is using phone's GPS to track plane speed allowed during flight?
Sep 4, 2014, 7:52 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 89
is using phone's GPS to track plane speed allowed during flight?
is using phone's GPS to track plane speed allowed during flight? The phone
is still in airplane mode, of course, but the GPS Test app can still
show the plane's speed and GPS coordinates.
as long as I'm asking... what about bluetooth headphones?(not headset)
I have a large pair of bluetooth headphones but I sometimes get asked
by the FAs to turn them off during fligth. I comply, of course. However,
on other flights, the FAs don't seem to care at all. The headphones
are paired to either my phone or my Macbook Air for listening to music
or movies.
thanks!
is still in airplane mode, of course, but the GPS Test app can still
show the plane's speed and GPS coordinates.
as long as I'm asking... what about bluetooth headphones?(not headset)
I have a large pair of bluetooth headphones but I sometimes get asked
by the FAs to turn them off during fligth. I comply, of course. However,
on other flights, the FAs don't seem to care at all. The headphones
are paired to either my phone or my Macbook Air for listening to music
or movies.
thanks!
Sep 4, 2014, 10:13 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,244
It's probably not explicitly allowed but won't harm anything either. It probably won't work, in any case. The GPS chip in most phones needs a cell signal to give it its initial rough location before it can fine tune things.
Sep 4, 2014, 11:52 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 89
Of course, I follow airline rule, but even the FAs don't seem to know. A couple of them told me that as long as airplane mode was on, it was okay.... but some say the exact opposite
Sep 4, 2014, 11:54 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: TPA
Programs: Hilton Gold, DL DIrt Medallion
Posts: 38,267
I'd think that you might need to hold your phone up to the window to get a solid GPS lock, though, and that may raise some eyebrows.
Last edited by SRQ Guy; Sep 4, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Sep 4, 2014, 12:43 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,786
Most newer phones with GPS will work in airplane mode UNLESS you have an iPhone. I could be wrong, but I think Apple disabled GPS in their airplane mode.
It could take longer for the GPS to locate you if you don't have mobile data. Like gfunkdave said, mobile data helps to speed up the process. It probably won't take that long with the newer chip.. maybe 10-15 seconds? Now if you completely turn off the phone when the plane took off.. it could take longer to get the lock after you are in the air. And you will need to see at least 4 sats.
It could take longer for the GPS to locate you if you don't have mobile data. Like gfunkdave said, mobile data helps to speed up the process. It probably won't take that long with the newer chip.. maybe 10-15 seconds? Now if you completely turn off the phone when the plane took off.. it could take longer to get the lock after you are in the air. And you will need to see at least 4 sats.
Sep 4, 2014, 3:46 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: Many
Posts: 2
is using phone's GPS to track plane speed allowed during flight? The phone
is still in airplane mode, of course, but the GPS Test app can still
show the plane's speed and GPS coordinates.
as long as I'm asking... what about bluetooth headphones?(not headset)
I have a large pair of bluetooth headphones but I sometimes get asked
by the FAs to turn them off during fligth. I comply, of course. However,
on other flights, the FAs don't seem to care at all. The headphones
are paired to either my phone or my Macbook Air for listening to music
or movies.
thanks!
is still in airplane mode, of course, but the GPS Test app can still
show the plane's speed and GPS coordinates.
as long as I'm asking... what about bluetooth headphones?(not headset)
I have a large pair of bluetooth headphones but I sometimes get asked
by the FAs to turn them off during fligth. I comply, of course. However,
on other flights, the FAs don't seem to care at all. The headphones
are paired to either my phone or my Macbook Air for listening to music
or movies.
thanks!
Your Bluetooth headphones can be worn during taxis, takeoff, landing and in flight. The headphones cannot be on or noise cancelling activated during taxi takeoff landing phases of flight. You can only turn them on after takeoff.
. Your Bluetooth can be paired and in operation now with the new FAA rules that allowed use of PED's (portable electronic devices) last year. SO how are you using PED's with the noise cancelling off?
Geniuses. lol The policy was due to enabling passengers to hear you if you were yelling commands. Believe it or not you can deplane an airplane and that one passenger is all caught up in his music and noise cancelling and doesn't realize he's the only one left.This policy is usually standard but how it is enforced varies from airline to airline. Most legacy carriers don't push the issue while most regional carriers do.
Sources
Private Pilot
Airline Industry professional with major carrier. I have 11 years in the industry.
Sep 4, 2014, 8:07 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,016
Sep 4, 2014, 8:11 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 89
Do you know something Apple doesn't? They say that Airplane mode disables GPS. iOS: Understanding airplane mode
Android phones and tablets that I own. (including Samsung, HTC, Motorola,
and Sony)
Not sure why Apple disables GPS in airplane mode on the iPhone.
Sep 5, 2014, 3:10 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SNA/LAX
Posts: 367
I've used GPS Test from Chartcross. It's a free app available in the Google Play Store. It isn't good for showing your location on a map, but it shows your speed and altitude. It works fine in airplane mode and doesn't require a data connection.
On the phones that I've tried it on, it usually works only if you are in a window seat, and may need to be held up to the window, especially to get an initial fix.
On the phones that I've tried it on, it usually works only if you are in a window seat, and may need to be held up to the window, especially to get an initial fix.
Sep 5, 2014, 8:03 am
#10
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,968
On which airline? Each carrier establishes its own policy. Two examples.
Delta says yes:
United does not mention GPS receivers in its policy:
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...e/devices.aspx
Delta says yes:
You may use the following devices from gate to gate on Delta and Delta Connection flights:
• AM/FM or satellite radios
• digital and video cameras
• calculators
• Delta-installed equipment such as in-flight entertainment systems
• DVD players*
• e-readers
• electric shavers
• electronic/digital watches
• global positioning system (GPS) receivers
• handheld computer games
• headphones
• laptop computers*
• medical devices**
• noise reduction headphones
• portable media players*
• pagers
• smartphones and any device with cellular network service must be turned off or in airplane mode
• tablets and wireless keyboards or mouse
PED use on the ground and during takeoff and landing should be limited to small, lightweight devices less than 2 lbs. These devices should be of a size that could easily be secured in a seat pocket without exceeding the designed weight capacity of 3 lbs. including all contents of seat pocket (safety card, Sky magazine, airsickness bag) and not impede emergency egress to the aisle.
* DVD players, laptop computers, and other devices that exceed the size/weight restrictions must be stowed for taxi, takeoff and landing.
** Medical devices including the following items may be used during all phases of flight: hearing aids; heart monitors; heart pacemakers and other implanted medical devices; insulin pumps; nebulizers/vaporizers; approved portable oxygen concentrators; approved respirators/ventilators; approved sleep apnea machines.
• AM/FM or satellite radios
• digital and video cameras
• calculators
• Delta-installed equipment such as in-flight entertainment systems
• DVD players*
• e-readers
• electric shavers
• electronic/digital watches
• global positioning system (GPS) receivers
• handheld computer games
• headphones
• laptop computers*
• medical devices**
• noise reduction headphones
• portable media players*
• pagers
• smartphones and any device with cellular network service must be turned off or in airplane mode
• tablets and wireless keyboards or mouse
PED use on the ground and during takeoff and landing should be limited to small, lightweight devices less than 2 lbs. These devices should be of a size that could easily be secured in a seat pocket without exceeding the designed weight capacity of 3 lbs. including all contents of seat pocket (safety card, Sky magazine, airsickness bag) and not impede emergency egress to the aisle.
* DVD players, laptop computers, and other devices that exceed the size/weight restrictions must be stowed for taxi, takeoff and landing.
** Medical devices including the following items may be used during all phases of flight: hearing aids; heart monitors; heart pacemakers and other implanted medical devices; insulin pumps; nebulizers/vaporizers; approved portable oxygen concentrators; approved respirators/ventilators; approved sleep apnea machines.
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...e/devices.aspx
Sep 5, 2014, 11:08 am
#11
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,972
United does not mention GPS receivers in its policy:
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...e/devices.aspx
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...e/devices.aspx
Devices that are NOT permitted for use:
radio receivers and/or transmitters (including AM/FM/SW, CB and scanners)
radio receivers and/or transmitters (including AM/FM/SW, CB and scanners)
Sep 5, 2014, 11:15 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
The Apple I Phone GPS will work in an airplane, when turned on..and held to the window...with wi fi, Reg old GPS will work also...
Sep 5, 2014, 11:31 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,154
I used my Galaxy S4 on a flight a month or so ago, and actually had better success than I've seen in the past on older phones. Even though I was a couple of seats in, I was able to get a position lock a fair amount of time (not always though), and I found that google map when you're zoomed out a fair way doesn't need the data connection (not sure how far in it keeps cached, but it worked pretty well for the type of position I'd need for knowing where I was in an airplane).
Sep 5, 2014, 11:34 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,786
Now stay in Airplane mode, and turn off the phone. Wait a few minutes and turn it back on. Go outside and open up Google map, and hit the locate button. This time it will say "Waiting for location". But if you wait about a minute it will locate you again. Yes, the cell data will HELP in initial location but the GPS ship in the new phones do not need it. It will just take a little longer for the initial lock just like any other GPS devices out there.
Last edited by Prospero; Sep 5, 2014 at 1:35 pm Reason: Remove quote of deleted spam post
Sep 5, 2014, 3:55 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,016