Airplane mode

Airplane mode, aeroplane mode, flight

mode, offline mode, or standalone mode
is a setting available on smartphones
and other portable devices. When
activated, this mode suspends the
device's radio-frequency (RF) signal
transmission technologies (i.e.,
Bluetooth, telephony and Wi-Fi),
effectively disabling all analog voice, and
digital data services, when implemented
correctly by the electronic device
software author. When cellular phones
became prevalent in the 1990s, some
communication headsets of aircraft
pilots would register an audible click
when a cellular phone on the aircraft
would transceive a signal. This clicking
on the headsets became overwhelmingly
distracting to airframe control, with more
and more phone calls from airplane
passengers as time went on. This led to
the banning of electronic device use on
airplanes and ushered in the era of
airplane mode. This airplane travel
condition diverged cellular network
device development from hardware to
software and the smart phone was
created.

Nexus 5; Android 4.4.2, in airplane mode

The mode is so named because most

airlines prohibit the use of equipment
that transmit RF signals while in flight.
Typically it is not possible to make phone
calls or send messages in airplane
mode, but some smartphones allow calls
to emergency services. Most devices
allow continued use of email clients and
other mobile apps to write text or email
messages. Messages are stored in
memory to transmit later, once airplane
mode is disabled.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can be enabled

separately while the device is in a
pseudo-airplane mode, as allowed by
the operator of the aircraft.[1][2]
Receiving RF signals (as by radio
receivers and satellite navigation
services) may not be inhibited by
airplane mode; however, both
transmitters and receivers are needed to
receive calls and messages, even when
not responding to them.

Since a device's transmitters are shut

down when in airplane mode, the mode
reduces power consumption and
increases battery life.

Legal status in various

nations
China: Prior to September 2017, all cell
phones, even with airplane mode,
were never allowed to be used during
the flight although other devices can
be used while in cruising altitude. On
September 18, 2017, the Civil Aviation
Authority of China relaxed these rules
and allowed all Chinese air carriers to
allow the use of Portable Electronic
Devices (PEDs) for the entire flight as
long as they are in Aeroplane Mode.[3]
Europe: On December 9, 2013, the
European Aviation Safety Agency
updated its guidelines on portable
electronic devices (PEDs), allowing
them to be used throughout the whole
flight as long as they are set in Airplane
mode.[4]
India: On 23 April 2014, the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
amended the rule which bans use of
portable electronic devices and
allowing their usage in all phases of
flight.[5]
United States: In a revised review in
October 2013, the United States
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
made a recommendation on the use of
electronic devices in "airplane mode"—
cellular telephony must be disabled,
while Wi-Fi may be used if the carrier
offers it. Short-range transmission
such as Bluetooth is permissible on
aircraft that can tolerate it. The
 statement cites the common practice
of aircraft operators whose aircraft
can tolerate use of these personal
electronic devices, but use may still be
prohibited on some models of
aircraft.[6]

References
1. "iOS: Understanding airplane mode" .
Apple Support. April 14, 2015. "If allowed
by the aircraft operator and applicable
laws and regulations, you can re-enable
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while in airplane
mode"
2. "Android: AIRPLANE_MODE_RADIOS" .
"A comma separated list of radios that
need to be disabled when airplane mode
 is on. This overrides WIFI_ON and
BLUETOOTH_ON, if Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
are included in the comma separated
list."
3. "China's air passengers could soon be
allowed to use smartphones" .
scmp.com.
4. Attwooll, Jolyon (5 February 2016).
"Regulator confirms tablets safe to use
during take-off" – via
www.telegraph.co.uk.
5. "DGCA allows in-flight use of mobile
phones, tablets on flight mode" .
indianexpress.com. 23 April 2014.
6. "FAA to Allow Airlines to Expand Use of
Personal Electronics" . Federal Aviation
Administration. 2014-10-31. "Cell
phones should be in airplane mode or
with cellular service disabled—i.e., no
signal bars displayed—and cannot be
used for voice communications based
on FCC regulations that prohibit any
airborne calls using cell phones. If your
air carrier provides Wi-Fi service during
flight, you may use those services. You
can also continue to use short-range
Bluetooth accessories, like wireless
keyboards. [...] The PED Aviation
Rulemaking Committee (ARC)
concluded most commercial airplanes
can tolerate radio interference signals
from PEDs. In a recent report, they
recommended that the FAA provide
airlines with new procedures to assess if
their airplanes can tolerate radio
 interference from PEDs. Once an airline
verifies the tolerance of its fleet, it can
allow passengers to use handheld,
lightweight electronic devices—such as
tablets, e-readers, and smartphones—at
all altitudes"

External links
Copa Airlines' cell phone policy
QANTAS policy on usage of flight
mode

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title=Airplane_mode&oldid=1006850254"
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