The flight mode it is the well-known function available on devices such as smartphones, tablets, notebooks and other electronic devices. Enabling airplane mode leads to the temporary disabling of all wireless modules on the device, including WiFi, Bluetooth, and the modem used to communicate with mobile phone networks.
By pressing or tapping the button that activates airplane mode, as it is known, you can stop all communications wireless without completely turning off the device. By enabling airplane mode what you get is a complete disconnection of the device which can only be used offline. The use of all those apps that do not necessarily require an exchange of data with remote servers is obviously supported.
Everyone activates airplane mode on board an aircraft: but is it really necessary?
Since 1991, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) USA ha The use of cell phones is prohibited on airplanes, talking about possible interference with on-board instruments.
In November 2022, however, the European Commission has officially opened up the use of 5G technology on airplanes. In reality, even then it wasn’t exactly new: the airlines had already equipped themselves with the so-called pico-cell, network equipment that allows users’ terminals to be connected, via a satellite network, with the mobile telephone cells available on the ground. Thanks to pico-cell users can, from the aircraft cabin, exchange data, send and receive SMS, make and receive calls.
“The sky is no longer the limit when it comes to the possibilities offered by super-fast, high-capacity connectivity“, he said Thierry BretonCommissioner for the Internal Market.
Even without a pico-cell, there is no evidence to support that a telephone, left on aboard the aircraft, could ever interfere with systems of the aircraft. There Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a study in 2012 highlighting the absence of cases in which user terminals could cause any disturbance.
In 2013, therefore, the newly installed president of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) American, Tom Wheeler, wanted to formally allow phone calls and the use of data connections on flights. A fierce controversy arose, but not due to technical issues.
The instructions of the flight staff must always and in any case be respected
Clarified that activating airplane mode in flight is a false mythit should however be noted that passengers are always required to follow the instructions of the flight staff.
Why is it still required to turn off your phone or turn on airplane mode when boarding? Simply to avoid unpleasantness accidents in the cabin.
The FAA has reported more than 10,000 unruly passengers between 2021 and 2023, an increase of approximately 300% compared to 2018-2020. If everyone started making calls and yelling at the phone, travel stress could increase. For this reason, the use of smartphones or other electronic devices is not yet tolerated on many routes.
Nowadays, you can benefit from Wifi connection on almost all flights for a small fee: this alone allows you to make voice calls, surf the Internet and play online games. If pico-cells were present and active on a greater number of planes (a 20-year-old technology), the connection with land mobile networks could take place free of charge.
Opening image credit: iStock.com – By_Slobodeniuk