Why should you turn off your phone when on an airplane?

How can a smartphone affect the operation of an aircraft that passengers are always required to turn off their phones before the flight takes off?

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Studies on aviation have shown that during the entire flight, the first 3 minutes after takeoff and the last 8 minutes before landing are the two most critical and dangerous moments. Up to 80% of airplane accidents occur during these two periods.

Therefore, the takeoff and landing processes are carried out very carefully. Flight attendants always remind passengers to follow safety rules, but not everyone understands the reason. Why do we have to turn off phones when boarding and not turn them on until the plane has stopped completely? What impact does using a phone during a flight have?

Why do we have to turn off our phones when boarding?

Before takeoff and immediately before landing, the flight crew will ask passengers to turn off or switch their mobile phones to airplane mode. In this mode, the phone will disable all data services (Wi-Fi, GSM, Bluetooth…).

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Why do we have to turn off our phones when boarding? (Photo: Rosenaviation)

Aviation experts explain that when passengers use phones or electronic devices capable of transmitting signals, it can interfere with the communication between the pilot and the control tower, creating a “beeping” sound, which disrupts the exchange of information. This affects the pilot’s reception of information and can lead to serious consequences.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), more than 1,300 jetliners in the United States have cockpit displays that are susceptible to interference from Wi-Fi signals, mobile phones, and even external frequencies such as weather radars.

ABC News cites a report from the International Air Transport Association, stating that from 2003 to 2009, there were 75 cases of signal interference from phones, of which 26 affected the flight operating system. The report also points out that even a lost mobile signal can have a serious impact on the technology devices in the cockpit. Older aircraft are more susceptible to this signal interference.

There is potential danger if passengers deliberately use phones or electronic devices during takeoff and landing. That is the reason why we have to turn off our phones when boarding or switch them to airplane mode.

What are the benefits of airplane mode on phones?

Airplane mode is available on most smartphones today and provides the following 10 practical functions.

Battery saving

Airplane mode disconnects the phone from the mobile network and Wi-Fi, helping the device conserve energy and increase operating time, maximizing battery saving.

Accelerating charging speed

If you want to charge your phone quickly, turning on airplane mode is the most effective solution. When not connected to the mobile network, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS…, the phone will not consume battery power during the charging process, and the charging time will be shortened.

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Airplane mode on phones has multiple functions. (Photo: Usatoday)

Avoid distractions

Sometimes, messages and notifications on the phone distract you from your work. Turning on airplane mode will temporarily prevent these notifications, helping you focus on your work.

Save roaming charges when traveling abroad

If you are traveling or working abroad, airplane mode will help you avoid unnecessary expenses. Your phone may automatically switch to roaming mode (receiving signals from abroad) when you arrive in another country, resulting in significant costs. At this time, if you turn on airplane mode, the device will no longer search for signals and roaming, minimizing unnecessary expenses.

Fix mobile signal issues

When your phone loses signal, instead of turning it off and restarting it, you can turn on/off airplane mode to check the phone’s signal. Turning on/off airplane mode will help the device reboot the mobile signal, making it easier to find a network provider.

Ensure safety for children

When children are given phones to play with, they can easily mistakenly dial a phone number and call someone. To avoid inconvenience, you can turn on airplane mode so that the phone cannot perform tasks such as messaging or making calls while the child is using the phone.

Block advertisements

When you turn on airplane mode, the phone will not connect to Wi-Fi, and video advertisements will not be displayed on the screen.

Read messages without leaving a trace

If you have received a message but haven’t thought of a reply or just want to read the message without letting the sender know, turn on airplane mode and open the Messenger app to read the message.

Protect user privacy

Airplane mode helps keep your phone’s information separate from the outside world. This helps enhance the phone’s security, minimizing the risk of data theft.

Play offline games

If you’re playing a game and don’t want to be interrupted, turn on airplane mode. With airplane mode, you not only limit phone notifications but also save battery power, allowing you to enjoy the game uninterrupted for as long as you want.

According to VTC news

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