
Why Cell Phone Usage Remains Banned on U.S. Flights Despite Advancements
COLUMBIA, S.C., — Travelers flying out of South Carolina this holiday season often means boarding planes to visit family or escape the winter. Passengers in South Carolina and the United States, are still greeted with the familiar instruction to switch portable electronic devices to airplane mode or turn them off entirely.
This long-standing policy is rooted in concerns that cell phone usage and signals could interfere with aircraft systems. However, since the European Union lifted its ban on cell phone usage in airplanes in 2022, questions have emerged about why the U.S. continues to enforce this rule.
Richard Levy, an aviation consultant and former American Airlines pilot who now teaches at Southwest Airlines, says the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains that cell phone signals could interfere with aircraft communications and navigation equipment. The FAA declined to elaborate, instead referring to regulations requiring passengers to follow all crew safety instructions.

Assessing the Actual Risk
Levy acknowledges that the risk of interference with modern aircraft systems is minimal. “In the latest Boeings and Airbus planes, the navigation equipment relies on GPS, the same as in cars,” Levy explains. “The odds of cell phones interfering with that system are next to zero.”
Historical FAA guidance sheds light on the origins of the ban. Advisory Circular 91.21-1D notes that the prohibition was established in May 1961 to prevent FM receivers from interfering with aircraft systems. At the time, FM radios operated on frequencies close to those used by aircraft communication systems, posing a legitimate risk.
Cell phones, however, operate on much higher frequencies, making interference unlikely. FAA studies conducted in 2006 and 2012 found no evidence that cell phone usage and signals disrupt aircraft systems.
Still, anecdotal accounts persist. A pilot recently described on TikTok how he experienced interference in his wired headset, likening the sensation to “a mosquito” in his ear. He speculated that multiple phones attempting to connect to towers might create radio wave interference.
Levy remains skeptical. “Prove to me it was a cell phone,” he says. “Static could come from all kinds of sources.”
Why the U.S. Hesitates to Lift the Ban
Several theories suggest that science is not the primary factor behind the U.S. ban. Some argue the policy aims to prevent air rage. A 2012 FAA study found that many public comments opposing the ban’s removal cited concerns about loud phone conversations annoying other passengers.
Levy finds this reasoning plausible. “We’ve all been in grocery stores where someone talks way too loudly on their phone. On a plane, there’s no escape.”
Another potential reason is ensuring passenger attention during safety briefings. Levy is less convinced by this argument, noting that Europeans manage to maintain safety protocol compliance despite allowing cell phone use.
Regulatory and Industry Challenges
Even if the FAA wanted to lift the ban, it would face significant regulatory hurdles. The prohibition is codified in two Titles of the Code of Federal Regulations: Title 14, covering aeronautics, and Title 47, governing telecommunications. Changing the policy would require coordination between the FAA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Industry dynamics may also play a role. Levy suggests that airline unions, which wield considerable lobbying power, might support keeping the ban in place.
Ultimately, Levy believes the U.S. is taking a conservative approach. “They’re waiting for definitive data to prove there’s no risk,” he says. Until then, South Carolinians should expect the airplane mode instruction to remain a staple of American air travel.
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