Why are voice calls not allowed on planes?

The ban on cellphones and in-flight calls has been around since the introduction of mobile phones. In 1991, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a ban on in-flight use of wireless devices and cellphones. The main reason, it said, was network interference with communications on the ground.



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According to the Civil Aviation Authority, “scientific research has shown that mobile phones can interfere with the normal operation of aircraft equipment and can also cause interference in pilot's headsets”.

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International Airlines Permitting Voice Calls, Texting and Data
  • Aer Lingus. Long haul. — X. X.
  • Aeroflot. A320, A330, B777. X. X. X.
  • Air Asia. Select short-haul flights. X. X. X.
  • Air France. Select long haul B77-300. — X. X.
  • Azerbaijan Airlines. A320. X. X. X.
  • British Airways. A318. X. X. X.
  • EgyptAir. A330. X. X. X.
  • Emirates. Long haul to/from Dubai. X. X.


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Frontier said it stopped offering customer service by phone last weekend. The airline said customers can reach out by text or social media channels and WhatsApp. The shift aims to lower labor costs and increase the number of customers it can help at once.

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Can I text on an airplane? Yes, but only using a Wi-Fi connection. The ban on using a cellular connection means passengers can't send SMS texts. Any communication has to be over Wi-Fi with a messaging app that provides similar functionality like iMessage, WhatsApp, or Viber.

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The ban over the use of electronic devices in-flight has often been attributed to the possibility of electronic interference with flight equipment in the modern an era of fly-by-wire planes, which control flight systems using electronic signals rather than physical movement of connect cables.

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You can listen to downloaded music, play games, write notes, view pictures, and do any other activities on your mobile device as long as they do not require an internet connection. An internet or cellular connection is only required for in-flight calls, video calls, online games, streaming, and text messaging.

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