Do cell phones interfere with communications on airplanes?
Experts have debated for years whether it is safe to use cell phones on airplanes. Most of the evidence suggesting that it interferes with aviation equipment is anecdotal. But last year, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University concluded that cell phones can disrupt normal operation of key cockpit instruments, especially Global Positioning System receivers, which are increasingly vital for safe landings, according to Bill Strauss, an expert in aircraft electromagnetic compatibility at the Naval Air Warfare Center in Patuxent River, Md., and one of the researchers who conducted the study. Strauss said risks are caused by radio emissions from cellular calls that are higher than previously believed.
