The SA Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has given the green light to SA Airways (SAA) to allow passengers on the airline’s flights to use their smartphones and other supported devices in “flight mode”, where the devices’ radio antennae are switched off.

SAA passengers on all domestic and international are now allowed to use personal electronic devices, including cellphones, e-readers and tablet computers, in flight mode, the airline says.

The CAA exemption appears to be valid for SAA only at this stage, with rival airline Kulula.com saying it does not permit the use of flight mode on its aircraft “as yet”. In response to a query from TechCentral, Kulula says it is “aware of in-flight mode” on modern phones but “to ensure the safety of our Kulula customers at all times, we don’t allow the use of cellphones on our planes, not even in safety mode”.

Low-cost airline 1time could not immediately be reached for comment.

In a statement, SAA explains that flight mode is a “setting available on many mobile phones and other electronic devices that, when engaged, suspends many of the device’s signal transmitting functions, thereby disabling the device’s capacity to place or receive calls or text messages while still permitting use of other basic functions that do not require signal transmission”.

It cautions that its cabin crew remains responsible for enforcing the policy regarding the use of personal electronic devices on board its flights and that if a member of the crew is “unable to confirm that the transmitting function on an intentionally transmitting device has been disabled, then the device should be switched off”.

“In addition, the commander [of the flight] may prohibit the use of any personal electronic device, if required in the interest of safety.”

After passengers have boarded the flight, and prior to the cabin doors being closed, a service coordinator or senior cabin crew member will make an announcement informing passengers about the conditions under which flight mode may be used, SAA says.

“Passengers will be required to select the flight-mode functionality prior to switching their cellphones off in preparation for the flight,” it adds. Devices may then be switched on once the “fasten seatbelts” sign has been switched off after take-off.

“If at any point during a flight any irregularities or interference are detected in the flight deck, flight mode is to be suspended immediately,” the airline says. “In this event, the commander shall make an announcement to this effect.” — Duncan McLeod, TechCentral