how do mobile phones interfere with flight systems on an aircraft? why can you only use electronic devices while the plane is cruising? And how come you can use the in-built phones on planes?
Mythbusters is not a certified testing facility. The people who tell you they don't interfere do not know what they are talking about. I've actually seen it. I had someone with a phone on during taxi, and it buzzed in my headset. It also made the ILS needles erratic, which is very dangerous. You see, cellphones are not built to TSO certification, which is what things designed to be in aircraft are. Two cellphones of the same exact model could potentially have one interfere and the other one not. So, testing one may work fine, but another one might not. There is no way to test all of them. For the people who use them in their corporate jets, good luck to you. I hope you don't crash into a mountain because of it. It's still illegal, under FCC rules. If you are so rich, why not buy a phone made for your jet? I'm glad I don't have to fly those guys around.
To answer your question it all comes down to the data buss on the aircraft and your cell phones microwave signal bleeding into an unprotected data buss. Not all data busses are protected because no one knew years ago a micro signal from a cell phone would or could croup a data buss. I don’t think the manufactures or airlines what everyone to know which aircraft have unprotected data busses. In addition every wonder how many cell phone towers you cell phone will connect to with the height advantage. According to the FCC several towers at once causing other problems. Besides how important is your personnel call on an airplane when it comes to everyone’s safety. I don’t want to be sitting with a load mouth person yapping on a cell phone, its bad enough on the ground.
They may not, see the Mythbusters reference. The Federal Communications Commission (not FAA) regulates cell phone usage and the rule is a cell phone cannot be used on an airplane. The main reason is because every cell tower in range will be tied up by your signal. where on the ground there are few towers in range. While there may be a stray chance that electronic equipment may interfere with the avionics, there is no case of it doing so. Just to be safe, follow the rules. The built in phones use a dedicated network that is designed specifically for use on planes and is designed not to interfere.
how do mobile phones interfere with flight systems on an aircraft? In reality, most probably don't. In some very rare instances, there have been some interference reported, and mostly that was long ago. I'd bet that hundreds of flights operate each and every day with cell phones inadvertently or intentionally left on in passengers pockets. The problem is what I referred to as a rare instance isn't so rare if you or a loved one is on the airplane. why can you only use electronic devices while the plane is cruising? When close to the ground (takeoff and landing) any error, no matter how small, has the potential to turn into a disaster. Since there has been an occasional problem with interference, it is just easier to ban all electronics when close to the ground because there are literally tens of thousands of these things, and an airline can't test them all. Also, even if tested, who's to say that it is still in proper working order or hasn't been modified in some way. They can be used in cruise because of good old American competition. Some airlines early on had an outright ban, and others didn't. Due to the competitive nature of the business, the airlines that banned these devices, had to fall into line. And how come you can use the in-built phones on planes? These have been tested nine ways to Sunday to guarantee no interference, and very importantly, they are maintained in accordance with a strict set of requirements.
It's not just mobile phones but all hand held electronic devices are to be turned off during take off and landings. This came about long before cell phones. The reason being, when the first portable radios came out they produced a radio frequency called IF frequency, which happened to be the same IF frequency that the aircraft radio receivers used. Having both radios on at the same time could cause problems. AM receivers still use the same IF frequency, but now the transmitted signal is a lot less than the days of tubes. But to be on the safe side, the FAA still bans all hand held electronics.
