Is it allowed to use your phone during a flight? And more importantly, should you?

Mobile phones have become an essential part of modern life, allowing us to make calls or send texts no matter where we are. Well, almost anywhere. Every time we board a plane, someone inevitably wonders (perhaps with a hint of hope), "Can you use your phone on a plane?"

No, you can't. This makes flying one of the rare places where federal regulations prevent you from using your device, specifically the ability to connect to a mobile network for voice and data.

Using a cellphone to connect to a cellular network while aboard a U.S. airliner is prohibited by not just one, but two distinct government organizations in the United States.

Federal Aviation Administration Restrictions

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the authority responsible for overseeing the safety of civil aviation in the U.S., has implemented a ban on cellphone calls and the use of cellular devices installed on aircraft operated by American airlines.

This restriction is not arbitrary; it is based on significant safety concerns.

Modern aircraft are equipped with delicate navigation and communication systems that depend on radio signals to operate correctly. These vital systems for safe flight include equipment for navigation and communications that link to ground stations and satellites.

Even seemingly harmless devices like cell phones can cause interference that might disrupt vital aircraft instruments and put flight safety at risk. While there’s no conclusive evidence linking cell phone use to any aviation accidents, it’s still wise to heed the FAA’s advice on the matter.

In 2013, the FAA eased its position somewhat, permitting the use of mobile devices in airplane mode.

Airplane mode, a feature found on most mobile phones and portable devices, disables the cellular connection while keeping functions like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth active. By switching your device to airplane mode, you’re deactivating the cellular connection, reducing the risk of interference with the plane’s systems.

While the FAA’s ban on cellphone calls is specific to the U.S., many other countries have adopted similar regulations. These restrictions stem from recommendations made by aviation experts and regulatory bodies who understand the potential risk of interference with navigation and radio systems.

Federal Communications Commission Ban

In 1991, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which oversees mobile phone regulations, prohibited airline passengers from making calls during flights due to concerns that these signals might interfere with ground-based communication systems.

While the FCC’s restriction remains in effect, the agency did recently consider a proposal for technology that would enable passengers to make cellular calls without causing interference. However, the FCC ultimately rejected the proposal in November 2020.

Flight attendants play an essential role in ensuring that both FAA and FCC regulations are followed. They remind passengers to switch their devices to flight mode before takeoff and continue to monitor the cabin throughout the flight to ensure compliance.

Research Into the Safety of Phone Use During Flights

Is banning cell phone use on flights truly necessary? Research from the mid-2000s found that while cell phones could potentially interfere with crucial aircraft electronics, no instances were discovered where they had directly caused an accident.

Sven Bilén, a Penn State University professor specializing in engineering design, electrical engineering, and aerospace engineering, believes that phones pose less of a safety risk than they once did.

"Most modern aircraft are designed with greater protection," says Bilén, who wrote an article about cell phones on aircraft for The Conversation in 2018. "There’s always a possibility of some negative interaction, but this is a risk that airlines have reduced by enhancing the durability of their electronics, often by adding shielding around them."

Hardening or shielding refers to surrounding the airplane's critical electronics (such as navigation or communication systems) with an electrically conductive material to prevent interference from electromagnetic signals emitted by computers and mobile phones.

There is strong evidence that this shielding is effective, as Bilén points out. Many passengers likely forget to turn off their phones' cellular connections, sometimes unintentionally, even after flight attendants remind them before takeoff.

"If major problems were occurring, we'd be seeing planes falling from the sky," Bilén remarks.

However, this doesn’t mean you can simply ignore the ban.

Cell Phones and Ground Networks

"We are not aware of any technology that allows airline crews to detect passengers who may be attempting to make a call with a cell phone while in-flight," an FAA representative told us in an email.

That being said, if you try to make a call, you’re likely to get caught. According to the FAA representative, "cabin crews or fellow passengers are likely to notice if someone is speaking on a cell phone while the plane is airborne."

The real concern these days, according to Bilén, is the potential interference with ground networks. With a large number of passengers making calls at high speed through the air, it could overload the ability of the cellular system to process and route calls to the next tower in the network.

At the usual cruising altitude of 36,000 feet (11 kilometers), Bilén explains, "If you have your cell connection active while airborne, you're unlikely to find any cell towers. The towers are designed to focus their signals downward, not expecting airborne traffic."

Interference is more likely when planes descend below 10,000 feet (3 kilometers) as they approach landing, providing an opportunity for passengers to activate their phones and possibly cause disruptions.

A 2017 study by Allianz Global Assistance, a travel insurance provider, revealed that 55.5% of Americans would welcome the ability to make free calls during an entire flight. Motivations included making emergency calls, staying in touch with family and friends, coordinating a pick-up at the destination, and maintaining connectivity for work.

How Onboard Cell Phone Service Works

So, how do some planes offer cellular service? There is a technology in place that allows passengers to make calls without interfering with the plane's electronics or the ground-based cellular networks.

In his article, Bilén explains how picocells—compact, low-power cell towers installed within the aircraft—enable phone calls to be made through the plane's internet connection.

Virgin Atlantic, a British airline, has been offering in-flight cellular service using this technology since the early 2010s. However, this service is turned off when the aircraft is within 250 miles (402 kilometers) of the U.S. border.

Objections to In-Flight Cell Phone Use

Although the technology exists, you likely won't be able to make phone calls on a U.S. airline flight any time soon.

The FCC spent seven years reviewing a proposal to permit the use of cell phones during flights, but eventually dropped the idea due to strong opposition from a variety of groups, including flight attendants, machinists, aerospace workers, and federal law enforcement officers.

One concern was the potential use of cell phones by terrorists to remotely trigger explosives. Another worry was that passengers with phones pressed to their ears might miss critical safety instructions from the flight crew.

Some people opposed the idea because they found passengers talking on cell phones bothersome, especially in the tight quarters of an airplane, where others might be trying to read, rest, or chat with a travel companion.

Bilén, who often uses flights to catch up on emails, shares this sentiment. 'The thought of someone chatting away next to me—that would drive me crazy,' he admits.