Commercial Fixed Wing
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Human Factors
It is insulting to have received notice that the Company is studying the passenger losses created by WiFi being turned off rather than asking why it is being turned off.  The truth of the matter is it frequently must be turned off in order for communications in the cockpit to continue because it frequently creates static/interference/feedback on VHF radios to such a degree that safety is compromised.  I personally suspect this happens when a passenger tries to transmit outgoing messages from a device hooked up to WiFi.
An air carrier flight crew member describes the reasons why crews turn off passenger WiFi access during flight. Static; interference and feedback during VHF communications were listed as some of issues.