I strongly suspect that cellphone networks falling over because too many people are trying to call their families are not going to stop a pilot from talking wit

I strongly suspect that cellphone networks falling over because too many people are trying to call their families are not going to stop a pilot from talking with air traffic control. Maybe I'm wrong there, but I really don't think I am. Regardless, that is what 'airplane mode' is for. Having the device on but not the radio isn't really about that.