Why are video calls not allowed on planes?

Voice/video calls have not been approved by the FAA, and no one is particularly interested in having them approved, due to the frustration it would cause amongst passengers, having to listen to a multitude of conversations in a confined space, throughout the flight.



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Back in 2012, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that cellphones could interfere with screens used by pilots flying Boeing 737 Next Generation and 777 airplanes. Boeing discovered the problem earlier in screens made by Honeywell. Airlines weren't ordered to immediately replace these screens.

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Can I text on an airplane? Yes, but only using a Wi-Fi connection. The ban on using a cellular connection means passengers can't send SMS texts. Any communication has to be over Wi-Fi with a messaging app that provides similar functionality like iMessage, WhatsApp, or Viber.

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While you're not allowed to talk on the phone in-flight, you may be tempted to pick up a call before or after takeoff. If you must answer it (maybe you're expecting news from a doctor, or a loved one needs help), “avoid cell yell,” Whitmore says. “Keep your voice to a conversational tone . . . and keep the call brief.”

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The short answer: yes and no. Passengers are still not allowed to use their cellular connection to text on a plane, but since October 2013 the use of devices like iPhones and tablets is allowed on flights within the U.S., provided they're in airplane mode while taxiing and in the sky.

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If you really need to make a call while sitting in close proximity to your fellow travellers, do us all a favour and speak quietly! FaceTime is a huge no-no (we do NOT need to hear both sides of the convo) or better yet, find a secluded spot to chat where you won't annoy everyone around you.

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A pilot may not use his or her phone for non-flight related tasks during takeoff, landing, or while flying under 10,000. Upon reaching cruising altitude the pilot is free to use their phone at their own discretion. This is, however, the FAA policy so for commercial pilots it may vary company to company.

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Rather than sometimes difficult radio calls, pilots and controllers simply send each other text messages to change altitudes, routes and hand off from one controller to the next. The system has been in use for flights across oceans for several years.

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Snapchat, the ethereal social messaging service, has joined the ranks of apps and sites that travelers aren't able to access through onboard wifi while flying. Some airlines in the US with inflight wifi are blocking access to the service.

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“Mobile phone signals can interfere with aircraft navigational and landing guidance systems.” The relationship between phone signals and navigational systems is not an exact science, which is why everyone we spoke to was careful in their language.

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“Mobile phone signals can interfere with aircraft navigational and landing guidance systems.” The relationship between phone signals and navigational systems is not an exact science, which is why everyone we spoke to was careful in their language.

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Yes, travelers have the right to quiet, but it's an implied right, and one enforced by the good manners of your fellow passengers and guests. Good luck regulating that, DOT. Don't wait for the government to regulate.

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Airlines with free Wi-Fi include JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Emirates Airlines. However, there are some restrictions on the free Wi-Fi offered by each airline. For example, JetBlue offers free Wi-Fi to all passengers, but streaming video is not allowed.

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The good news is that Wi-Fi on planes is not only getting better but less expensive as well. You might even get it for free. For instance, JetBlue offers free Fly-Fi on all of its flights, and certain airlines offer elite members free Wi-Fi.

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Internet speed found aboard planes is definitely not as fast as on land, but you can still use it to continue text conversations, engage in email correspondences and even idly scroll through Instagram. Unfortunately, tasty Netflixing is not yet available for many airlines, although some do offer stream packages.

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