The not so dangerous call after all? *re-edited

“We have just been cleared for takeoff, please disable and stow all portable electronic devices.”

W-cellphones.com

W-cellphones.com

If ever you have flown a commercial flight, you’ve undoubtedly heard these words and stashed you cell phones, blackberries, laptops, and music players. It seems unnecessary, especially considering you can take out iPods and laptops once the plane has reached cruising altitudes.

Why do we have to do this?

Well, all the electronic devices that we love so much emit radio signals that have the potential to interfere with instruments in the cockpit.

“Every regulation we are told to inform to people is a rule because chances are someone either died from it or a significant event transpired where we needed the rule,” says Cole Nesgoda, flight attendant for Compass Airlines. Within the first minute of the pre-flight video by Delta, passengers know what they need to do with their devices.




Why are some devices allowed to be used again but not cell phones?

The easiest answer is that, since 1991, cell phones have been banned on in flight aircraft by the Federal Communications Commission. Phones just emit a stronger radio wave, which leads to a stronger possibility that it could interfere with equipment, even the heavily shielded instruments, on planes.

This doesn’t mean that if you forget to turn off your phone and someone calls you mid-flight you’ll be using your seat cushion as a floatation device. The discovery Channel's Mythbusters even had an episode about the effects of cell phones on equipment. Some European and Asiatic airlines are beginning to allow passengers to take calls in flight.

Veteran pilot John Nance said in an 20/20 article for ABC, despite what federal air officials say, cell phones shouldn’t be a concern when on aircraft, the equipment is all heavily shielded.

Shielded equipment or not, Nesgoda still advocates for the necessity of not using cell-phones,

Cole Nesgoda

Cole Nesgoda

“The main reason why we want ALL electronic devices off is because we have to maintain something called the sterile period of flight, or sterile flight deck. A plane is most likely to crash below 10,000 feet. That is why we need everyone to have everything off with their attention focused on the current environment. If we need to evacuate the aircraft, we need to do it under 60 seconds, no matter how big the plane. Part of doing this falls on us as flight attendants, but it cannot be done if someone is sitting in the aisle seat listening to their iPod or if they are on their phone talking, they will screw the whole process up.”

Safety isn't the only concern when it comes to having phones in flight. Travel blogger John DiScala (or Johnny Jet) told ABC reporters, "it's going to be hell. people are going to be so tired from a long flight and want to sleep, and you're going to hear someone's annoying phone go off and then talking so loud, telling the person on the line everything."

crankyflier.com

For the time being, keep your cells and other transmitting gadgets tucked away while in flight, but it could only be a matter of time before you are as reachable thousands of feet in the air as you are on the ground.