Do You Still Need to Turn Off Your Gadgets on a Plane?

One of the things that irk a lot of people into technology, gadgetry, and addicted to information is the fact that they can't use a majority of their favorite things when they're on an airplane. This scenario always happens: You're getting your lightning USB cable ready and your gadgets to attach so you read the latest manga comic you downloaded or watch the episode of a TV show you've been geeking about when the flight attendant approaches you, smiles sweetly, and requests that you turn off all your electronic appliance as the plane is about to take off.

You can still make do perhaps with a gadget or two that has flight mode, but you will still need to turn these precious gadgets off during take off and landing! That's a lot of important minutes you could have used to finish a chapter or an episode!

Before you get irked again of being reminded of those incidences, let's look into that matter of having to keep your lightning cable and other devices when you are on an airplane. Why do you have to do that in the first place? Most of us have this vague idea that you need to turn off electronic devices when on an airplane because they interfere with the plane's "signals". At least, that's the most simplistic explanation given to us and that we believe. What those signals are and why they are important and what actually happens when they are being "interfered" on, we don't really know. I mean, we are not rocket scientists! Moreover, why can the plane have us enjoy TV screens and music players streaming music from one source but we are not allowed to use our own gadgets? But then, you know you're dealing with serious stuff when the flight crew threatens you that you're going to get arrested the second the plane lands if you don't turn off that MP3 player at that very second.

The truth of the matter is that portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones can give out powerful electromagnetic radiation. This radiation has the capacity to alter the aircraft’s navigation and communication systems, which in turn would endanger the flying aircraft. On the other hand, telephones and other devices already installed on the airplane transmit radio signals from antennas that are attached but are located outside the aircraft. Also, they meet Federal Aviation Administration specifications, and therefore these devices do not interfere with the navigation and radio systems of the aircraft. Portable electronic devices may have some features that do not necessarily meet the requirements of the FAA.

The thing is, operating electronics inside a plane does not guarantee a 100% accident rate. It does not follow that if someone operates a personal electronic device inside the plane that it's going to crash. However, a lot of problems on flights all over the world have been recorded, caused by personal gadgets being used on a flying plane. In some incidences, a plane' course indicator, otherwise known as a localizer, shows a deflection instead of the plane's centered course. If this plane is flying on autopilot, it will most likely go off course. Even the latest aviation mystery, the Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, may be connected to smartphones being used inside the plane, causing it to wander. Others have speculated that the batteries of some of the passengers' gadgets caused a fire.

The safe thing to do in these cases is just to follow orders and keep out of the temptation of using your gadgets and gadget accessories on a plane. It is still best to be safe than be sorry. Otherwise, confirm with the flight staff on which devices you can use during the duration of the flight.