About Electronics and Airline Safety

There are federal rules and regulations that must be followed pertaining to the use of electronics on airplanes. Certain electronics give up signals that interfere with the flight navigation system used to monitor the activity of airplanes. For this reason, it is best to know the rules before flying.

• Cell phones are known to use electromagnetic interference when placing a call. The signal that is submitted can interfere with the flight navigational software used to monitor the whereabouts of airplanes while in the sky. For this reason cell phones are not permitted to be used once the airplane has taken off and is in flight.

• Some modern day cell phones such as the iPhone 3G and 4G have an "Airplane Mode" that can be used to make calls that does not use electromagnetic interference in order to make the desired phone call. If your cell phone offers this feature, you will be permitted to make phone calls after the flight has taken off and reached 10,000 feet in altitude.

• Most airline carriers will allow you to take your cell phone with you onto the airplane, and use it while boarding or waiting to take off. Once the flight is ready to take off, they will announce that cell phones are to be turned off until the flight has landed. Stewardesses will come around to ensure that nobody is on a cell phone while the plane is taking off, you must wait till you are at least 10,000 feet in the air before you are permitted to use any electronics.

• Laptops can be used on airplanes, and do not cause any kind of interference with flight navigational software. iPods and other portable music players are allowed to be used on airplanes as well while the plane is in flight.