Before the start of any flight, passengers must download flight mode on their smartphones and mobile devices, while the operating airline provides internet services on its flights, so what exactly is flight mode, and why airlines require it?
what is airplane mode on a mobile phone?
Airplane mode is a setting on a smartphone that temporarily suspends signals and Wi-Fi, even when the rest of the device is still running at full power.
On Android phones, Airplane mode is activated by swiping down twice from the top of the screen to open the Settings panel. There you will see an airplane icon. On the iPhone, the airplane mode icon is in the control center. You can access it by swiping down from the top right or swiping up from the bottom depending on the age and model of the phone.
What happens when you put your phone on airplane mode?
The phone immediately stops receiving radio signals that allow sending or receiving text messages or calls, accessing web pages, sending emails or downloading data, according to Digital Trends.
However, text messages that have already been downloaded can be viewed, along with other stored information; From documents, games, music or movies that you have already saved on your device.
Why do airlines require this feature to be enabled?
Much like aerodynamics and aeronautics, the reasons for requesting airplane mode are not straightforward. But in short, "flight mode is necessary to mitigate any potential interference with sensitive aircraft systems," a pilot who requested anonymity told Reader's Digest.
He explained that communication and navigation systems that use radio frequencies emitted from Earth are the most vulnerable to radio signal interference because these frequencies are the same frequencies used by cell phones and tablets.
"Wi-Fi radios, Bluetooth, voice calls and 3G, 4G and 5G data all use different parts of the radio frequency spectrum."
The problem occurs when crosstalk or adjacent channel interference (ACI) is a technical issue.
"ACI essentially means that a single radio receiver can inadvertently pick up a transmission from a transmitter on a nearby frequency," the pilot said.
This transmission may interfere with the intended signal, such as listening to FM radio from your car, but the sound is not clear because the device is picking up a transmission from another station broadcasting on a nearby frequency.
In the aircraft, if pilots are flying over a difficult airstrip or if there is a genuine emergency on board or on the ground, their lines of communication with ground control should be clear and wide open, and a phone call parasite can compromise this communication. is compromised at crucial moments.
The pilot explained that flight mode has become "extremely more important" with the introduction of the 5G network by many cellular service providers.
"Signals from terrestrial antennas and people's 5G devices can cause interference at the most dangerous times in flight," he explains; Because it's very close to the signals used by the aircraft's wireless altimeter, which works by bouncing the radio signal off the ground and then sending it back to the aircraft's antenna to determine altitude.
Thus, during landing, in particular, the spurious signal can make it difficult for the cockpit to recognize the altitude of the airplane.
What about Wi-Fi onboard?
And the question arises: while most airlines now offer in-flight Wi-Fi as a paid service. So why doesn't it interfere with aircraft communications?
Since Wi-Fi works with satellite signals rather than radio signals, it does not connect to cell towers on the ground. This means that if you're willing to pay for it - and it can be slow or choppy - you can surf the internet and download data while traveling, but at a slower speed.
However, many airlines prohibit the use of communication software such as Skype, WhatsApp, or FaceTime; So that passengers do not get carried away by loud calls that disturb those around them throughout the flight.
What happens if you don't put your phone on airplane mode?
If you forget to put your phone in airplane mode, the risk of disaster is low. But the consequences of a mistake at a crucial moment can be fatal.
While pilots use the station's radio altimeters to know the exact altitude of the aircraft above the terrain, this data becomes essential when approaching the ground when visibility is extremely low due to fog, snow or other adverse weather conditions.
He warned that a fifth-generation passenger device out of flight mode could cause the plane to receive a false signal through the plane's wireless altimeter antenna.
That bad signal can have frightening consequences, the pilot concluded: "It doesn't matter if one or more people ignore the rules, all it takes is one bad signal and the wrong combination of circumstances for disaster to strike.
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