I have a question. Lets say your on a plane and you want to listen to some music or watch a movie. Will you be able too? They tell you to turn your cell phones off on a plane (I believe). Can it be used as an iPod and have the phone part turned off?
iPhone on an airplane?
- Thread starter Lob
- Start date
I don't know for sure, but I would be amazed if you couldn't disable the radios (cell, wifi and bluetooth). I have owned a few phones with multiple radios and there has always been a way to turn them off and still use the remaining features on the phone. Some have even had an "in flight" mode which does this with one button press.
Motorola phones with iTunes (V3i, ROKR, SLVR) all come with an airplane mode so you can listen to tunes while onboard.
There has been some discussion in the news lately regarding that very issue and it was determined that cell phones do not interfere with the airplanes controls, however, the airlines have been reluctant to allow their use as of yet.
I think the hardest part will be convincing the airline empoyees (flight attendants) that your phone really ISN'T on... cause you know you can't really argue with them... it scares people.
He's right. It's written into the regs. It takes the FAA a long time to change. They're notoriously slow to move on anything.LOL
i have several friends who work for several different airlines. the reasoning behind not using cell waves is not because of interference (i know piolts who call home during flights) but because of the distractibility factor - same reason you cant use electronic devices during take off. also, how annoying would it be to have 150 or so people talking all at the same time on the airplane? signal drops out around 20k feet as well so they would have to find some way to extend cell signal to work in airplanes.
the iPhone (like most other pda and smart phones) will let you turn off the cell part to listen to music
I don't buy the distractibility thing. If that were the case, you'd be allowed to use your cell phone mid-flight just as surely as you may use your iPod or laptop. Take-off & landing don't count; you can't use anything at those times.
I most definitely agree with the planeful of yappers. Not to mention ringtones.
-K
I believe those pilots would actually be breaking federal aviation regulations by using a cell phone in flight. The current FAR's still state that cell phones can not be used during any phase of flight. The FCC also currently bans cell phone use in flight but is discussing a change that regulation. Problem is that the FAA and the FCC share jurisdiction on this issue and the FAA isn't discussing (to my knowledge) making the same change.
For reference, it's part 91.21 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's)
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=6996f602503bad28c542352e8b53ac22&rgn=div8&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.3.10.1.4.11&idno=14
And 121.306...
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=f7da5cec1bfca6db156b211dcbba8ebf&rgn=div8&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.4.19.11.10.4&idno=14
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=6996f602503bad28c542352e8b53ac22&rgn=div8&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.3.10.1.4.11&idno=14
And 121.306...
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=f7da5cec1bfca6db156b211dcbba8ebf&rgn=div8&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.4.19.11.10.4&idno=14
I guess i meant the distractibility issue to be refereing to take off and landing - during the middle of the flight there isn't signal (usually flying around 35k feet) i didn't clarify myself
The FAA has, though, tentatively certified a WiFi/Satelite system that's in use on a number of aircraft. I think United has it on some aircraft. When I fly to Hong Kong on Singapore Airlines I know they have it. Works great! I've been out over the middle of the Pacific at 35,000 feet doing video ichat with my wife.
to quote my favorite tv show (the west wing) of all time's pilot:
Toby: We're flying in a Lockhead Eagle series L1011. It came off the line 20 months ago and carries a Sim5 Transponder tracking system. Are you telling me I can still flummox this thing with something I bought at Radio Shack?
Flight Attendant: You can call when we land, sir.
The Flight Attendants move on---
Toby: (raising his voice a little): Also, I never got my peanuts.
This thread immediately brought this scene to my mind and I thought I'd share it.
Toby: We're flying in a Lockhead Eagle series L1011. It came off the line 20 months ago and carries a Sim5 Transponder tracking system. Are you telling me I can still flummox this thing with something I bought at Radio Shack?
Flight Attendant: You can call when we land, sir.
The Flight Attendants move on---
Toby: (raising his voice a little): Also, I never got my peanuts.
This thread immediately brought this scene to my mind and I thought I'd share it.
Good day to us all,
I think I heard (or was it just my imagination) that the FAA has decided to, at least for the time being, still keep cellular phones silent in flight. Don't want to be spreading vicious rumors though.... As I understand it, they were considering lifting the ban.
I think I heard (or was it just my imagination) that the FAA has decided to, at least for the time being, still keep cellular phones silent in flight. Don't want to be spreading vicious rumors though.... As I understand it, they were considering lifting the ban.
