Taking a flight is one of the safest modes of transportation, and that is usually thanks in large part to carefully designed safety procedures. While some steps might seem routine or unnecessary, each one plays an important role in keeping passengers and crew secure.
However, a pilot (@PerchPoint) took to TikTok to reveal whether one particular procedure is actually necessary to follow. Whether it is from forgetfulness or lack of awareness, putting your phone on airplane mode is important and is not “a conspiracy theory,” warns the pilot. But what actually happens if you don’t do it?
Beginning the video, the pilot shared: “This is just a friendly PSA, that the airplane mode button is not a conspiracy.
“If you forget to put your phone on airplane mode, no, it’s not the end of the world, the plane will not fall out of the sky, and it won’t even mess with the systems on board.”
But does this mean you should ignore the procedure?
Despite it having no imminent effect, the answer is no, as there is still a safety risk. The pilot said: “It does have the potential to mess with the headsets.
“If you have an aircraft with 70, 80, or 150 people on board and even three or four people’s phones start to try and make a connection to a radio tower for an incoming phone call, it sends out radio waves.
“There’s a potential that those radio waves can interfere with the headsets that the pilots are using.”
He went on to explain his experience of this interference when trying to land safely and noted that there was an annoying sound in the headset that “sounded like a mosquito.”
The pilot added: “No it’s not the end of the world, but it’s pretty annoying when you’re trying to copy down instructions and it sounds like a wasp or something flying around you. So if you’re ever curious why you need to put on airplane mode, that’s why.”
According to Travel and Leisure, it’s more than just an annoyance. Pilots often have limited visibility, so they rely on intel from the ground, especially for takeoff and landing (when most aviation-related accidents occur).
Therefore, it is important that they are not distracted or have their hearing hindered.
Is it a rule or a courtesy?
Per Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, all passengers must enable airplane mode during flight to avoid potential signal interference.
It’s also a simple act of courtesy that helps ensure a smooth experience for everyone on board, reported Booking.com.
“When smartphones and devices were first introduced, it was found that cell phones that aren’t in flight mode can overload the networks on the ground, especially during takeoff and landing, as phones try to connect to multiple towers at once.
“How much phones affect aviation technology hasn’t been studied in-depth, but pilots say they can hear background noise and interference from phones while flying, especially when they’re landing, and mobile phones begin to make contact with towers again.
“So, while your phone may work at times during flight, do you really want to distract your pilot while they’re speaking with air traffic control to execute a safe landing?” said the travel site.
Why can flight staff use devices?
According to Lovely Planet, pilots and flight attendants are seen with devices right in the cockpit, which gives them access to digital charts and documents.
However, compared to passengers, these devices have been thoroughly tested to ensure they don’t interfere with the aircraft’s systems.