Airplane mode

Airplane mode (also known as aeroplane mode, flight mode, offline mode, flight safe mode or standalone mode) is a setting available on portable devices. When activated, the mode suspends the device's radio-frequency (RF) signal transmission technologies (i.e., Bluetooth, telephony and Wi-Fi), effectively disabling all analog voice, and digital data services, when implemented correctly by the electronic device software author. The mode is so named because most airlines prohibit equipment that transmits RF signals, specifically mobile phones while in flight. The USA's Federal Communications Commission banned the airborne use of most cell phones and wireless devices in 1991 because of possible interference with airplane systems, despite there being no scientific evidence to support that possibility. Typically, it is not possible to make phone calls or send messages in airplane mode, but some smartphones allow calls to emergency services. Most devices allow continued use of email clients and other mobile apps to write text or email messages. Messages are stored in memory to transmit later, once airplane mode is disabled. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth may be enabled separately while the device is in airplane mode, as allowed by the operator of the aircraft. Receiving RF signals (as by radio receivers and satellite navigation services) may not be inhibited by airplane mode; however, both transmitters and receivers are needed to receive calls and messages, even when not responding to them. As a side effect, since a device's transmitters are shut down when in airplane mode, the mode reduces power consumption and increases battery life.