Is the era of Airplane Mode nearing its end?

 

Air passengers in the European Union will soon be allowed to use their mobile phones in full without having to use 'airplane mode' while sitting on the plane. The European Commission has directed that airlines can provide 5G technology services including all types of mobile data in flights. This means passengers no longer have to switch their phones to airplane mode as soon as they board a flight. However, it is still being determined how this directive will be implemented.EU member states have been instructed to make the 5G frequency band available by June 30, 2023. This means that people will be able to use all the features of their phone during the flight like connecting calls, using internet apps for music and videos, etc.

 Thierry Breton, Commissioner of the European Union for the Internal Market, has said that this project will provide unique facilities for people and will be a good opportunity for European companies to grow. He says, 'High-speed and high-capacity communication systems create enormous possibilities.'The European Commission has reserved specific frequency bands for flights since 2008. In this way, internet access was given to certain facilities during the flight. However, the service has historically been slow because it uses satellite products that connect aircraft and people on the ground. But the new system can take advantage of the fast download speed of 5G. According to mobile network EE, it can be over 100 Mbps, and thus it is possible to download a movie in a few minutes. Day Whittingham, head of Britain's Flight Safety Committee, told the BBC: "Historically, airplane mode has been important because we didn't know what effect mobile devices had on airplanes.""There was concern that the mobile signal could interfere with the automatic flight control system," he says. But now we know from experience that the risk of this intervention is shallow. It has always been recommended to keep all devices on airplane mode when you are on a flight.

Concerns have also been raised in the United States that the 5G frequency could disrupt aircraft flight and it was suggested that it could cause aircraft altitude measurements to be corrupted. However, Whittingham has said that it has not been an issue in the UK and the EU. There is very little chance of interference. There is a different frequency for 5G and its power settings are different here compared to the US.

 He says that the traveling public wants 5G. Regulators will likely allow this. But some measures will be taken to ensure safety. The BBC has tried to find out the position of the British Civil Aviation Authority in this regard, but no decision has been taken so far.