why do people switch their cell phone in airplanes.?

Answer 1

if you mean off its because FAA regulations mandate it to prevent harmful interference that you phone could cause. Basically so you don't screw up the plane's equipment. Although it has been proved that the chances of this happening are so minuscule now-a-days, it's still required just to be safe.

Answer 2

Bostonian is a little wrong.

FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) 91.21 states:
(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)....this subpart explain about everything that does not apply...hearing aids, pacemakers etc...
It also explains that there are other exceptions if the aircarrier or operator believes the device to be ok to use.

In the case of cell phones, not a single air carrier in the use allows it to be turned on at any portion of the flight because of possible interference. Nothing has really been proven if it interferes with the instruments but I know for a fact that if you had 50 cell phones turned on in an airplane it would interfere with the headsets of the pilots which would get on my nerves.

Answer 3

Do you mean switch off? (on? to a different one?...)

Assuming switch off...

When you're on the ground, your cell phone uses the nearest tower to transmit its signal, however if you're up in the air, there are many towers within reach and your cell phone goes wonky, sending out to all the towers. Then the systems get busy and people on the ground can't make calls.

There's also the chance (low, but still a chance) that the signal will interfere with the various electrical, navigation, and communications equipment on board the plane.

Personally, I think people should just be quiet on plane rides. No talking. That would be awesome.

Answer 4

All the answers citing FAA regs do not apply. It is the Federal Communications Commission which regulates cellphone use and it is illegal to use a cellphone in an airplane when it is airborne because it will tie up a channel on every cell tower in range.
It has never been proven that any normal electronic device will disrupt aircraft control or communications, but ALL have to be turned off while taking off or landing.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, not enough people actually switch them off like they are supposed to.
It is because the radio emissions from the cell phone could interfere with the aircraft avionics.
They have not been PROVEN to interfere with the avionics, but there are a number of well-documented cases where the avionics have been behaving erratically and when the pilot told everybody of the situation (and they all shut off their stupid phones) the problems went away.

As a pilot of a small aircraft, I know I get interference on my comm radio when one of my passengers has left their phone on. That I know for sure, so I have proven to myself that they do interfere in a small way.

Until it is proven that it is safe, I will ALWAYS shut off my phone and I jump on people around me who don't.

Answer 6

HSUpilot08 is correct, cellphones are covered by the FAR that addresses and bans electronic devices. Some electronic devices can be used above 10,000ft but not cellphones. The cellphone ban additionally is an FCC rule because of cellphones in flight can be in contact with multiple towers and this creates billing problems. It is not because of inflight cellphone companies lobbying power. If you listen to the spiel that the flight attendant says they usually will say "cellphones and other electronic devices."
Two government agencies addressing two different problems here.

And Andrew L is correct there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of interference from various electronic devices including cell phones. Add me to the list who have experienced this on flights I have flown.

Answer 7

There is no FAA mandate to turn off cell phones on an aircraft. That's up to the pilot. Most pilots require it as the airlines they fly for require it.

There is no proven interference with aviation navigation equipment and cell phones. The frequencies are far to divergent and the transmission power far too low for there to be any risk.

The primary motivator was a combination of fear that it could interfere even though the chance is remote AND in support of the Airphone system to keep the income stream going for that grossly overpriced service.

Truth is, the airlines are scrambling to figure out a way to actually let you use your cell phone on board. They don't work once you're much over 5,000 feet AGL -- I've tested that myself in my company's bizjet fleet where the pilots don't mind if we use our cell phones. They work fine up to about 5,000 feet AGL and are totally dead by about 7,500 feet AGL. The airlines would love to offer the service (with a surcharge most likely) but they wouldn't dream of it if there was any true chance of interference.

Mythbusters also did a segment on that and proved that there was no interference between cell phones and any of the comm/nav gear on aircraft.

Answer 8

People turn their phones off on airplanes?
Maybe I should start. I just turn the ringer off and keep a blanket or coat over my head so no one sees me using it. Makes the passengers nervous, though. The pilot with a blanket over his head. But if they're flying with me, they usually are nervous to begin with.

No, really. I use the phone airborne quite often. I have a patch-box that allows me to plug into my headset and talk like I'm using the radio.

Answer 9

Don't listen to non-pilots when they say they don't interfere. Believe me, they do. I have missed ATC communications due to cell phone interferrence. If you have ever heard you CD player or stereo system get disturbance when your cell phone is ringing, you know what I am talking about. Sometimes it is just static, sometimes it completely blocks the transmission.

Answer 10

What do you mean "switch" their cell phones?