Article 56130 of sci.geo.satellite-nav:
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From: sgrayner@gte.net (Steve Grayner)
Newsgroups: sci.geo.satellite-nav
Subject: American Airlines Approves GPS Receivers
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 1998 14:14:20 -0600
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AA has just this month has changed their policy to allow use of GPS 
receivers aboard their aircraft except during taxi, takeoff, and landing.  
Captains have just received the latest revision to their manuals that 
specify the company's implementation of FAR 91.21 and now allow GPS 
units.  You still can't turn them on until notified by Flight Attendants 
that it's OK to use approved electronic devices, and they will direct 
that these devices be turned off prior to landing.  Satellite acquisition 
times and signal strength don't seem to be degraded at high velocities.  
More important is the antenna location near a plexiglass window.  

Other approved electronic devices are:
Portable voice recorders
Compact Disc (CD) players
Tape cassette players (self-contained)
Electric shavers
Camcorders (self-contained personal use)
Video walkmans, video players
Electronic games or toys without remote controls
Computers, calculators, typewriters briefcase size or smaller


Still on the PROHIBITED list are:
Radios -  AM, FM or VHF (battery or cord operated)
TV sets
Electronic games or toys with remote controls
Cordless computer mouse
Cellular phones

Use of a cellular phone aboard a commercial aircraft AT ANY TIME is a 
violation of FCC regulations.  At the gate you can step off onto the 
jetbridge and legally use it.  I've personally had three occasions where 
aircraft communications and navigation equipment is malfunctioning, asked 
the Flight Attendant to check for and stop anyone using cell phones, find 
the equipment return to normal function, and have the FA return and ask 
me how I knew someone was, indeed, using a cell phone.  Some prohibitions 
are warranted.