Phones could be allowed inflight soon

A woman uses a mobile phone: The US Federal Aviation Administration is said to be considering allowing the use of mobile devices during all phases of flight. Photo/File 

By Daniel Ondieki

In Summary

• It is rumoured that the US Federal Aviation Administration is finally considering allowing what most passengers have been doing anyway — the use of mobile devices during all phases of flight

Anyone who grew up back in the day when you had to tell your upcountry relatives to wait for your call at a public phone booth needs no convincing as to the impact of cell phones in our lives.

However, we find that we can no longer fully unplug from work, we have to listen in as people shout out their most intimate details to their loved ones on the other end of the phone and thieves will use these phones to continue their enterprises from prison.

The aviation industry has, however, remained one of the last holdouts. This is because of concerns over electromagnetic interference or EMI.

EMI is any disturbance that affects an electrical circuit. We’ve all experienced EMI at some point, most commonly the noises emitted by radio speakers when you put a phone next to them.

For most applications, this is simply a nuisance. However, in an aircraft this can be potentially dangerous.

In theory, EMI can interfere with aircraft to ground communication, affect the flight navigation computers or any other number of doomsday scenarios.

Consequently authorities, erring on the side of caution, simply banned the use of mobile devices in planes especially during takeoff and landing.

It has to be said though that there has never been any scientific evidence supporting such a ban. And no incidents of mobile devices interfering with the autoflight system have ever been conclusively proven. This may be because modern aircraft systems are well shielded.

So finally after many years, it is rumoured that the US Federal Aviation Administration is finally considering allowing what most passengers have been doing anyway — the use of mobile devices during all phases of flight.

There are still some roadblocks. Some people will not focus on the safety brief with the added distraction of their phone or computer.

Personally I believe such people would never have listened anyway, and currently as it is no one stops them from reading while the brief is ongoing.

At high altitudes, phones are able to connect to many cell towers at once. Coupled with the fact that planes move fast, it is said that allowing mobile phones in the air would quickly saturate the capacity of telecom networks on the ground. The ban on activating your cell service is thus likely to remain for a while longer.

None of this has been formally approved. Even if the FAA did approve it, regional regulatory bodies would have to follow suit in their own countries.

Hence you could still get thrown off a flight if you insist on using your mobile device in the plane.

Let’s enjoy the silence while it lasts.