Can having a cell phone NOT in airplane mode or using one during an airliner landing and take off possibly cause a jet airliner to crash?

Or is it just another rule set to boss people around?

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article33715503.html

Then I see some flights nowadays have on board WiFi and I find that funny!

Is that WiFi modem sending and receiving during take off and landing even if there are no passengers connected to it or is the modem 'turned off and unplugged'?

The main purpose of shutting the phone for takeoff/landing is so that people will pay attention to the instructions and will be more alert in case of an emergency. Moreover, it's been proven that emissions from the phones are not enough to do any harm on ther plane, but as usual, they'd better be safe than sorry, so they prefer if shut 'em down.

Occasionally I will hear a cellphone 'polling' in my headset if a passenger hasn't put their phone in airplane mode. I have not experienced any problems with the avionics though. On board internet is (at least on the aircraft I fly) restricted to altitudes above 10000ft. That doesn't mean that the router isn't up and running though. The airlines may have their own rules and procedures for that though.

So they lied to us.

Then if you don't turn it off and they catch you, they will have the law meeting you at the airport after the plane lands to take you into custody and brand you a terrorist.

How did they lie to you? Who the hell said you'd be arrested upon landing?

I know. All those pioneers in their Conestoga wagons could use their cell phones and other personal devices the whole trip.

Oh, the humanity!

Nowadays if you don't follow the cabin crew instructions, they will have the law meet you at landing.

The law will even board the flight and arrest you in front of everyone before they allow the rest of the passengers to disembark.

If they don't arrest you, they have been known to kick you off the flight before it takes off or divert the flight to another airport and make you get off it.

When I was taking lessons, my flight instructor's fancy headset would sometimes get interference from my cell phone in my pocket. He would just ask me to turn it off. I never noticed anything in my headset.

When I was flying by myself, I would never turn my phone off or into "airplane mode".

I once demanded that I turn off my phone before I flew on a private plane. I refused to and I got into a heated argument about liberties and unnecessary restrictions in place to assuage fears of nonexistent problems.
Then I brought up my mother, which really pissed me off, and I didn't talk to myself again for months.



The Jedi Master

See also:

Using a cell phone at a gas station. It's not an ignition source, so much as a stupidity source (i.e. pay attention when you're messing with inflammable liquids, moron!)

The problem with cell phones is threefold:

One, they keep coming out with new ones. Cell phone companies are not required to test for electronic interference beyond general industry standards. If you get involved with aviation maintenance or parts one finds that the durability and requirements for both err on the side of safety under extreme conditions. Since it's an unknown, the FAA just puts out a blanket ban on them.

Two, people carry all sorts of broken crap that barely works with them. I've seen a lot of smart phones that look like they took five rounds with that Samsonite gorilla in the commercials of old....cracked screens, dented cases, etc.

Third, there is a lot of money to be made off of skyphones.

I won't even get into the mess that phone users make out of getting off the airplane. Crap in a hat, can you wait five minutes after landing before whipping out your cell phone? Gee, Mr. President, I know you're important and all that, but you're clogging up the aisle while announcing that the plane has docked with the gate and you're getting your baggage from the overhead bin.

I am just saying that they shouldn't tell people to turn off their cell phones because it may interfere with the operation an airplane and possibly make it crash if it's not true and they also shouldn't threaten people with arrest for not doing so.

LOL @ Jedi Master, well done!

Why not? Do you have proof that says it's not true with all cellphones? Don't like it, don't ride in others planes.

Regardless of weather you do or you don't believe mobile phones / devices can interfere with on board equipment. I will say one thing.

When I am doing an auto land in no vis, I sure as hell hope you guys back there have listened to and most importantly adhered to the instruction to turn of your devices.

I would say, and more to the point, respect the cabin staff. If they tell you to stand up, take your dick out and draw a smiley face on it, you ask "what colour"? Crap wage, crap hours, and they are trying to keep you fed, watered, entertained and alive.

And yet, if you do the exact same thing on a commercial flight without being told they get all manner of upset.

One of the subtleties of life.

LOL!