Originally Posted by
ESpen36
The FAA regulation requires that devices be power completely OFF, not just put in airplane mode, for taxi, takeoff, and landing. Once the aircraft is above 10,000 feet (usually only 1,000 feet or so on short-haul flights, whenever the captain sounds the first post-takeoff tone), then passengers can use approved electronic devices, including PDAs, Blackberries, and cell phones that are in airplane mode.
That said, I sometimes just put my cell phone and iPhone in airplane mode instead of turning them all the way off, and I've never had a problem during taxi/takeoff/landing.
I've never heard of 1,000 ft on a short-haul (typo?) -
Most of my short-haul flights still go above 10,000 ft and often cruise around 20,000-29,000 ft as they're all pressurized aircraft whether it is a Dash-8/Saab-340 (or other turbo prop) or a regional jet of some type.
The only exception would be SDF-CVG, a mere 90 miles and the flight only reaches an altitude of about 9,000 ft and there is no use of electronics on-board. Even on SDF-CVG you're still climbing out at 1,000 ft .. or when landing, you're on final getting ready to touch down at 1,000 ft.
I have flown on small, non-pressurized aircraft commercially, but those are typically short, niche routes .. i.e. ROK-GKL (Rockhampton to Great Keppel Island)
As others have said, the electronics should not cause any interference.
SDF_Traveler