Updated "Time" while flying in Airplane Mode

[Clint1583]

Okay, somebody please explain this one to me. Just took a recent flight from Europe to the US West Coast. When leaving Germany I placed my iPhone in Airplane mode and was never connected to the planes wi-fi system.

During the flight I checked my phone of various reasons and each time the phone had the correct time for the current time zone, even while flying over the Arctic Circle. At the same time my Apple Watch showed the current time in Germany where I departed from.

Several time's during the flight I took my phone off airplane mode for a few seconds and it immediately updated my watches time also.

How exactly does this happen without any internet connection at 35,000 feet over the Arctic Circle or Atlantic Ocean?

 

[bd4]

Just a guess, but in iPhone 6 and newer, there is a built-in barometer, so the iPhone could figure out that you're in an airplane. Probably it then uses GPS to determine your location. Since GPS only receives data, it can be used safely in Airplane mode.

 

[Newtons Apple]

No doubt the GPS did the updates. It is just like when driving from one time zone to another you GPS knows when to change your time to the current location.

 

[C DM]

As of iOS 8.3 GPS isn't disabled when airplane mode is enabled, so most likely it's that (as others have also suggested).

 

[goudok]

were you connected to planes wifi? Sometimes that can trigger a time update.

 

[Clint1583]

No wi-fi

 

[T5BRICK]

It updates the time based on your location.