"This is even more of an unknown because the newer aircraft that we have out there are even more sophisticated and are even more automation-dependent."Ī comfier ride? Spirit Airlines will offer new seats with more padding "From an accident investigation perspective, we have no evidence whatsoever that this has caused an accident, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be responsible for an accident or that it can’t cause an accident," Pruchnicki said. In theory, electronic interference could cause a plane crash – though there's no proof that has ever happened. Plus, he said, at cruising altitude, most phones aren't powerful enough to connect to cell towers on the ground, but they drain your battery trying to link up anyway. "There’s a tremendous amount of different combinations here." "There’s no extensive testing that is done on all the different types of airplanes combined with all the different types of cellphones," Pruchnicki said. This is not the time when you want any variability at all, especially when you have terrain considerations."ĭisabled travelers: Airlines must do better in their handling of wheelchairsĪs the FAA's statement above said, in order to let passengers use their cell service onboard, operators would have to prove that the devices wouldn't interfere with the plane's communication or navigation systems. "Those signals are very, very precise, and the autopilot flying those signals is also very, very precise. "Where it really counts is upon landing, especially when we’re doing an instrument landing," he said. Shawn Pruchnicki, a professor at the Center for Aviation Studies at The Ohio State University, said the big issue is potential interference with an airplane's navigation systems. "The question that I have is what my passive consumption of cellphone signal might do, you know?" Why do I need to put my phone in airplane mode?Īccording to experts and the FAA, it's a matter of safety for yourself and your fellow passengers. In the same way that when they start talking about cellphone service in the subway, we all just kind of assumed that everybody would get on the phone and just be talking talking talking," Drazen said. "My theory was always that it was a crowd control thing. So, what is the big deal if you don't put your phone in airplane mode today, especially with a non-5G phone? Here's what flyers can expect this winter. Looking ahead: 45,000+ flights were canceled this summer. Not all cell service is created equal when it comes to airplane safety. But that doesn't mean everyone will be able to make calls from the air tomorrow. "FAA regulations prohibit the use of certain portable electronic devices on aircraft unless the operator determined they won’t interfere with navigation or communication systems," the agency said in a statement.Įuropean regulators recently cleared the way for 5G-enabled mobile devices to keep their transmitters on during flights, and experts say it's likely that the U.S. That's why an announcement is made on every flight. Although it's not a well-studied question, a 2017 survey by Allianz Global Assistance found that about 40% of passengers said they left their cell service on while flying.īut Federal Aviation Administration regulations still require all passengers to use airplane mode while in the air. It’s just plain, laziness," she told USA TODAY.ĭrazen is hardly alone. When Gila Drazen flies, she typically forgets or otherwise neglects to put her phone in airplane mode. Watch Video: How 5G networks could impact flights and air travel
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