From F-11 Photographic Supplies Since 2013, we’ve been able to use handheld electronic devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and Kindle at pretty much all times during airplane flights, including takeoff and landing. But flight attendants do request you to put your devices into “airplane mode.” If you don’t know how to do this on your iOS device, it’s simple. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and bring up Control Center, then tap the Airplane Mode button at the top left. Or you can open the Settings app and enable the Airplane Mode switch—the very first option. When you land, use the same controls to turn it off again. What does airplane mode do? It disables the wireless features of your device to comply with airline regulations.
Specifically, it turns off the cellular voice and data features of your iPhone or iPad, and on all iOS devices it turns off both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. However, only the cellular features are important to your airline—you can re-enable both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth at any time. That might be useful if you want to use the airplane’s Wi-Fi network for Internet access (usually for a fee) or Bluetooth to play music over wireless headphones. To turn these wireless features back on, tap the grayed-out Wi-Fi and Bluetooth buttons in Control Center, or flip their switches in Settings > Wi-Fi and Settings > Bluetooth. Don’t turn them on unless you’re going to use them though, since you’ll save a little battery life by leaving them off during long flights. Why do the airlines care about cellular? Actually, it has little to do with airplane safety. The prohibition on their use comes from the Federal Communications Commission, not the Federal Aviation Administration. Cell phones used high in the air on fast-moving planes, could light up several cell towers at once, confusing mobile phone networks. There is a technical solution—a device called a “picocell” would be installed on the airplane to provide connectivity with the phone network, and cell phones on the plane would communicate with it instead of individual cell towers on the ground below. The FCC proposed it but many lawmakers in the United States oppose allowing passengers to make and receive phone calls during flight, citing concerns about cabin safety, a worry echoed by the flight attendants union. Even FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler says, “I don’t want the person in the seat next to me yapping at 35,000 feet any more than anyone else.” The bottom line? Don’t expect that rule to change. If you’re allowed to use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, why do the airlines make you stow your MacBook Air during takeoff and landing? That has nothing to do with the technology. Airlines ban laptops during times when there could be an emergency landing because like carry-on luggage or lowered tray tables, they could impede emergency evacuation. Makes you feel better about that rule, doesn’t it?
Learn by doing at F-11 Photo. A full service, full selection destination store, F-11 is Bozeman’s oldest and most innovative independent photography store and Apple reseller. Providing excellent customer service means they work hard to find the perfect products for you, their customers. They create educational opportunities for our community and output the highest quality photo and imaging products for home and business in their state-of-the-art photo lab. In addition to a wide selection of cameras, accessories and the full line of Apple products, F-11 offers individual tutoring, photo, and Apple classes plus destination photographic workshops. F-11 is located at 16 East Main in Downtown Bozeman. Visit www.f11photo.com/ or call 406-586-3281 for more information on products and services. •
