Philippines allows in-flight mobile use for calls

The Philippines' civil aviation authority has reportedly announced that it would allow passengers to use their mobile phones and laptops to make calls or access the Internet during flights.

Civil aviation director general William Hotchkiss said that the order covered 'transmitting portable electronic devices'.

According to News24, the move would allow passengers travelling conditional use of laptops, mobile phones, internet or short-based-messaging service, voice communications and other broadband service during flights.

However, devices should still be turned off pre-flight, when the aircraft is refuelling, and be switched to silent mode.

The move follows after the US' FAA and European aviation authority announced changes to 'electronic device use by passengers' policy and allowed use of mobile phones for calling during the flight.