Why should we turn off mobile phones when we travel in an airplane, Part 2

With discussion in previous post, we now know the mobile phone’s GSM TDMA signal pattern would generate buzzing sound on audio speakers. Now, how this is buzzing sound related to the safety of air planes?

After watching many videos of “Mayday, Air Crash Investigation” TV programs, I start to understand that today’s plane communications are still running analog technologies. Pilots would hear the buzzing sound generated by your mobile phone.

Fresh tomatos.
Photo taken in Hsinchu County, Taiwan.

Why should we turn off mobile phones when we travel in an airplane, Part 1

This video is funny. But some of the challenges from the passengers are quite true.

• "90-Million -dollar aircraft can't ignore the signals from my 40-dollar iPod Shuffle?"
• "Can I hold this plane hostage with my (Nintendo) 3DS?"
• "How come the plane is not interfering with my phone?"
• "Why don't other phones interfere my phone?"
• "I just always leave my phone on and nothing happened?"

I think all the fears of "interferences to navigation" was because of some sound like this one.