Putting phones/devices into flight mode - how necessary is it?

[DustyBin]

I’m not a frequent flier, however I have noticed that a significant number of people do not put their phone into flight mode when requested to do so. On a flight last week I counted three people actually talking on their phones as the plane was taxiing, and continuing to do so even during take off. As the cabin crew appeared to turn a blind eye it made me question how much of an issue it really is?

I’m asking purely out of interest, I don’t plan to ignore the request myself!

 

[Huntergreed]

I’m not a frequent flier, however I have noticed that a significant number of people do not put their phone into flight mode when requested to do so. On a flight last week I counted three people actually talking on their phones as the plane was taxiing, and continuing to do so even during take off. As the cabin crew appeared to turn a blind eye it made me question how much of an issue it really is?

I’m asking purely out of interest, I don’t plan to ignore the request myself!

As far as I’m aware, mobile devices do not interfere with the instruments in the cockpit.

They can attempt to “latch on” to the radio signals used for ATC, and this can cause a “buzzing” noise (a little like phone interference when you put your phone near a speaker) in the headsets of those on frequency.

Unpleasant for pilots for sure, but certainly not a safety risk.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's not going to down the aircraft. There must be one on on every flight. Judging by the times I've heard that telltale "bip, bip-bi-bip, bip-bi-bip" type sound over announcements it's usually in the pilot or cabin crew's pocket.

It could cause interference to communications, though, which could cause inconvenience for the crew, so it's only polite to switch it to flight mode. It'll also pointlessly waste your battery as it transmits constantly on full power, polling for a network but not finding one.

The other reason for it, interestingly, was that it was felt it'd cause problems for the networks by a phone trying to move from cell to cell at 500mph, but this has proven not to really be an issue.

 

[crablab]

It doesn't cause interference problems. If your phone is transmitting on aviation frequencies it shouldn't have been certified, and if aviation equipment is affected by a phone then that shouldn't have been certified either!

Lots of private (and some small commercial) operators zip around using phones and tablets for navigation, amongst other things. Switching such devices into "airplane mode" would be rather counterproductive in disabling the GPS! (And data which is quite useful for enroute weather, although of course not relied upon)

GSM/LTE transmission can cause short range interference with speakers/microphones on badly shielded equipment (doesn't include anything certified for flight) though. That's the "blip blip" noise.

 

[Gloster]

A bit of curiosity from someone who hasn’t flown since 1966 and doesn’t intend to fly again. Could there be a cumulative increase in the amount of interference if a large number of ‘phones were left on: would 30 ‘phones cause considerably more interference than one, or is it the same amount of potential interference no matter how many are on. As I am a complete non-technical person, please make the answer simple.

 

[DustyBin]

Thanks, that all makes sense and explains why (in my experience) cabin crew are willing to turn a blind eye. It’s not exactly a difficult rule to follow though IMO……

 

[roversfan2001]

I don't turn airplane mode on until we're almost on the runway, and turn it off as soon as we touch down. I know it won't bring the plane down but my logic is it won't bring the plane down if it's already on the tarmac.

 

[skyhigh]

Switching such devices into "airplane mode" would be rather counterproductive in disabling the GPS!

Since when did airplane mode disable GPS? The transmission is solely 1-way. You can use Bluetooth with airplane mode on so can't see any reason GPS should be disabled.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't turn airplane mode on until we're almost on the runway, and turn it off as soon as we touch down. I know it won't bring the plane down but my logic is it won't bring the plane down if it's already on the tarmac.

On most airlines you're allowed to turn it on pretty much straight after the wheels hit the ground these days. I'm fairly sure easyJet's landing announcement used to be something like "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to X, the local time is YY:ZZ. Please keep your seatbelt on while we taxi to the terminal. Mobile phones may now be used."

 

[edwin_m]

Since when did airplane mode disable GPS? The transmission is solely 1-way. You can use Bluetooth with airplane mode on so can't see any reason GPS should be disabled.

Indeed. Position can still be reported, but if apps get their mapping data live off the internet then they won't be able to do that. I assume any such app intended for use in flight would store its data on the device.

I've kept airplane mode selected on the phone on a couple of recent flights, because on the previous one the phone incurred charges trying to roam onto the on-aircraft network, which apparently isn't included in the fixed price overseas roaming package. Said network was too flaky even to pick up an email.

 

[crablab]

Since when did airplane mode disable GPS? The transmission is solely 1-way. You can use Bluetooth with airplane mode on so can't see any reason GPS should be disabled.

I'm not saying it makes any sense, but that's what happens on Android at least.

 

[gabrielhj07]

I do know some people who leave Flight Mode off, solely so that their photos can be geotagged!

 

[AlterEgo]

I don’t put my phone in flight mode and I’m not dead on a hillside yet.

 

[blackfive460]

I do know some people who leave Flight Mode off, solely so that their photos can be geotagged!

No need for that.
On many Android 'phones turning flight mode on doesn't turn the GPS receiver off and, if it does, just re-enable it.

 

[johncrossley]

Indeed. Position can still be reported, but if apps get their mapping data live off the internet then they won't be able to do that. I assume any such app intended for use in flight would store its data on the device.

The OsmAnd app stores maps on the device and the GPS works even in flight mode, so you can follow your route on there if you are in a window seat.

 

[route101]

I have my phone on my accident and got text messages saying welcome to the Netherlands, Austria etc.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2022 ==

A bit of curiosity from someone who hasn’t flown since 1966 and doesn’t intend to fly again. Could there be a cumulative increase in the amount of interference if a large number of ‘phones were left on: would 30 ‘phones cause considerably more interference than one, or is it the same amount of potential interference no matter how many are on. As I am a complete non-technical person, please make the answer simple.

Out of interest, why haven't you flown since 1966.

 

[Gloster]

Out of interest, why haven't you flown since 1966.

As long as I lived with my parents (until 1978), we never flew after a flight on a car-carrier to Dublin in 1966: I don’t know why, but holidays were limited to the UK and the north of France. While I worked for BR (1978-1987) I had free tickets, but by the time I left I did not want to fly due to a dislike of the feeling of not being in charge of my destiny when flying (yes, I did realise that the chances of an accident are minuscule). For the last thirty years my main reason is that I consider flying to be environmentally reckless.

There are also the facts that I like to watch the countryside as I travel, rather than just to head for somewhere. I also like to be free to adjust my arrangements and, before ryaneasy, that could be beyond my budget.

 

[nlogax]

Flight mode.. not necessary but I do it out of habit and to preserve phone battery. Even then most planes are awash with USB ports these days.

 

[Mikw]

I put it into flight mode when asked. Pointless having it on if there's no network and i don't want to add to the cabin crew's workload. I don't like to be the awkward person.

 

[Cloud Strife]

I do know some people who leave Flight Mode off, solely so that their photos can be geotagged!

Guilty as charged! In general, there's absolutely no risk by having the phone operating as normal, except the issue that the battery might discharge faster due to constantly searching for a network. If there were any real documented risks, phones would have to be stored with the cabin crew or checked in.

The OsmAnd app stores maps on the device and the GPS works even in flight mode, so you can follow your route on there if you are in a window seat.

You can download Google Maps too. I've used this frequently when travelling in non-EU countries, or for instance, when I was in Cyprus and didn't want to accidentally roam onto North Cypriot networks.

 

[Watershed]

Guilty as charged!

I've never used a phone that turns off GPS when flight mode is turned on?

You can download Google Maps too. I've used this frequently when travelling in non-EU countries, or for instance, when I was in Cyprus and didn't want to accidentally roam onto North Cypriot networks.

It should be possible to lock your phone to a chosen network to prevent this.

 

[Cloud Strife]

I've never used a phone that turns off GPS when flight mode is turned on?

It might be my specific camera app, but I notice that it doesn't geolocate pictures if flight mode is turned on. I've just checked some recent pictures of Mont Blanc (we were fortunate enough to fly above and to the east of it!), and none of them have been geotagged as I had flight mode on.

It should be possible to lock your phone to a chosen network to prevent this.

It is, but I don't trust it. I've got a business account, and my operator is useless enough that they won't impose limits on business accounts, so it's a 'better safe than sorry' type situation.

 

[edwin_m]

It might be my specific camera app, but I notice that it doesn't geolocate pictures if flight mode is turned on. I've just checked some recent pictures of Mont Blanc (we were fortunate enough to fly above and to the east of it!), and none of them have been geotagged as I had flight mode on.

Just done the same with a slightly different bit of the Alps and rather surprised to find it was tagged in the vicinity of Heathrow. This is the standard camera app on an iPhone.

 

[blackfive460]

Just done the same with a slightly different bit of the Alps and rather surprised to find it was tagged in the vicinity of Heathrow.

That's presumably where your 'phone last managed to get a reliable GPS fix. Depending on how good the GPS receiver is, it can prove difficult to get signals from sufficient satellites when travelling at speed in a metal tube!

 

[nlogax]

Interesting. Both my work iPhone and personal Android phone were in flight mode but I could only track realtime GPS progress in Google Maps on Android for the whole trip. A couple of short video clips I captured also have the correct location info. This isn't consistent for every flight on the same route, quite often the last-known location is stuck still somewhere north of Paisley until flight mode is disabled.

 

[Bantamzen]

Could it be that people are still asked to put devices into airplane mode simply to have one less distraction for passengers at pushback when the safety instructions are delivered by the cabin crew, and on approach to again make sure people are belting up, putting tray tables up etc? Craft with IFE usually have these suspended when critical messages are being delivered, so perhaps the mobile device off thing is for the same reason?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Could it be that people are still asked to put devices into airplane mode simply to have one less distraction for passengers at pushback when the safety instructions are delivered by the cabin crew, and on approach to again make sure people are belting up, putting tray tables up etc? Craft with IFE usually have these suspended when critical messages are being delivered, so perhaps the mobile device off thing is for the same reason?

No, it's not, because devices can still be used and cause a distraction when in flight mode.

 

[Mag_seven]

Internet surfing is one thing but please spare us from loudmouths declaring "Hello I'm on the plane" every five minutes during the flight

 

[Bantamzen]

No, it's not, because devices can still be used and cause a distraction when in flight mode.

They can, but in flight mode you won't have dozens of people chatting, texting or using social media, the former being particularly important whilst safety instructions are being given.

 

[Brooke]

I put my phone in airplane mode to save battery. Like others here, I often forget and haven’t smashed into a mountain!

BUT: Sometimes when you leave LHR in thick fog, BA are very insistent you not only use flight mode but even turn your phone off. The cabin crew go and check individually that everyone has done, immediately before turning out onto the runway.

Anyone know what this is about?