A rebirth

Dr Fahim Chand | Monday December 19, 2022 06:00

In his hand the polished steel handle felt smooth and cool. He entered the room slowly this time. Every previous foray had been a quick in and out to quickly dispatch the work to be done.

The plush carpet felt welcoming as he slowly slumped into the waiting chair. He had remembered the alarm chiming its distinctive tone at 5am, but that now felt like a lifetime ago. And as the brain dispatched the brakes on his runaway neurons, he could now consciously feel his breathing stabilise and slow.

His work day now manifested as a series of flashing disjointed images. And as he slowly stitched them together to create a vivid tapestry, a smile channelled across his face. It had been productive, and while manic at times, he was happy and would sleep well tonight. He rose slowly and gathered his belongings as he traversed that familiar journey to the door.

As he turned to face the unmistakable four walls, he inserted the key into the lock and switched off the light, signalling the end of his work year. As he made his way to the back door of the building, his lunch cooler box felt lighter than when he had brought it this morning. He smiled as he realised he was now hungry. As the lock tumblers slid into position to secure the door, he felt calm and a sense of relief.

He opened the car door and while he slid into position, the magic of Bluetooth connected and jumpstarted his playlist. He wondered if he was feeling nostalgic as the dramatic opening notes of The Cure’s Fascination Street detonated into the air. Another smile crept across his face as he realised that one never interrupts the musical genius of Robert Smith, the charismatic founder of the alternative rock kings. Indeed an upward trajectory of the decibel level was in order.

There was surprisingly less traffic than he might have anticipated as he drove home. At home he showered off the stresses of not only the day, but the entire year. While he would have liked nothing more than to chill and relax, there was work to be done. The empty suitcase lay open for him to fill up, before he and his family left for their vacation the next morning.

Fashion decisions were made to enhance the accumulation of lasting memories. As they approached the airport the pulse quickened and the excitement level elevated.

Why do we have this fascination with airports and flying? Surely it’s because airports and planes signify the beginning of new adventures. And as we soar into the air it signifies a rebirth of sorts and begins our cleansing.

The sometimes cruel world outside ceases to be relevant. As we wait excitedly, the pilot explains the details of the flight and the flight crew meticulously demonstrate the safety features of the aircraft. Next time I actually should check to see if there is a life jacket under the seat. Finally, the pilot insisted that we switch off our electronic devices since they may interfere with the “avionics” of the aircraft. We all comply with the request, but somehow wonder if this might be the FAA going slightly overboard? In actuality, that request does have some merit.

In 2012, lab testing by Boeing showed Wi-Fi, mobile cell phones and outside frequencies such as weather radar can interfere with the display units of aircraft. These relay information such as speed, altitude and map displays and can flash on and off or go blank. Some of the older aircraft had units made by Honeywell International that were particularly vulnerable. These units were later replaced. These interferences have presented themselves in various real world flying circumstances.

However, airplanes are extraordinarily sophisticated vehicles, and these incidents have not been clearly connected to radio signal interferences.

To summarise, experts do agree that cellphones can cause interference. Professor Tim Wilson at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University says the problem is cumulative. Apparently, “the greater the number of phones emitting radio signals, the greater the potential for interference with a plane’s flight system.” However, beginning next year, airline passengers within the European Union (EU) will no longer be required to set their mobile phones to “airplane mode” when hopping on a flight.

The European Commission decided in November to allow airlines operating in the EU to provide the latest 5G technology on their planes, thereby allowing passengers to operate their phones just as they would on the ground. Though in the US, usage of cellphones will still be restricted to airplane mode owing to the possibility of interference. The reasons why it is safer in Europe has to do with the fact that their networks employ lower power, strategic placement of antennas and most importantly use frequencies different to those used by aviation equipment.

The holiday season offers reprieve after an eventful and taxing year. It is a chance to reconnect with family and explore the world. The irrefutable thrill of boarding an aircraft bound for a bucket-list location cannot be denied. Just remember to put your cellphone in airplane mode in case the airline display units fail and you end up yourself in uncharted territory.