Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!decvax!microsof!uw-beaver!cornell!vax135!floyd!cmcl2!lanl-a!jlg
From: jlg@lanl-a.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Portables on Airplanes
Message-ID: <343@lanl-a.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-Jun-83 13:58:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: lanl-a.343
Posted: Mon Jun  6 13:58:14 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 7-Jun-83 23:00:33 EDT
Lines: 15

The FAA regulations allow operation of any electronic device that has
been approved by the pilot of the flight.  This is true at any rate
for private aircraft.  I don't think there are any additional regs
which apply to commercial carriers.  However, the airlines probably
set policy on this issue instead of leaving it up to the individual
pilots.  In addition, there may be some informal guidelines from some
government branch or other to insure uniformity across airlines.  What
this means to the people with a battery powered Osbourne is unclear.
The vibration and movement on a plane is bad for floppies and hard disks
anyway.

My own experience is that no one complains when I use my pocket calculator
on a plane (even me -- it has never screwed up my nav radios).  In fact,
there are several calculators for sale these days which are specifically
made for aircraft navagation and such.