Are you allowed to use your cell phone or other electronic device on an airplane during takeoff, or do you have to turn it off? The short answer is… sometimes. It depends on both the airline's and the country's policies.
Why should you turn off electronic devices on the plane?
In the United States, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), not the FAA, is the agency that has banned the use of mobile devices while an aircraft is off the ground. The FCC imposes this restriction to circumvent potential problems with cell towers.
The FCC regulations are as follows:
However, there is a separate law from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that allows the use of wireless devices while flying:
