Airplane mode (also known as 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.
The mode is so named because most airlines prohibit the use of equipment that transmit RF signals while in flight. The Federal Communications Commission banned using most cell phones and wireless devices in 1991 because of interference concerns,[clarification needed] although there is no scientific evidence of such.[1][2] 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.[3][4] 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.
- ^ Auerbach, Jon (October 4, 1999). "Airlines ban cell phones -- but why?". ZDNET.
- ^ Hsu, Jeremy (December 21, 2009). "The Real Reason Cell Phone Use Is Banned on Airlines". livescience.com.
- ^ "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
- ^ "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.