---
title: An honest in-flight announcement
date: "2006-09-13T12:00:00Z"
categories:
  - links
wp_id: 220
description: I found a refreshingly honest take on in-flight announcements, highlighting that mobile phones are actually banned to protect ground-based cellular networks rather than aircraft navigation systems. It's a candid breakdown of common airline myths.
keywords: [airline safety, in-flight announcements, mobile networks, interference, cellular technology, aviation]
---

What would an [honest in-flight announcement](http://www.economist.com/opinion/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=7884654) sound like? Among other things, it would say...

> Please switch off all mobile phones, since they can interfere with the aircraft's navigation systems. At least, that's what you've always been told. The real reason to switch them off is because they interfere with mobile networks on the ground, but somehow that doesn't sound quite so good.