Why Your Phone Must Stay in Airplane Mode (Even With Starlink on the Roof)

Why can't you use your phone on a plane when the aircraft itself has a Starlink dish on top? This episode unpacks the contradiction through electromagnetic interference physics, the 1992 RTCA study that started it all, and the certification process that makes onboard picocells and satellite terminals absurdly safe. We explore harmonics, intermodulation products, aperture coupling, and why takeoff and landing remain the critical phases where tiny risks matter most. The answer isn't just bureaucracy—it's physics plus paperwork, and the Swiss cheese model of aviation safety.