Thursday, May 6, 2004
PDA & Mobile Phone Use in Plane Now Acceptable
Posted by Jonathon Watkins in "NEWS" @ 07:00 PM
In the recent "Boeing To Put Wireless Internet Access In Airplanes" thread, there were a few comments about how airlines would stop people using PDAs as they were claimed to be a risk to flight safely. Well, no longer as this CNN article comments:
"The next time a flight attendant asks you to switch off that handheld computer phone, keep smiling -- and pull out a copy of the latest plane safety guidelines. Clever computer and handset makers offer an option called "flight mode," which disables the radio. As a result, the British Civil Aviation Authority has decided passengers in planes under its jurisdiction should be allowed to use these portable devices as a calendar or photo viewer because they do not interfere with the electronic circuits and radio systems used by the pilots. The CAA says airlines should let travelers write messages, read documents and perform all other non-phone functions on phones that double up as computers, just as they can now work on a laptop, play on a GameBoy or listen to music on an iPod at cruising altitudes."
So it's official – you can use your PDA/phone freely on a plane in the UK. Gee thanks guys. :wink: Still, it's just in time for the next wave of integrated Pocket PCs such as the iPAQ 6300 and the Motorola MPx. 8) Chocks away chaps & lets hope the rest of the world catches up soon!
"The next time a flight attendant asks you to switch off that handheld computer phone, keep smiling -- and pull out a copy of the latest plane safety guidelines. Clever computer and handset makers offer an option called "flight mode," which disables the radio. As a result, the British Civil Aviation Authority has decided passengers in planes under its jurisdiction should be allowed to use these portable devices as a calendar or photo viewer because they do not interfere with the electronic circuits and radio systems used by the pilots. The CAA says airlines should let travelers write messages, read documents and perform all other non-phone functions on phones that double up as computers, just as they can now work on a laptop, play on a GameBoy or listen to music on an iPod at cruising altitudes."
So it's official – you can use your PDA/phone freely on a plane in the UK. Gee thanks guys. :wink: Still, it's just in time for the next wave of integrated Pocket PCs such as the iPAQ 6300 and the Motorola MPx. 8) Chocks away chaps & lets hope the rest of the world catches up soon!
