A pilot has taken to TikTok to share a ‘friendly PSA’ that the airplane button is not a “conspiracy theory.”
Flying is often hailed as one of the safest ways to travel, largely due to meticulously crafted safety protocols. While some measures may seem mundane or superfluous, each plays a vital role in ensuring the well-being of everyone on board.
Yet, a pilot known as @PerchPoint on TikTok has taken to the platform to clarify if adhering to one specific rule is truly essential. Despite occasional forgetfulness or unawareness, switching your phone to aeroplane mode is crucial and not “a conspiracy theory,” the aviator cautions.
But what really happens if you don’t comply?
Kicking off the clip, the pilot announced: “This is just a friendly PSA, that the airplane mode button is not a conspiracy. If you forget to put your phone on airplane mode, no, it’s not the end of the world, the plane will not fall out of the sky, and it won’t even mess with the systems on board,” reports the Express.
“If you have an aircraft with 70, 80, or 150 people on board and even three or four people’s phones start to try and make a connection to a radio tower for an incoming phone call, it sends out radio waves. These radio waves could potentially interfere with the headsets that the pilots are using.”
He then described his own encounter with such disturbance while attempting a safe landing, recalling an irritating noise in the headset that “sounded like a mosquito.”
The pilot explained: “No it’s not the end of the world, but it’s pretty annoying when you’re trying to copy down instructions and it sounds like a wasp or something flying around you. So if you’re ever curious why you need to put on aeroplane mode, that’s why.”
Travel and Leisure reports that the issue extends beyond mere irritation. Aviators frequently operate with restricted vision, making ground-based communication crucial, particularly during take-off and touchdown phases when most aviation incidents happen.
Consequently, it’s vital that the cockpit crew aren’t distracted or experience compromised hearing.
Is it a rule or a courtesy?
Per Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, all passengers must enable aeroplane mode during flight to avoid potential signal interference.
It’s also a simple act of courtesy that helps ensure a smooth experience for everyone on board, reported Booking.com.
“When smartphones and devices were first introduced, it was found that cell phones that aren’t in flight mode can overload the networks on the ground, especially during takeoff and landing, as phones try to connect to multiple towers at once.
“How much phones affect aviation technology hasn’t been studied in-depth, but pilots say they can hear background noise and interference from phones while flying, especially when they’re landing, and mobile phones begin to make contact with towers again.”
The travel website questioned: “So, while your phone may work at times during flight, do you really want to distract your pilot while they’re speaking with air traffic control to execute a safe landing?”.
Why can flight staff use devices?
According to Lovely Planet, pilots and flight attendants are seen with devices right in the cockpit, which gives them access to digital charts and documents.
However, compared to passengers, these devices have been thoroughly tested to ensure they don’t interfere with the aircraft’s systems.