An all too common request given along with other safety information by airlines to their passengers on board their flights. But what is the 'real' reason behind it?I was searching for something on Google yesterday when I became sidetracked by a discussion on this topic. And I have to say I was surprised at the sheer number of, and pardon the phrase, 'Old Wives' Tales' on the matter and the lack of any real knowledge. Indeed, ask most people why they think they are asked to switch off their cell phones on aircraft and they'll probably reply with something about the plane not falling out of the sky, which admittedly is a valid concern, but in my opinion not nearly to the extent that many people make it out to be.
( So what's it all about? )This poses some very interesting questions. With cell phone technology advancing, and the number of things that can be done on a cell phone without requiring network reception increasing, and the ability to turn off the antenna when desired, maybe we should now drop old-fashioned concerns and give technology a chance? And one last tthing, the fact that the 'phone' part of the device wouldn't function anyway rather blows the objection of 450 people yammering at once out of the preverbial window.
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