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This restriction grew out of a case where a video game console being used by a kid on a chartered civil jet produced some frequencies that actually interfered with the glide slope receiver on the aircraft during an instrument approach. This is a bad thing. Especially during actual instrument conditions.

So just to be on the safe side, the FAA mandated restricting all electronic devices that could possibly produce electronic signals that might affect the avionics on board during climb out or approach. (Anytime you’re flying near the ground in an airplane, you want to pay extra attention.)

Practically speaking, when you use your phone while airborne, you’re swamping many cell phone towers at once. This overloads the system, and degrades performance for everyone.

Frankly, I’m sick and tired of boobs who think they are above the rules that are designed to give them the best chance of survival in an emergency. There actually are reasons for a lot of the rules.

Open your window shade for landing. You just might want to be able to see outside to avoid the post crash fire after impact.

Put your seat upright and stow your tray. You might just need to get out quickly, just like the person behind you.

Keep your seatbelt fastened and stay in your seat until the light goes off. Sudden stops have been known to happen while taxiing to the gate.

And you just might want to know where the life preserver is and how to put it on when ditching. And use the O2 system if the pressurization fails. And how to find an exit amid the panic typical in smoke-filled cabin.

Aviation emergencies are sudden and frequently fatal. There’s not a lot of time to bone up on the information on the card in the seat pocket when people are screaming and clawing to get out.

So it’s a good idea to at least pay some attention to the safety briefing, and allows others to listen as well.