Do I really need to use Airplane Mode on my iPad or iPhone?
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One of the most common questions we hear as pilots is, “Do I really need to put my phone in Airplane Mode?” The airlines have been saying yes for years, but many travelers think this advice is outdated and it’s safe to ignore. Is that true in a small airplane? And what is Airplane Mode anyway? Here’s our advice.
What is Airplane Mode?
Airplane Mode was designed as a shortcut to allow airline passengers to press one button and easily disable wireless radios on an iPhone or iPad before takeoff. It’s included on all Apple devices, regardless of whether your device includes a cellular connection or is Wi-Fi only. The Airplane Mode toggle can be accessed from several locations:
- Swipe down from the top right of the screen and press the airplane button at the top left of the Control Center
- Go to the main Settings app and turn on the Airplane Mode switch at the top of the list
Turning on Airplane Mode turns off all radios (including the cellular connection) except for Bluetooth—you can’t make calls, but you can listen to music, play games, watch videos, and use other apps that don’t require network or phone connections. Pilots using a device like Sentry or Stratus in the cockpit, which requires Wi-Fi, can turn Wi-Fi back on after enabling Airplane Mode to connect to these accessories. Also, your device will automatically remember this preference and leave Wi-Fi (or Bluetooth) on the next time you enable Airplane Mode, meaning you’ll only need to do that once.
The one exception is that Airplane Mode does NOT disable the internal GPS (if your iPad has one). That was the case many years ago, but it is no longer. You can turn Airplane Mode on and still navigate in ForeFlight.
What do the FARs say?
Next, let’s look at the rules that apply here. First, FAR 91.21 covers all portable electronic devices—not just cell phones—being used on any aircraft operating under an air carrier certificate (think airlines) or under IFR. No portable electronic devices can be used in these cases unless “the operator of the aircraft has determined it will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system.” The FAR uses plain language in stating, “the determination may be made by the pilot in command,” and the FAA has been clear that sophisticated testing equipment is not required to satisfy this FAR.
There’s also AC 91.21-1D, which expands on FAR 91.21. This AC offers suggestions for evaluating portable electronic devices and clarifies that cell phones and LTE-enabled iPads, while prohibited from use in flight by FCC regulations, are allowed to be used in aircraft while on the ground for picking up a clearance or filing a flight plan.
Neither of these FAA documents explicitly ban the use of cell phones or celluar-enabled iPads, but the FCC does in 22.925: “When any aircraft leaves the ground, all cellular telephones on board that aircraft must be turned off.” More practically, it’s clear the main concern from regulators is electromagnetic interference (EMI), and in our experience we’ve almost never seen any interference from an operating cell phone. However, it’s worth pointing out that the chance of interference isn’t zero—hold your iPhone up to the compass and see what happens.
However, even if there’s no EMI there are good reasons why you should consider using Airplane Mode.
First, consider why the FCC bans the use of cellular devices—it’s really about the cell towers on the ground, not the airplane instruments. Airborne cellular transmitters have line of sight to many more towers than a typical phone on the ground, which means your iPhone at 2500 feet can easily swamp channels on multiple towers. This isn’t good for the performance of the rest of the cell network and for everyone on the ground. Some people even think carriers temporarily blacklist phones that connect to lots of towers. If you’ve ever tried to get your emails while your airline flight was on approach but found performance to be really bad, that might be what’s going on.
Secondly, Airplane Mode is much more efficient for your phone or iPad battery. This is mostly because your devices won’t be using extra power to search for cell towers or trying to coordinate connections with towers that are barely reachable. Leaving LTE on for the entire flight can easily consume half your battery life on a two-hour flight.
Lastly, Airplane Mode should make your apps perform better. Instead of trying to make network requests that will most likely time out when you barely have any bandwidth, network requests won’t happen at all, and your apps should just fall back to being offline. Anecdotally, we’ve also seen more reliable performance with external devices like ADS-B receivers when cellular data is turned off.
Does that mean you should never use your cell phone in flight? No. In a worst-case scenario, like a total communications failure in flight, we wouldn’t hesitate to try calling ATC on the phone. It has happened, and it has worked. You might have to beg forgiveness with the FCC, but that’s a small price to pay.
To clarify, it’s the cellular connection that is the driving concern, not all output signals. So for the GA pilot, legally (FCC) they just need to make sure cellular is not connecting to the towers, but otherwise WiFi and Bluetooth have little to no interference concerns.
The main reason I turn my phone on airplane mode is because the last thing I want to be is distracted by a phone call or text during a high workload time.
I agree. Same here
Ditto
On an iPad connected to any WiFi, cellular data is turned off, because it thinks it can get internet from the WiFi. I have a Stratus ESGi which uses WiFi to connect to the iPad in flight. This turns cellular data off, so the apps know there is no internet, but the LTE will still try to ping towers if you don’t go to airplane mode.
I’m sorry Dick, but I have found that not to be the case. I just added a cellular data plan to my iPad and started receiving email notifications when I’m flying with WiFi connected to the Sentry. Evidently cellular data is still working at some level. I have to go to Airplane mode now.
I’m an older pilot and not tech savvy. I need clarification on this topic. My question is if anyone on board a private airplane has their cell phone on without having it on airplane mode AND if they RECEIVE a call while airborne and answer that call is that violating FAR’s and FCC regulations. My impression is line-of-sight works both ways?
Not sure what line-of-sight has to do with anything, but if anyone on your airplane receives a call or text while inflight, then that phone is not Off or in Airplane Mode and is in violation of FCC regulations.
The significance of line of sight in this discussion relates to being connected to too many cellular towers at one time.
Each Cell tower That is “within sight“ Will connect or attempt to connect with your phone. This overloads the system and that is the primary concern that the FCC has with cellular use in airplanes
I should have stated PHONE CALL or TEXT.
One of my airline navigation systems started to show errors climbing out. I made a cabin announcement and asked the passengers to shut off all electronics and reported to them, “that fixed it.”.
Maintenance found a cold solder joint in the antenna cable for that nav system that was picking up the radio frequency emissions from one or a few devices in the cabin.
There is a lot of confusion among folks on this topic. First off, a phone call or texting both use cellular data.
Now, as long as cellular data is on, the phone is trying to ping a cell tower. The towers are placed so “ideally” a cell phone will only be within range of four towers while on the ground. This is where line-of-sight comes into play.
On the ground, you have buildings, hills, trees, etc. that can and will block cell signals. Once you leave the ground, as in an airplane or hot air balloon, there are fewer obstacles for the signal and thus in line-of-sight of more towers. The more towers you unnecessarily ping is referred to as interference. Hence the reason for the FCC having this regulation in place. Remember, the FCC has authority over licensed communication devices, not the FAA. Each carrier, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc., have a license to operate in specific frequency ranges. Your cell phone is an extension of your carrier’s license.
One thing is still not clear to me…
Yes, if a passenger receives a text or phone call while airborne there is a violation of the FCC regulation.
I am not clear though whether as PIC I am responsible for that violation (have I broken the rule?) or is that totally on the miscreant passenger?
Another point i would like to ask about. in correlation with the statement i made about sending or receiving a call or text while airborne. if the phone that is being called or having a text sent to it. If the phone call or text is not answered the “connection hasn’t been made so there is not an FCC violation??
Even though you may not reply to a text, your phone still receives and stores it. I’m not sure about a phone call though.
My main motivation for switching my iPhone into “Airplane Mode” while in flight has been to avoid interference between my Verizon 5G C-band transmissions at 3.7 – 3.98 GHz, and my Garmin radar altimeter that listens at 4.2 – 4.4 GHz. During those flights where I’ve forgotten to make the switch, however, I haven’t noticed any problems.
While on wildfire suppression work, we have our cell phones on all the time because that forms a valuable part our company communications network. Operationally, we would be quite hindered without it. I’ve never experienced an “blacklist” due to my phone interrogating too many towers.
Does it make any difference for Search and Rescue with Civil Air Patrol as they now use cell phone forensics to locate downed airplanes and it is the best system working?
I’ve been flying for years working for three airlines and flew for a charter and NEVER had a problem and my heavy pilot flyers say the same, not an issue, but IF it ever does then YES we need to do our part for safety.