Like many other regular flight passengers, you are not used to pay attention to in-flight announcements which request all passengers to switch of any electronic devices currently in use. However, the use of mobile phones always continues till the last moment of the flight take-off – which has got significant threat to your safe air-journey. Many of us are very skeptical on the possible danger from the use of electronic devices. But a confidential industry study, done by ABC News, indicates that all “active portable electronic devices” – including cell phones – always carry in-flight risk factor even if they are adjusted to flight mode.
A report is based upon 75 different incident of possible electronics interference that airline pilots and crew members believed were linked to mobile phones or any other active electronic devices. The report covers 2003 to 2009 and 125 airlines were included in the survey which accounted 25% of global air traffic.
Interestingly, cell phones emerged as the most dangerous threat which were responsible 4 out of every ten such incidents. Report says “Twenty-six of the incidents in the report affected the flight controls, including the autopilot, autothrust and landing gear. Seventeen affected navigation systems, while 15 affected communication systems. Thirteen of the incidents produced electronic warnings, including “engine indications.”
Mentioning one similar incident, report recalls, auto pilot was engaged at 4,500 ft and suddenly indicators started warning about the disengagement of auto-pilot by itself. Crew members were immediately advised to look out for any passengers operating electronic devices. Surprisingly, the response carried 1 active hand phone and 3 iPods. After attendants convinced passengers to switch off their devices flight proceeded without any further incident.