Does the use of cellphones onboard really interfere with aircraft navigation systems?

Answer 1

ya my husbands father is a pilot... i cant remember exactly what he says it does but he says dont use them. dont even turn them on once the doors a closed.

Answer 2

Yes and No. In some older aircraft's the wires are not insulated and it does interfere with them. In the newer aircraft's where all wires are insulated it don't. All major airlines offer in flight phones to use that cost an arm and a leg and one testicle. These in-flight phones use a different frequency band that is much stronger then a normal cell phone. All of these aircraft's you can use a cell phone on without any interference. Just don't get caught using your cell phone on an aircraft. They get upset by the money they lose when you don't used their phone.
P.S. I was in the Army and flew all the time. We use our cell phones in flight with no problems at all. Even the Army pilots use their cell phones in flight.

Answer 3

They say prevention is better than cure. It is sensible not to use one while on board though. Not only is it against the FCC rules it interferes with the other signals useful for nagivating the aircraft. Sets me wondering of a gentleman who used it to make a call to his wife from one of the 9/11 aircraft that crashed into a field. How was he able to do it then? Was he allowed or what?

Answer 4

It's never been proved to interfere. But with new phones being realeased on a massive scale it would cost to much money to keep testing new phones for interference. Some phones probably will cut through communications at some stage in the future. To play safe they ban all phones, in case of problems.

PS Getting caught using your phone on an airplane is likely to get you banned from all flights from that company and perhaps others.

Answer 5

Personally, I say NO.
Only because last year when I was on a plane there was a chap next to me and he sent a text message as we were taking off.
He did look very suspicious which kinda freaked me a little, but, i'm here to tell you nothing happened. If it was starting to interfere, surely the pilot would have said something over the intercom.
Maybe if 100 passengers did it at the same time, something might register.
Lots of love.......Cosmo.

Answer 6

The Mythbusters on Discovery channel went over this question.

Yes, SOME cell phones use SOME frequency ranges that effect instruments in airplanes. Sunspots and other electromagnetic waves from space can have the same effect. However, FAA regulations and industry standards shield all cables and electronics to block this interference. But hey, why risk it? It your call THAT important?

Answer 7

Yes, have you never heard the noise your radio makes just before your 'phone goes off if they're close together? If not, leave your 'phone near a music source and try it...

That signal can interfere with *anything* electronic, particularly radio-related, inlcuding vital hospital equipment.

Answer 8

Well if you watch the pilot episode of the West Wing, Toby Ziegler is on a flight into DC, and he asks the question " do you really think I can flummox this thing with something I bought at Radio Shack? Think about it!

Answer 9

They tell you not to use it on board so that you don't p all the other passengers off with your inane conversations (and thus possibly cause 'air rage'!) If it's so dangerous to use on board an aircraft in flight, why did the captain tell all his passengers that they could all get on their phones to tell anybody meeting them that they'd be late because they were being 'stacked'?

Answer 10

Depends on the aircraft. Most newer planes are not affected. It's more of a national security issue. Also, it pisses off your flightmates less.

Answer 11

That's nonsense. If there were any chance that a cellphone would interfere, do you think they would let you take one on? Do you think they just TRUST you?