Airplane mode
Airplane mode (American English) or aeroplane mode (British English) is a setting available on many mobile phones and other electronic devices that, when activated, suspends many of the device's signal transmitting functions, thereby disabling the device's capacity to place or receive calls or use text messaging – while still permitting use of other functions that do not require signal transmission (e.g., games, built-in camera, MP3 player).
The name is derived from the fact that it permits the user to operate the device while on board a commercial aircraft while in flight, where the operation of mobile phones and other devices that send or receive signals is generally prohibited due to the common belief that they can potentially impact aircraft avionics or interfere with ground mobile networks. Other names include flight mode, aeroplane mode, offline mode, and standalone mode.
When the "airplane mode" is activated, it will disable all cellular services (GSM, UMTS, LTE) as well as other signal-transmitting technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can be enabled separately even while the device is in airplane mode.[1][2][not in citation given] Receive-only technologies like FM radio and GPS still operate if the device is so equipped. Some models disable GPS and other passive features, but this is inconsistent among manufacturers, since these latter functions are permitted on some aircraft and not others.[citation needed]
In a revised review as of October 2013 the FAA has described the usage of electronic devices in "airplane mode" - the cellular services are disabled (disallowing any airborne calls) while Wi-Fi may be used if the carrier offers such a service. Short-range accessories such as Bluetooth are always permitted. The statement is only a recommendation citing the common allowance by aircraft operators based on the fact that airplanes can tolerate the usage of these personal electronic devices (hence their usage may still be completely prohibited on some airplane models).[3]
While in airplane mode, most devices allow the user to continue to use their email client or other program to write text or E-mail messages, and will save it to phone memory to send later when an active network connection is achieved.
Although it is not possible to send calls or text in airplane mode, devices such as some Nokia smartphones allow the user to make an emergency call regardless of the fact that the phone is in airplane mode, while other mobile devices such as earlier Sony Ericsson devices only allow active mobile network connections (regardless of whether it is an emergency call or not) after the device has been turned off and restarted to normal mode.
A secondary feature of airplane mode is that it reduces power consumption by shutting down various onboard transmitters and receivers. It also allows faster charging for mobile phones (such as the iPhone).
Legal status in various nations
- India : On 23 April 2014, DGCA amended the rule which bans use of portable electronic devices and allowing their usage in all phases of flight.[4]
References
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- ↑ India amends rule on inflight usage of Mobile phones
External links
- Copa Airlines' cell phone policy
- QANTAS policy on usage of flight mode
