lean on the side of caution.

Also it is an FAA thing not an FCC thing.  

Europe just allow cellphone or is about to, but the US justed again voted to keep the rule in place.

Also - this means when you can have your phone on IT CAN NOT be in transmit or receive mode.  You can use it to watch videos, listen to music, play games, but not to make a call.

Answer 3

The short answer: The FAA imposed this requirement a long time ago when portable phones were actually likely to interfere with avionics. Modern phones bear almost on resemblance to the MTS phones that resulted in this rule. The rule is still there because nobody has any incentive to do anything about it.

This has nothing to do with the reason you have to have phones turned off in flight. Phones have to be off in flight because you are so high up that you would interfere with dozens of phone systems.

Answer 4

i think it's because the signals might interfere with the signals from control tower

Answer 5

This is something that I have asked a pilot friend of mine.  He is a captain on a 757 for a major airline and I trust his knowledge.  Are you ready for this?!  Here's the answer...  No reason at all!  They simply don't want you to do it!  The phones IN NO WAY interfere with the COMPLETELY DIFFERENT systems on the plane.  If anything, they are just playing it safe, just in case anything at all can be said about any other types of interferences.

Answer 6

Because the the airline says so based off an FAA ruling.

a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may operate, nor may any operator or pilot in command of an aircraft allow the operation of, any portable electronic device on any of the following U.S.-registered civil aircraft:

(1) Aircraft operated by a holder of an air carrier operating certificate or an operating certificate; or

(2) Any other aircraft while it is operated under IFR.

(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to—

(1) Portable voice recorders;

(2) Hearing aids;

(3) Heart pacemakers;

(4) Electric shavers; or

(5) Any other portable electronic device that the operator of the aircraft has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used.

(c) In the case of an aircraft operated by a holder of an air carrier operating certificate or an operating certificate, the determination required by paragraph (b)(5) of this section shall be made by that operator of the aircraft on which the particular device is to be used. In the case of other aircraft, the determination may be made by the pilot in command or other operator of the aircraft.

In short, the Pilot did not make the determination that it would not interfere with the radio/nav equipment in the airplane. In additon, due to the altitude, your cell phone will not likely work, due to the number of towers avaialble that can pickup the phone, and the speed of the aircraft, meaning the call would have to swith between towers faster than it can.

Answer 7

My cell phone interferes with my computer and Ham radio. It does this when it loses the signal from the tower and goes in the roaming mode. I wouldn't want to be on a commercial aircraft doing an IFR approach with a cabin full of cell phones.

Answer 8

there are unproven allegations that cellphone signals cause interference with the airplane's electronics. Biggest concern is the navigation system on the planes which use satellites and ring gyros to navigate. These things remember where you are at departure and tell you here you end up by calculating direction and speed throughout the duration of the flight. The calibration of these systems happen on the ground, at the gate. Those signals are similar to cellphone signals and they're afraid it may cause interference and cause the inertial navigation system to malfunction or display the wrong location. Cellphone signals will not interfere with aircraft radios. The frequencies are totally different. There won't be a problem if you use the cellphone once airborne and at cruising altitude except that you won't get a signal past around 14,000 feet or so. Trust me, I tested it with mine in my cessna.

I don't think its true however. Airplane electronics are shielded extensively, against shocks, electromagnetic activity and lightning strikes. I doubt a little cellphone signal would bother it. I think its another one of those cellphone myths like the one saying using cellphones at a gas station can ignite the gas fumes and cause an explosion.

Answer 9

Because the signals that the phone emits cause interference with the airplane communications. The plane needs to use all of its equipment when it leaves the gate or arrives to the gate so that they will know when they are clear.

Answer 10

you're not supposed to turn your phone off for landing -- it's supposed to already be off!

Answer 11

Devices that transmit a signal "could" potentially interfere with communication and navigation equipment. The real answer is that all devices that transmit a signal, and are going to be used on aircraft must be approved by the FAA. The FAA is certainly not going to pay for the testing and it has just been deemed not worth spending any money on by the phone manufacturers.

Answer 12

makes you use theres at $100/min con artists