Airplane Mode Not A Guarantee For iPhone Use

By Rafe Telsch: 2007-10-14 15:15:44

One of the features of the iPhone I wasn’t previously aware of is that the unit can be put in “airplane mode,” a safe-mode that cuts all of the wireless features of the iPhone, theoretically permitting users to keep the phone on during flights that require passengers to discontinue cell phone use. The thing is, Apple might be the only one who sees the mode as being airplane safe, as one passenger just discovered.

A passenger on ATA Airlines recently got into some hot water for refusing to turn off his iPhone during a flight to Hawaii. He was using his iPhone to watch a movie during the flight and was asked several times to shut it off because cell phones were not permitted during the flight. He argued with the flight attendant that the phone was in “airplane mode” and therefore was safe, but the attendant insisted FAA regulations require cell phones to be shut off. As you might expect, the arguing led to the passenger having a nice conversation with the authorities in Hawaii upon the plane’s landing. While the passenger was eventually allowed to go, you have to know that put a damper on the beginning of his Hawaiian trip.

It turns out, “airplane mode” is something that’s dictated by Apple and not accepted by all the airlines or the FAA. CNET points out that Apple’s webpage states that turning on airplane mode deactivates wireless features of the phone, letting the phone be used after takeoff, “if allowed by the aircraft operator and applicable laws and regulations.” It seems to me that the FAA should have approved that before Apple advertised the feature, though, especially considering cell phone usage during flights isn’t consistently enforced from company to company (and flight to flight).

Obviously, with the iPhone somewhat paving the way to the future, this is something airlines are going to have to consider, especially as the iPhone becomes less of a novelty and joins its brother and sister Blackberries and Smart Phones. For now, however, be aware that just because Apple says you can use your phone in the air, you might not actually be allowed to.

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Sony-E User
May 13, 2008 at 22:17

Mike, you summed up everything i wanted to say nicely. I for one wish there was a standard. I'm facing a long flight later this year, and want entertainment. I'm not to keen on spending a 150 bucks for something that does what my phone can already do.

I'm looking to see what may have developed since i last boarded a plane (Jun 07).

I asked the flight attendant about flight mode on my Sony-Ericsson, and she replied that it's best to turn it off because, in effect, there is no standard.
It's not worth having the bird drop out the sky as far as i'm concerned.

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Mike
December 1, 2007 at 16:11

Bill, Jo, and Janes,
You are being way too hard on the fight attendants. With language like "Nazi", "friggin ignorant", etc., I expect that this language might apply better to you.

Fight attendants can't be expected to know every device, and all the various implementations of something called "Airplane Mode". Do you really know if the claims from each manufacturer are 100% true and meet the expectation of the FAA? In the end, the flight attendants have only the current rules and regulations set forth by the FAA and the Airlines on which to base their decisions. If they err carelessly, they can lose their jobs. How can you blame them for being somewhat conservative when there is no standard for "Airplane Mode?"

Rafe Telsch said that Apple should have sought approval for "Airplane Mode" from FAA. By seeking FAA approval, Apple {or any other manufacturer}, would have helped to establish a clear definition and standards for "Airplane Mode", and flight attendants would be able to determine definitively which devices have acceptable "Airplane Modes".

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terrorgear
October 15, 2007 at 23:14

WBarlow said it best. Airplane mode is nothing new, and airlines have been recognizing the distinction between pda mode and cellphone mode for 5 years as far as I know.

Before buying an iPhone I used a Palm Treo 600, 650 and 680. You turen the phone portion off and still use the PDA portion. Alaskan and Delta Airlines all mentio Airplane Mode in their pre-flight speech. Palm paved the way for Apple on this one, but until now, smartphones weren't for the general public.

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Bill
October 15, 2007 at 13:26

Your article sounds like you are writing for the airlines. Get a grip on reality here. The latest thing of airline flight staff being able to tell you that you have to stand on your head and that FAA compliance with that order is mandatory is false. An order by the flight attendant must also be legal and comply with FAA regulations. They cannot just make up their own rules. Airplane mode means that the phone is no longer in phone mode and cannot be used as a phone in this mode. This it is no more than an iPod at this point. As the iPod falls in the category of electronic appliance, it can be used under current FAA reuglations as and when specified by the captain of the flight.

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Jo
October 15, 2007 at 13:24

The airplane mode has been around for ages--- I had used it on my Sony Ericsson P900, Palm Treos including standard Sony Ericsson phones.
It is just that the US carriers/hostesses are friggin ignorant of this.(as always)

Rest of the world is used to airplane mode and most airline hostesses quietly walk away when you show them the icon or text that says it is in airplane mode.

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WBarlow
October 14, 2007 at 21:22

This article makes it seem that airplane mode is a very new thing that Apple has invented just for the iPhone which it really isn't at all.
Airplane mode has been in many other phones before, like the Sony Ericsson Walkman phone, being the one that I use, and have used on aeroplanes before without being told to switch it off by the flight attendants.

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James Katt
October 14, 2007 at 17:36

Well, if they would also arrest smart-phone users such as Treo, and Blackberry, and Windows Mobile users for using their phones aboard an airplane even with the cellular and bluetooth components turned off, then it would be fair play.

One can of course by an iPod Touch or Video iPod or use a MacBook to watch movies while in flight. If you have an iPhone, chances are you also have an iPod on which you can watch videos. It pays to have options when Nazi flight attendents complain about your iPhone or smartphone use.

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