

Radio frequency bandwidth is limited, yet we are still trying to add more new devices to it. Current 5G wireless networks – desirable for their higher speed data transfer – have caused concern for many within the aviation industry. Of course, when it comes to mobile networks, the biggest change in recent years is the move to a new standard. The wireless companies might have a point here. The number of passengers that flew in 2021 was over 2.2 billion, and that’s half of what the 2019 passenger numbers were.
Airplane mode on mac series#
Wireless networks are connected by a series of towers the networks could become overloaded if passengers flying over these ground networks are all using their phones. Why then, with these global standards in place, has the aviation industry continued to ban the use of mobile phones? One of the problems lies with something you may not expect – ground interference. What's the safest seat on a plane? We asked an aviation expert Research has shown personal electronic devices can emit a signal within the same frequency band as the aircraft’s communications and navigation systems, creating what is known as electromagnetic interference. The digital technology currently in use is much more advanced than some of the older analog technologies we used even 60 years ago. Laptops can become projectiles in an emergency, as the seat back pockets are not strong enough to contain them.Īnd mobile phones need to be set to flight mode so they can’t cause an emergency for the airplane, right? Well, it depends whom you ask.Īviation navigation and communication relies on radio services, which has been coordinated to minimize interference since the 1920s.

Tray tables need to be stowed and seats upright so we can get out of the row quickly. Now, the first four are reasonable, right? Window shades need to be up so we can see if there’s an emergency, such as fire. We all know the routine by heart: “Please ensure your seats are in the upright position, tray tables stowed, window shades are up, laptops are stored in the overhead bins and electronic devices are set to flight mode.”
