question: What would actually happen if you didn't put your phone on aeroplane mode during a flight?
comment: The battery would drain very quickly. When the cell radio can't reach a tower, it "shouts" in order to try to find one - this takes a lot more power. Nothing would happen to the airplane. If these things were truly dangerous, they wouldn't let you bring them on board.
passages: When the "Aeroplane mode" is activated, it disables all voice, text, telephone, and other signal-transmitting technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can be enabled separately even while the device is in airplane mode; this is acceptable on some aircraft. Receiving radio-frequency signals, as by radio receivers and satellite navigation services, is not inhibited. However, even receiving telephone calls and messages without responding would require the phone to transmit.
   Because of, among other things, electromagnetic waves emitted by this type of device, the use of any type of electronic device during the take-off and landing phases was totally prohibited on board commercial flights. On 13 November 2013, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced that the use of mobile terminals could be authorized on the flights of European airlines during these phases from 2014 onwards, on the condition that the cellular functions are deactivated ("airplane" mode activated). EASA then formally confirmed this information on December 11, 2013. Tablets, e-readers, smartphones, MP3 players, and portable gaming consoles are affected by these announcements.
   BULLET::::- China: Prior to September 2017, all cell phones, even with Airplane mode, were never allowed to be used during the flight although other devices can be used while in cruising altitude. On September 18, 2017, the Civil Aviation Authority of China relaxed these rules and allowed all Chinese air carriers to allow the use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) for the entire flight as long as they're in Aeroplane Mode.
   A 2003 study involved three months of testing with RF spectrum analyzers and other instruments aboard regular commercial flights, and one passage reads:
  
  A 2000 study by the British Civil Aviation Authority found that a mobile phone, when used near the cockpit or other avionics equipment location, will exceed safety levels for older equipment (compliant with 1984 standards). Such equipment is still in use, even in new aircraft. Therefore, the report concludes, the current policy, which restricts the use of mobile phones on all aircraft while the engines are running, should remain in force.
   A few U.S. airlines have announced plans to install new technology on aircraft which would allow mobile phones to be used on aircraft, pending approval by the FCC and the FAA. This method is similar to that used in most cars on the German ICE train. The aircraft would carry a device known as a picocell. A picocell acts as a miniature base station (like a cellphone tower) communicating with cellphones within the aircraft and relaying the signals to either satellites or a terrestrial-based system. The picocell will be designed and maintained for full compatibility with the aircraft avionics. Communication between the picocell and the rest of the telephone network will be on separate frequencies that do not interfere with either the cellular system or the aircraft's avionics, similarly to the on–board proprietary phone systems already aboard many commercial aircraft. Since the picocell's antennas within the aircraft would be very close to the passengers and inside the aircraft's metal shell both the picocell's and the cell phones' output power could be reduced to very low levels, which would reduce the risk of interference. Such systems have been tested on a few flights within the United States under a waiver from the FCC.
   Some airlines have installed technologies to allow phones to be connected within the airplane as it flies. Such systems were tested on scheduled flights from 2006 and in 2008 several airlines started to allow in-flight use of mobile phones.
  
  Section::::Current status.:Status of specific regions and individual airlines.
  
  BULLET::::- China
  
  As of 2018, Chinese regulations (and major carriers including China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Air China) permit phone usage in flight mode.
  
  BULLET::::- Emirates Airline
  
  On 20 March 2008, Emirates flights began allowing in-flight voice calls on some commercial airline flights.
  
  BULLET::::- European services
   BULLET::::- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that airline passengers will be allowed to use their personal electronic devices during all phases of flight, ending the years-long prohibition of their use during takeoff and landing, although a Federal Communications Commission ban on the use of cellphones to make calls or send texts or data in flight is to remain in force. The FAA states that pilots may still require personal electronic devices to be turned off under certain conditions, but that it expects airlines to implement new procedures to accommodate the gate-to-gate use of such devices by the end of 2013.
   BULLET::::- Affected airlines began taking measures to try and mitigate effects of the ban:
  
  BULLET::::- Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines allowed passengers to use their large electronic equipment at the gate, up to the moment of boarding.
  
  BULLET::::- Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways offered free Wifi to all business and first class passengers traveling to the US. Turkish Airlines offered free Wifi for all passengers traveling to the US or UK.
   This FAA press release was quickly followed up by an FCC press release entitled "Chairman Wheeler Statement on In-Flight Mobile Services Proposal" in which FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler states, "modern technologies can deliver mobile services in the air safely and reliably, and the time is right to review our outdated and restrictive rules." This has led to media speculation that the use of cell phones for voice communication on board an aircraft in flight will soon be allowed.
   The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) currently prohibits the use of mobile phones aboard "any" aircraft in flight. The reason given is that cell phone systems depend on frequency reuse, which allows for a dramatic increase in the number of customers that can be served within a geographic area on a limited amount of radio spectrum, and operating a phone at an altitude may violate the fundamental assumptions that allow channel reuse to work.
  
  Section::::See also.
  
  BULLET::::- Air-ground radiotelephone service
  
  BULLET::::- Airplane mode
  
  Section::::Further reading.
  
  BULLET::::- Study: Up To 15 Phones Are Left On During Every Flight
   In September 2014, the European Aviation Safety Agency removed its ban on mobile phone use during flights.
  
  Section::::Current status.:Regulatory status in India.
  
  On 19 January 2018, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) permitted the use of mobile phones and internet access through Wi-Fi on-board all flights operating in Indian airspace. However, passengers are only permitted to make mobile phone calls when the aircraft is at an altitude of over . TRAI stated that the height restriction was to ensure "compatibility with terrestrial mobile networks". 
  
  Section::::Current status.:Future technologies.
   While in airplane mode, most devices allow the user to continue to use their email client or other program to write text or E-mail messages which are saved in memory to send when airplane mode is disabled.
  
  Although it is not possible to make normal calls or send text in airplane mode, devices such as some Nokia smartphones allow the user to make calls to emergency services even in airplane mode, while others do not.
  
  As a side-effect, airplane mode reduces power consumption and increases battery endurance by shutting down the device's transmitters and receivers.
  
  Section::::Legal status in various nations.
   Section::::Investigation.:Possible in-flight events.
  
  Section::::Investigation.:Possible in-flight events.:Power interruption.
   On 18 October 2007 the Office of Communications published proposals for the technical and authorisational approach that would be adopted to allow this for European GSM users on the 1800 MHz band on UK registered aircraft. and on 26 March 2008 Ofcom approved the use of mobile phone-supporting picocells aboard aircraft in the United Kingdom. Airline companies will have to first equip the aircraft with picocells and apply for licences.
  
  Section::::Current status.:Regulations and practice in the United States.
   AeroMobile and OnAir allow the use of personal electronics devices aboard flights. The services are most readily available in Europe and are licensed to specific airlines.
  
  BULLET::::- Qantas
  
  Since 26 August 2014 Qantas permits mobile phones (and other portable electronic devices weighing less than 1 kg) to be switched on during the entire flight, if the devices are in flight mode while on board the aircraft. Jetstar (owned by Qantas) adopted the same arrangements on 30 August 2014.
  
  BULLET::::- Ryanair
   Section::::Impact on society.:Human behaviour.:Use on aircraft.
   In the U.S., Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit the use of mobile phones aboard aircraft in flight. Contrary to popular misconception, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not actually prohibit the use of personal electronic devices (including cell phones) on aircraft. Paragraph (b)(5) of 14 CFR 91.21 leaves it up to the airlines to determine if devices can be used in flight, allowing use of "Any other portable electronic device that the operator of the aircraft has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used."
   On 31 October 2013, the FAA issued a press release entitled "FAA to Allow Airlines to Expand Use of Personal Electronics" in which it announced that "airlines can safely expand passenger use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) during all phases of flight." This new policy does not include cell phone use in flight, because, as the press release states, "The FAA did not consider changing the regulations regarding the use of cell phones for voice communications during flight because the issue is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)."
   BULLET::::- Is it really dangerous to use a cell phone on a plane? Jan. 2011
  
  BULLET::::- OnAir Increases Connectivity with TAM Feb 2011
  
  BULLET::::- TAM Expands Deal To Fit OnAir Connectivity To Airbus Feb 2011
  
  BULLET::::- Dasnair's Falcon 7X passengers fully connected by OnAir in world first May 2011
  
  BULLET::::- Lightweight inflight connectivity solution launched May 2011
  
  BULLET::::- Singapore Airlines Economy-class innovation: Improved in-seat entertainment, Aug. 2011
  
  BULLET::::- Inflight Wi-Fi revenues to surpass USD 1.5bn in 2015, Sep 2011
  
  BULLET::::- British Airways' all-business class service to NY 'to be profitable within a year', Sep 2011
   One report asserts correlations between the use of mobile phones and other portable electronic devices in flight, and various problems with avionics. Another study concluded that some "portable electronic devices", including laptops, electronic toys and laser pointers, used in the cabin can exceed the aircraft manufacturer's permissible emission levels for safety with regard to some avionics, while they were unsuccessful in duplicating any of the errors suspected to be caused by PED use in controlled lab conditions.
   Passengers importing satellite telephone as baggage shall be required to declare the same to the Customs on arrival at immigration and customs checkpoints. Circular No.37 / 2010-Customs states that "satellite phone declared to Customs shall be allowed clearance subject to production of permission for use from DoT, Government of India." (...) "Satellite phones imported for use in India without a valid permission of DoT may be detained and appropriate action in accordance with the law may be initiated."
   BULLET::::- A United States Department of Transportation ban announced the previous day on Galaxy Note 7 smartphones aboard any airliner flying within, to, or from the United States goes into effect throughout the country at 12:00 noon Eastern Daylight Time. Samsung Electronics already had recalled the Galaxy Note 7 because of reports of it catching fire or exploding.
  
  BULLET::::- 16 October
  
  BULLET::::- Airstrikes by the Turkish Air Force and international coalition strike Islamic State targets in Dabiq and Arshak, Syria, as Turkish-backed Syrian opposition ground forces capture Dabiq from the Islamic State.
  
  BULLET::::- 17 October
   BULLET::::- After the change to standard instrument departure SID ZUE 1Y the crew set inappropriate priorities for their tasks and their concentration remained one-sided.
  
  BULLET::::- The commander was not systematically acquainted by Crossair with the specific features of western systems and cockpit procedures.
  
  The investigation did look at the possibility of electromagnetic interference and tested a similar aircraft using mobile phones. It concluded that there were "no indications that aircraft systems were negatively affected by electromagnetic interference (EMI)".
  
  Section::::Dramatization.
   As of 2007, several airlines are experimenting with base station and antenna systems installed on the airplane, allowing low power, short-range connection of any phones aboard to remain connected to the aircraft's base station. Thus, they would not attempt connection to the ground base stations as during take off and landing. Simultaneously, airlines may offer phone services to their travelling passengers either as full voice and data services, or initially only as SMS text messaging and similar services. The Australian airline Qantas is the first airline to run a test aeroplane in this configuration in the autumn of 2007. Emirates has announced plans to allow limited mobile phone usage on some flights. However, in the past, commercial airlines have prevented the use of cell phones and laptops, due to the assertion that the frequencies emitted from these devices may disturb the radio waves contact of the airplane.
   On 30 August 2006 the Irish airline Ryanair announced that it would introduce a facility to allow passengers to use their mobile phones in-flight. This service started on 19 February 2009 with 20 of their Dublin based aircraft.
  
  BULLET::::- Turkish Airlines
  
  Turkish Airlines' stated position is that "Mobile phones interfere with the flight instruments and have a negative effect on flight safety."
  
  BULLET::::- Mobile phones on corporate jets
  
  Dassault Aviation implemented a new concept designated SafeCell on 2 April 2009 when the Falcon 2000 commenced flying.
  
  BULLET::::- United Kingdom
  
raw_presuppositions: Something bad may happen to the plane if you done turn on airplane mode on your phone.
raw_corrections: Nothing bad will happen to the plane. Your phone will just use more energy than normal and drain battery quicker. 