Am I the A***hole for Not Turning on Flight Mode?

Every time you travel by air, you are requested to put your phone in flight mode, but one isn’t in the mood for compliance every time, maybe the rebellious streak in you kicked in and you went on to send that one WhatsApp text, or were in the middle of a call or you simply don’t like being told what to do.  

A survey conducted by Allianz Travel Insurance in 2017 of about 1500 Americans revealed that found that 40 percent admitted to sometimes skipping aeroplane mode. Nearly 14 percent said they had sneaked in a mid-flight call or SMS. 

If mobile devices had such a potential to cause harm during aviation, why are they not confiscated during the boarding processes at the airport? Or is the aeroplane mode just an outdated ritual? 

Mobile phones, even when not actively used by you, continue to look for signal from mobile towers, when this same process occurs while in flight, those signals can interfere with cockpit radios, creating an incessant buzzing sound in pilots’ headsets—like a mosquito in your ear. This can prove to be a distraction for the pilot which can hinder their ability to fly the aircraft effectively.  

Usage of mobile phones during aviation is also not recommended by the FAA because it can mess with the radio altimeter, which helps pilots gauge altitude. This is especially important during takeoff and landing. While a single mobile phone may not cause harm, a cabin full of them will cause enough distraction for the pilot which may increase the chances of a mishap.  

Putting your phone on flight mode is a crew instruction, and refusing to oblige to crew instructions is counted as a federal offence. Depending on the airline, you could also be violating posted signage. Thankfully there have been no incidents of anybody thrown off the flight midair just because they forgot to switch on flight mode. If you’re particularly defiant, sure, you could be removed from the flight or fined. But for most people, the worst consequence is a passive-aggressive reminder to follow all crew instructions. 

So, are you the a***hole for not switching on flight mode? Yes, not because you have signed death warrants for everyone aboard the flight, but because you are making someone’s job more difficult than it has to be for absolutely no good reason.