Texting while flying? You bet!
Good news, frequent flyers/gadget lovers! The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has allowed conditional use of electronic gadgets including mobile phones on all commercial aircraft in the Philippines starting January 1, 2014. Under the Memorandun Circular No. 52-13 signed by CAAP Director-General William Hotchkiss, laptops, cellular phones internet devices can be used while the plane doors are still open. With the plane doors closed, mobile devices like smartphones can only be used for SMS and internet – they cannot be used to place calls. Only GSMOBA devices (phones installed inside the planes) can be used to place calls. When the plane is refueling, all mobile phones and laptops need to be turned off.
Games and other electronic devices (iPods and the like) can be used during all phases of flight provided that they are put on silent mode. Now you can text your sundo exactly where you are before you land in the airport! Isn’t that great?
Memorandum Circular No. 52-13 was signed on November 27 and took effect January 1, 2014.
Via PIA
