The Reason You Should Always Set Your Phone to Airplane Mode Before Flying
When flight attendants remind you to switch to airplane mode on your phone, you may want to listen.
In a viral video garnering nearly 900,000 views on TikTok, an airline pilot and U.S. Army veteran, posting under the username @perchpoint, discloses the compelling reason that passengers must activate this setting before takeoff.
This pilot shares that toggling to airplane mode isn’t about conspiracy theories; it’s a matter of maintaining clarity during flight operations.
In his engaging video, he reassures viewers. “If you forget to put your phone in airplane mode, no, it’s not the end of the world,” he states. “The plane will not plummet into the abyss, and the onboard systems won’t go haywire.” Yet, he highlights a more nuanced perspective: the potential interference with pilots’ headsets.
In flights carrying anywhere from 70 to over 150 passengers, he illustrates, even a handful of individuals neglecting to turn on airplane mode can create ripples of disruption. His insight is thought-provoking; if phones remain connected, they might try to link up with distant radio towers. This connection sends out radio waves, possibly muddling the frequencies essential for cockpit communication.
“These signals can interfere with the headsets that pilots rely on,” he explains. Active phones might drown out crucial instructions, adding unexpected noise to an already complex situation.
He recounted a vivid personal experience during a flight. “Just last night in San Francisco, we were backing away from the gate, conversing with the crew, engines roaring to life,” he reminisces. As he began communicating with ground control and seeking clearance—a routine protocol—he was met with an intrusive buzzing that disrupted his focus.
“It started sounding like a mosquito buzzing around my ear, making it almost impossible to hear essential directions.” His story resonates, transforming a seemingly benign request into a meaningful call to action for passenger responsibility.
Viewing the wave of comments on social media reflects a broader awareness. Many users echoed sentiments of newfound understanding regarding the importance of airplane mode while flying. One TikTok user expressed concern, saying, “Why don’t people turn it on? I wouldn’t want to put anyone at risk, especially in mid-air.”
Responses highlighted an unanticipated commonality; users from various fields shared experiences of headset interference due to cellular signals. “In theater, if someone received a text while we were using com sets, it created an awful thud,” noted one commenter, pointing to the universal nature of this reality.
The directive from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) emphasizes that cell phones, when airborne, can disrupt critical communication instruments. The FAA states, “Devices must be in airplane mode or the cellular connection disabled.” Such guidelines shape not only regulatory practices but also the safety culture of aviation. In a world where connectivity seems to define our existence, taking a moment to toggle a simple switch can have substantial implications.
So, as the airplane ascends through the clouds, there lies a reminder amidst the technology that binds us: a simple act can pave the way for safety and clarity. It’s not just about rules; it’s about the shared responsibility of everyone aboard. The next time the cabin crew asks for devices to be switched to airplane mode, passengers might pause and reflect—not just on their communication devices, but on the collective journey they are undertaking. It’s all connected.
