All travelers know the drill once they sit in their seat - first fasten your seatbelt and then put smartphones on Airplane Mode. But they may not know the real reason for going off the grid is for a very simple reason.
A pilot, who goes by @perchpoint, revealed that smartphones interfere with their headsets when they aren't placed on Airplane Mode and can pose a distraction when they're trying to communicate with ground control.
In a video posted on TikTok, he explained that the Airplane Mode feature 'is not a conspiracy' and there is a good reason why you're asked to switch off before the plane takes off.
'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,' he said. 'However, it does have the potential to mess with the headsets,' telling viewers that it creates a disturbance in their communication systems that sounds like buzzing.
This can be distracting while pilots are trying to take down coordinates and receive directions from crew in satellite towers.
Commenters questioned the validity of how serious the issue was, with one person responding: 'If it truly presented any risk to flight airlines would be collecting phones from passengers.'
PerchPoint did note that the plane wouldn't experience severe repercussions for not turning on Airplane Mode and hasn't been linked to any crashes.
The pilot was in the US Army and has been a professional flyer since 2019 before advancing to a pilot two years ago.
Despite the lack of major issues of keeping your smartphone on during your flight, he Federal Communications Commission and Federal Aviation Administration still ban cell phones for airborne use.
'Phones not on airplane mode and interfering with radios is something that happens under the right circumstances,' PerchPoint explained. 'It depends on things like phone provider, location of plane, phone actively trying to make or receive call, where passenger sitting,' he added, clarifying closer passenger cockpit higher chance interference.'
'Many flights happen per day, with thousands of passengers; they just wanna mitigate chances interference airplane mode as many passengers.'
Tamara Vallois, head of communications at Wizz Air, told Condé Nast Traveler that even though phones are out of reach of cell towers they will still send out electrical signals in search for this connection. By switching flight mode on cellular signals disabled means absolutely no physical interference aircraft.
However because wireless networks connected series towers could become overloaded if airplane passengers still using phones. Concerns increased rollout 5G wireless networks close used aviation bandwidth could cause interference between planes navigation systems located near airports assist pilot landing aircraft
. The pilot shared recent experience experiencing interference during flight piloting saying utilizing headset receive clearance which way direct plane."As soon as we started getting directions there's like really annoying buzz going through headset," said "Like I said it's not end world but definitely annoying when trying copy instructions.". The use cellphones onboard aircraft make voice calls send texts prohibited since 1991 but many wondered what happens forget turn phone flight mode plane. Dai Whittingham chief executive UK Flight Safety Committee told BBC airplane mode historically important due lack knowledge mobile devices affect aircraft "There concern could interfere automatic flight control systems," said "What found experience risk interference very small recommendation always once you are in-flight devices should be airplane mode."