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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Mobiles, laptops can be used in non-transmitting mode on flights: DGCA 
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Mobiles, laptops can be used in non-transmitting mode on flights: DGCA 

to implement new Civil Aviation Requirement

Last week, scheduled airlines had raised the demand to allow the use of portable electronic devices during all phases of flight. Photo: Hindustan TimesPremium
Last week, scheduled airlines had raised the demand to allow the use of portable electronic devices during all phases of flight. Photo: Hindustan Times

New Delhi: Airline passengers will be allowed to use mobile phones and laptops on flight mode after plane doors close for takeoff—a move that puts India in line with regulations in the US and Europe.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) amended its rules relating to air safety on Wednesday and “decided to allow the use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) including cellphones", the aviation ministry said in a statement.

Until now, DGCA rules haven’t allowed the use of mobile phones and PEDs on flights because of concerns that they may interfere with the functioning of aircraft systems and lead to potential safety hazards.

“The use of PEDs shall be in the non-transmitting mode commonly called flight/airplane mode. The amended CAR (civil aviation requirement) also directs all operators for reporting of any suspected or confirmed PED interference or smoke or fire caused by PEDs to the DGCA," the regulator said.

DGCA chief Prabhat Kumar last fortnight held a meeting with executives from all airlines to discuss ways to reduce airline operating costs and streamline rules considered archaic. At the meeting on 17 April, some airline executives told Kumar that PEDs should be allowed on all phases of flights in the flight or airplane mode, in line with international practices.

DGCA said it took the decision after examining the current regulations of the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

The decision to ease the regulations follows a notice issued to SpiceJet Ltd in March after the airline’s crew performed a small dance sequence on Holi on board its flights. Many passengers and a co-pilot of SpiceJet were seen filming the dance and the video was later uploaded on social media and went viral.

SpiceJet had argued that the phones were on flight mode so there was no violation of rules. DGCA had said rules do not allow use of phones in any way.

“It’s a welcome move, but unfortunately we do not have regulatory discipline and regulatory control in India. With the kind of discipline some of our passengers have, someone or the other will use it when they should not, which is basically the take-off and landing phase. This will infringe on safety," said Mohan Ranganathan, a Chennai-based safety expert.

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Published: 23 Apr 2014, 04:43 PM IST
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