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.