Every time I fly (which is a seldom as possible – just not fun anymore) I’m instructed to either turn off or engage ‘airplane mode’ on whatever electronic equipment I happen to be using (iPhone, iPod, even Kindle) for takeoff and landing. I suppose it’s a reasonable request – after all it gives me a chance to peruse the low-tech options such as the Sky Mall magazine.

But what if it were possible to use the electronics all the time, as long as the built-in ‘radios’ such as WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular are turned off (which is what ‘airline mode’ is, in most cases)? After all, why should someone need to make a phone call in mid-flight (although I suppose there would be a few).

The FAA is thinking about allowing electronics use throughout the entire flight. And then this popped up on my newsfeed today:

Apple iPhone suspected of interfering with airline equipment in 2011 incident.

Now this involved a device that was NOT in airplane mode, so it doesn’t really apply to the current discussion. But no doubt this will trouble the waters for those of us who’d just like to read our Kindle for the entire trip.

What do you think?