Editor's Note: The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author. CNN provides news analysis and commentary by introducing conversational work, collaboration between journalists and academics. Content is generated by conversations alone.
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We all know the routine from the heart. “Make sure your seats are in an upright position, tray tables are stored, window tints are raised, laptops are stored in overhead bins, and electronic devices are set to flight mode.”
So, the first four are reasonable, right? The window tint should be able to check if there is an emergency, such as a fire. The tray table must be seated upright so that you can quickly get out of the queue. The seatback pockets aren't strong enough to contain them, so laptops can become projectiles in emergencies.
Also, you need to set your phone to flight mode, which means you can't cause an emergency on your plane, right? Well, it depends on who you ask.
Aviation navigation and communications rely on radio services that are coordinated to minimize interference from the 1920s onwards.
The digital technology currently in use is much more advanced than some of the older analog technologies used 60 years ago. Research shows that personal electronic devices can emit signals within the same frequency band as aircraft communication and navigation systems, creating what is called electromagnetic interference.
However, in 1992, the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing investigated the use of electronic devices in aircraft interference in 1992, and no issues were found in computers or other personal electronic devices at the non-critical stage of flight. (Take-off and landing are considered important stages.)
The Federal Communications Commission has also begun creating reservation frequency bandwidth for a variety of uses, including mobile phones and aircraft navigation and communications. Governments around the world have developed the same strategies and policies to prevent the problem of aviation interference. The EU has allowed electronic devices to remain since 2014.
So why is the aviation industry continuing to ban the use of mobile phones despite these global standards being introduced? One of the problems is something you might not expect: ground interference.
The wireless network is connected by a series of towers. If all passengers flying through these ground networks use phones, the network can be overloaded. The number of passengers flew in 2021 exceeded 2.2 billion, half of the number of passengers in 2019. Wireless companies may have points here.
Of course, when it comes to mobile networks, the biggest change in recent years is the shift to new standards. The current 5G wireless networks – desirable for high-speed data transfer – have raised concerns among many people within the aviation industry.
Radio frequency bandwidth is limited, but you are still trying to add a new device. The aviation industry has pointed out that the 5G wireless network bandwidth spectrum is significantly closer to the booked air bandwidth spectrum, which could cause interference with navigation systems near the airport that assist in the landing of the aircraft.
Airline executives are worried about the 5G network of mobile phones. This is the reason (2021)
Airport operators in Australia and the US have expressed aviation safety concerns related to 5G rollouts, but it appears that the European Union has deployed without such issues. In any case, it is wise to limit mobile phone use on planes while the issues around 5G are sorted out.
Today, most airlines offer pay-as-you-go or free Wi-Fi services to their customers. New Wi-Fi technology allows passengers to theoretically use their mobile phones to make video calls with friends and clients.
On a recent flight, I spoke to a cabin attendant and expressed my opinion on the use of the phone during the flight. She said it would be inconvenient for the cabin crew to wait for passengers to finish their phone call and ask if they want to eat drinks or something. On a passenger plane with more than 200 passengers, if all of them are calling, it takes time for the service to be completed in flight.
For me, the problem with using phones while flying is the social experience of having over 200 people on the plane, and it can all be said at once. In an age of increasingly frequent destructive passenger behavior, including “air raids,” phone use during flight may be another trigger that changes the entire flight experience.
Destructive behavior can take many forms, ranging from non-compliance to safety requirements such as wearing seat belts, oral arguments with fellow passengers and cabin crews, and physical arguments with passengers and cabin crews.
In conclusion, during flight use of mobile phones does not currently compromise the aircraft's operating capabilities. However, cabin crews may prefer not to delay providing on-flight services to all passengers. It is many people who serve.
However, 5G technology is infiltrating the radio bandwidth of aircraft navigation systems. Further research is needed to answer 5G questions about interference with aircraft navigation during landing. If you are discussing the two most important stages of flight, remember that takeoff is optional, but landing is mandatory.
