Airplane mode

[DotKomrade]

I'm trying to understand why Airplane mode isn't good enough for South African planes (or is it a global thing?).

I read books on my phone which is why I want to keep it on. The airline people seem fine with iPods, laptops, even Kindles, but for some reason a phone which is essentially functioning as a portable hard drive with a screen is completely banned. I understand that (they say) it may interfere with the radio communications and/or satnav but I don't really buy it.

Is airplane mode actually effective?

 

[UnUnOctium]

Airplane mode should simply switch off all transceivers (depending on vendor implementation). Even with you buzzing about and transmitting at full power, the avionics in planes are designed to such strict standards that you will never do anything to them unless you physically rip them apart or bring in a generator to make an impossible amount of EM noise. It's mostly based on fear and a 'safe than sorry' mentality.

 

[DotKomrade]

That's what I imagined. Obviously they have rules about this stuff, so I end up having to hide my phone if I want to read. I tried to reason with them once, but that totally didn't work out for me.

 

[UnUnOctium]

That's what I imagined. Obviously they have rules about this stuff, so I end up having to hide my phone if I want to read. I tried to reason with them once, but that totally didn't work out for me.

I always just pull out my lappy, never had a problem with it. Listening to music on the phone 9 km above the sea? "JUMP DAT CRACKA!"

 

[Elimentals]

I always just pull out my lappy, never had a problem with it. Listening to music on the phone 9 km above the sea? "JUMP DAT CRACKA!"

Joke is that more and more laptops come with 3G support lately and most people dont ever turn that off when flying.

 

[Keeper]

That's what I imagined. Obviously they have rules about this stuff, so I end up having to hide my phone if I want to read. I tried to reason with them once, but that totally didn't work out for me.

Why not tell them it's an iPod Touch?

 

[DotKomrade]

Tried that Except I said it's basically an iPod Touch.. They seem to know their phones, these Kulula peeps..

 

[isie]

Tried that Except I said it's basically an iPod Touch.. They seem to know their phones, these Kulula peeps..

clearly not too well since they not aware that 'airplane' mode disables any cellular conectivity on the phone

 

[genetic]

You can use your devices in airplane mode on SAA flights. It's about time that regulation is changed to allow other domestic carriers to do the same.