Why turn off electronics on airplanes

In another report, the International Air Transport Association IATA identified 75 separate incidents of possible electronic interference that pilots believe were linked to mobile phones and other electronic devices between and In the competitive world of aviation, some airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and Delta Airlines have started advertising the use of technologies that allow greater use of mobile devices on flights.

In-flight mobile phone systems such as OnAir and AeroMobile use miniature on-board base stations called picocells which allow devices to transmit at lower power levels. Transmissions are processed, transmitted to a satellite and then on to the normal ground networks. These systems allow you to use your phone while at cruise altitude, but not during take-off and landing. Some air authorities remain unconvinced, however. In-air mobile services cannot be used in US airspace, for example.

The US Federal Aviation Administration has come under pressure to relax its rules and last year set up a group of experts to study the question. A decision is expected by the end of this year. Perhaps that day may come soon. However, having learnt how difficult it is to prove definitively that planes are safe from interference, I'll be making sure my phone is properly switched off in future. After all, when I'm en route to my holiday in the sun, I don't want my handset to be responsible for tricking the pilot into landing in some rainy old place.

Or for something even worse. If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on Future, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter. Technology Gadget. Why we have to turn electronic devices off on planes. Have we been messing with the airplane's function by texting during takeoff, or is it fine to continue treating these mandates as optional suggestions?

Here, pilots share the truth behind each of the below "rules. Aircraft are designed and shielded with this interference in mind, however, and this should mitigate any ill effects. Indeed, according to the FAA, most modern planes can manage potential radio interference signals a rogue cell phone may send — but airplane mode provides an added layer of protection, just in case.

Plus, as Business Insider notes, the sheer effort of hundreds of in-flight cell phones attempting to connect to on-the-ground towers can put a major strain on cellular networks. On the ground, your phone connects to one cell tower at a time the closest one to you , switching to a new one as you move. That congestion can potentially make it more difficult for people on the ground to connect.

That being said FAA still prohibits voice communications on cell phones. FAA regulations prohibit anything that intentionally emits a signal, which includes cells phones used for voice communications.

It would be up to an airline to demonstrate that a call phone does not cause electronic interference. Cell phones cause electronic interference. Although, a study done by the FAA in also concluded that "civil aviation authorities reported no confirmed occurrences of cell phones affecting flight safety on aircraft with on-board cellular telephone base stations.

The FCC's current rules prohibiting use of cellphones on planes were adopted more than 20 years ago to protect against radio interference to cellphone networks on the ground," it says on the FCC website. This is purely a technical decision; it will, if adopted, allow airline carriers free to develop any in-flight phone usage policy they may wish, consistent with applicable rules.

They go on to be a bit more confusing when answering questions like "How soon could voice calling become a reality on planes?