Switching Off Your Electronic Devices
Sure, they say your smartphone can interfere with the plane’s systems if it isn’t switched off or put in flight mode… but is that really true? And if it isn’t, is there some other reason they ask you to put your phone away during takeoff and landing? Well, the truth is – your phone will, by itself, not interfere with the plane’s system.
But you’re not alone on this flight and when you – and others – don’t switch off your phones inside a packed metal tube, the cellular reception frequencies can actually interfere with air traffic control reception – which won’t bring down the plane but can be quite annoying for the pilots. On top of that, unsecured phones and laptops can slip out of passengers’ hands, and, at the high acceleration that takes place during lift-off, can really hurt if they hit someone on the head!