Cellphones on a Plane — More Dangerous Than Snakes

Frequent travelers know that while arriving at your destination might be the beginning of a great adventure, the getting there part can be, well, a drag (no aeronautical pun intended). Sure, there is a small TV screen wedged into the back of chair facing you that you can fiddle with, but the novelty wears off quickly. The earphones that are dished out—even if they come without a fee—lead you to prerecorded radio and television, which can be quite repetitive on a longer flight. Oh, wait, that’s right! You brought your own entertainment. Think again.

You have your iPad, smartphone, and Kindle packed in your carry-on luggage—and they are just calling out to you. There is one minor problem: in-flight crews ask you to shut down every gadget and gismo you have in your possession for the takeoff and landing of the aircraft. But really, is all this fuss necessary?

Well, the short answer is yes. But not for the reasons you may think.

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