DGCA allows use of cellphone on flights

The Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) has amended its CAR Section 5 Series X Part I relating to air safety today and decided to allow the use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) including cellphones.

The use of PEDs shall be in the non-transmitting mode commonly called flight/airplane mode. The amended CAR 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 scheduled operators, during their meeting on April 17 with the Director General Civil Aviation, raised the demand for allowing use of PEDs during all phases of flight in the flight/airplane mode.

The DGCA examined their demand in view of the new and current regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Under the FAA and the EASA Regulations, the use of PEDs is allowed in the airplane mode in all phases of flight.