What happens if you use electronics in a plane

As most travelers know, once the cabin door closes, all MP3 players, electronic games, pagers, DVD players and other electronic devices must be turned off until the plane reaches 10, feet.

The use of cell phones is prohibited anytime the plane is in the air. For the Federal Aviation Administration, safety is the highest concern. Portable electronic devices, including cell phones, emit radio signals that officials worry will interfere with aircraft communications or flight control, navigational and other on-board electronic equipment.

And though it acknowledges that virtually all of the reported evidence for banning electronics below 10, feet and cell phones during the entire flight is anecdotal, it still maintains that caution is key. The consumer electronics industry is "such a dynamic industry, where technology evolves seemingly daily," but the aviation industry is "where things progress very cautiously," he said.

It's difficult for avionics experts to keep up with the fast-moving consumer electronics industry and test all of the newest gadgets. But Carson said his committee, which comprises regulators, airline representatives and academics, has been looking at the technology behind the devices to test how different classes of consumer devices could interfere with aircraft equipment.

Although consumer electronics, such as cell phones, are supposed to operate within bands of the electromagnetic spectrum away from aviation bands, Carson said technology doesn't always behave the way it's supposed to. But, he said, during a flight, even smaller disturbances -- such as smoke alarms activating because of cell phone interference -- could have more serious consequences. And contrary to what most passengers think, it's the FCC — not the FAA — that implemented the cell phone ban in the first place.

It's true that before an airline could allow cell phone use in-flight, it would have to prove to the FAA that it wouldn't interfere with the airplane systems. Although, a study done by the FAA in also concluded that "civil aviation authorities reported no confirmed occurrences of cell phones affecting flight safety on aircraft with on-board cellular telephone base stations. The FCC's current rules prohibiting use of cellphones on planes were adopted more than 20 years ago to protect against radio interference to cellphone networks on the ground," it says on the FCC website.

This is purely a technical decision; it will, if adopted, allow airline carriers free to develop any in-flight phone usage policy they may wish, consistent with applicable rules.

They go on to be a bit more confusing when answering questions like "How soon could voice calling become a reality on planes? The FCC does make a point to say that they "understand that many passengers would prefer that voice calls not be made on airplanes. Perhaps that's the main reason why there is a ban on use currently in the U.

The central heating system in your house makes changes based on the readings of thermometers within those pipes, so the blowtorch will heat the water, change the temperature readings and trigger the system to make adjustments. Personal mobile devices could act in a similar way on aeroplanes, on which hundreds of electronics-based systems, known as avionics, are used for navigation, to communicate with the ground and to keep track of the components that keep them in the air.

Some involve sensors that communicate information to cockpit instruments. It's not just an issue with mobile phones. Kindles, iPods, laptops, handheld gaming consoles — they all emit radio waves. If these are at frequencies close to those of the avionics, signals and readings could be corrupted. This could affect systems such as radar, communications and collision avoidance technology, and the problem is potentially magnified if gadgets are damaged and start emitting stronger radio waves than they should, or if signals from multiple devices combine.

So much for the theory, but is there any proof that this is a problem? There are no known recorded incidents of crashes having been definitely caused by such interference, but that said the causes of accidents can sometimes remain unknown. But while definite proof may be lacking, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that the risks should be taken seriously.

A report summarising 50 cases of safety issues thought to have been caused by personal electronic devices, was published in January this year. These were compiled from the US Aviation Safety Reporting System, a database maintained by Nasa, to which crew members can anonymously submit reports of safety problems. If you're packing electronics in your checked luggage, remove any spare lithium batteries and carry them on with you.

This includes the rechargeable batteries you'll find in laptops, in some digital cameras and also in portable power banks that you might use to recharge your electronics on the go. The Transportation Security Administration trains its officers to be respectful in their treatment of people who have personal medical electronic devices like pacemakers, neurostimulators and insulin pumps.

That said, these devices can affect how you navigate the screening procedure. If you want to avoid discussing your device in public, download a notification card to show to a TSA agent. Let the agent know about your medical device before the screening process starts, and be prepared to go through the millimeter wave scanner or to receive a pat-down screening instead of going through a metal detector.

If you use an insulin pump, the TSA agent may require you to do a self pat-down of your own pump, but they shouldn't require you to disconnect from it. If you want support during the screening process due to having a personal medical electronic device, keep in mind that the TSA offers a help line to answer your questions and provide assistance, including arranging an escort from a passenger support specialist.

All right: You've made it through the security screening checkpoint, and now it's time to board the plane.