DGCA allows in-flight use of mobiles, laptops on flight mode
This has now become possible with the DGCA on Wednesday amending the rule which bans use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) and allowing their usage in all phases of flight but on a non-transmitting or flight mode, official sources said.
With the implementation of the new rule or Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), flyers can now turn on their cellphones, tablets or laptops on 'flight mode' to work, play video games, listen to music, watch pre-loaded movies or type their emails. The mails would, however, be sent only after the plane lands at an airport.
New rules would give flight passengers more time to work: DGCA
Maintaining that this has been a long-pending demand of the airlines, aviation experts say it would give passengers more time to work or catch up on their chosen form of entertainment.
In particular, it would benefit those flying on no-frill carriers which provide no access to any in-flight entertainment. The aviation regulator has also laid down training guidelines for the flight crew to handle the new facility being given to the air travellers.
The new rule also directs all airlines to report to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) any suspected or confirmed PED interference or smoke or fire caused by them, the sources said.
They said the a section of the CAR relating to air safety has been amended to allow the use of PEDs in "non-transmitting mode, commonly called as Flight/Airplane Mode."
The
decision
was
taken
after
a
meeting
on
the
issue
last
week
when
scheduled
airlines
had
raised
the
demand
to
allow
the
use
of
PEDs
during
all
phases
of
flight.
The
DGCA
examined
their
demand
in
view
of
the
new
and
regulations
of
the
US
regulator,
Federal
Aviation
Administration
and
the
European
Union
Aviation
Safety
Agency,
which
allow
the
use
of
PEDs
on
flight
mode
in
all
phases
of
a
flight.
The latest DGCA move would put India on par with a handful of other countries which allow the use of mobiles while on board. In December 2013, British Airways allowed the use of cellphones on flight mode. Some other European and American carriers have also brought in similar changes.
PTI