DGCA allows flight-mode use of mobiles, laptops

The relaxation in rules will enable flyers to type emails and listen to music, among others. But they won't be able to call

Airline passengers in India will no longer need to switch off their mobiles while flying; they can use these in ‘flight mode’.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday changed the air-safety rules to allow the usage of portable electronic devices (PEDs) such as mobile phones, iPads and laptops in all stages of flight, including take-off and landing.

Currently, all these devices have to be switched off during take-off and prior to landing. The relaxation in rules will enable passengers to type emails, listen to music and read books on-screen, among other things.

However, flyers will not be able to make calls from their mobiles because the government is yet to allow passengers to attend phone calls on flight. While India doesn’t permit voice communication, some foreign airlines allow passengers to make phone calls using satellite-based technology. The US, too, does not allow in-flight phone calls.

"The use of PEDs shall be in the non-transmitting mode commonly called flight/airplane mode. The amended civil aviation regulation also directs all operators for reporting of any suspected or confirmed PED interference or smoke or fire caused by PEDs to the DGCA. It also lays down the guidelines for the crew training,” the civil aviation regulator said in a notification.

The DGCA's move comes in the wake of demand from domestic airlines and similar relaxation of norms by the US Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency. A panel appointed by the FAA had concluded that most commercial airplanes can tolerate radio interference signals from PEDs. The panel had suggested the FAA provide airlines new procedures to assess if the carriers can tolerate radio interference from PEDs, adding the carriers could allow the use of the devices on-board at all stages once the verification was complete.

The DGCA’s announcement did not specify whether airlines in India, too, will have to conduct any assessment before allowing the use of devices. “We fly the latest-generation aircraft in India; so implementation will not be an issue here,'' said a senior executive with a low-cost airline.

“We welcome the DGCA move as it will give passengers an enhanced choice for work and entertainment on-board without compromising on the safety aspect,” said a GoAir spokesperson.