Why don't airlines install Faraday cages in their planes? [closed]
Cell phones and other electronic devices can interfere with the pilot's comms and other crucial avionics, as well as cell towers on the ground, if the plane is low enough. Due to these issues, the FCC forbids using cell phones on planes, while the FAA allows airlines to choose when they may be used, once the plane is out of range of the ground cell towers.Source
The fact is, though, many people just don't put their phones on airplane mode. You can forbid it all you want, but without enforcing it (not feasible - too many ways to get around it), it doesn't do much.
Enter the Faraday cage.
Faraday shields are, in short, metallic surfaces that prevent the transfer of electromagnetic waves from one side to the other; Faraday cages are ones with holes in them, blocking waves of specific wavelengths while allowing all others through. You've surely seen Faraday cages before; they're in the doors of all microwaves.
This seems to be an easy (perhaps somewhat expensive) solution. Just put one up on every airplane, maybe with a wire going from one side to the other to allow the on-board Wi-Fi to still work. But it would block all outside communication, regardless of if you've got airplane mode turned on or not. If the cage is routed around/inside the sides of the planes and across the door between the cockpit and the cabin, the pilot would have no problem communicating with the outside world.
I feel like I'm overlooking something obvious, but I can't put my finger on it. Is there a hole (so to speak) in this theory?
Best Answer
Aviation electronics already are shielded to rigorous standards, such as RTCA DO-160 - the issue with cell phones and other transmitting devices is largely based on out dated scientific understanding and studies, and older requirements.
In the US, both the FCC (which is the body which actually bans cell phone use on aircraft due to issues with ground cell towers rather than interference with avionics - civil aircraft move quick enough that hand offs between cell towers can become too frequent and problematic) and the FAA (which leaves cell phone use up to airlines through exceptions to FAR 14 C.F.R ยง 91.21) have indicated they are willing to relax rules and change official stances, even on older aircraft.
The issue these days with cell phones on civil aircraft has rapidly shifted to social issues rather than technical issues - people don't want to be sat next to the "cell phone thug" who insists on shouting into his device for the entirety of a five hour flight.
Pictures about "Why don't airlines install Faraday cages in their planes? [closed]"
Do airplanes have Faraday cages?
A plane's body is designed to be completely encapsulated with aluminum, which allows the electrical current to flow solely through the outside or outer shell of the planet and out through the tail, keeping the inside of the plane free of electrical charge. Essentially, an airplane is a giant Faraday cage.Why is cell service not allowed on planes?
Seasoned travelers are used to turning off cell phones when the airplane's cabin door closes, and know they can't use the phones during the rest of the flight. The Federal Communications Commission bans cell phone use because of the potential for ground network interference, as well as to appease passengers.Does an ungrounded Faraday cage work?
Does a faraday cage need to be grounded? Grounding a faraday cage \u2014 that is, providing a way for the electric charge from its exterior to exit \u2014 is important in terms of safety, but it is not necessary for a Faraday cage to operate. Without grounding, electric charge will remain in the exterior of a Faraday cage.Do Faraday cages block signals?
So yes, a Faraday cage blocks outgoing signals.8 Letters - Why Don't We [Official Music Video]
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