From NBCNews.com. The FAA has finally agreed to allow tablets and e-readers during all phases of flight. This never seems like it was a big issue but people made a stink about it.
Airplane passengers who forgot to bring a magazine will soon have other entertainment options besides browsing SkyMall and the in-flight safety card. The FAA announced Thursday that the agency will be relaxing half-a-century old guidelines on passenger electronic device use during takeoff and landing, allowing the use of tablets, e-readers, dvd players and video game consoles during these critical phases of flight.
The announcement follows a report made to the FAA by a 28-member advisory committee in September. The group concluded that most commercial airplanes can tolerate radio interference signals from PEDs.
"It will take some time for each airline to certify their fleet is safe," said Huerta, "but we expect implementation to be soon."
Delta Air Lines announced shortly after the FAA press conference that its entire flight has completed carrier-defined PED tolerance testing and has submitted its plan to the FAA for approval.
Making a phone call or sending a text during landing and takeoff still won't be allowed. Neither will be transmitting any kind of signal during that time via, for instance, a tablet that also uses cell signals for data.
The agency has come under increasing pressure in recent years from passengers, lawmakers and the electronic device industry who have argued the devices pose little threat.
Contact Ben Popken via ben.popken@nbcuni.com, @bpopken, or benpopkenwrites.com.
The announcement follows a report made to the FAA by a 28-member advisory committee in September. The group concluded that most commercial airplanes can tolerate radio interference signals from PEDs.
"It will take some time for each airline to certify their fleet is safe," said Huerta, "but we expect implementation to be soon."
Delta Air Lines announced shortly after the FAA press conference that its entire flight has completed carrier-defined PED tolerance testing and has submitted its plan to the FAA for approval.
Making a phone call or sending a text during landing and takeoff still won't be allowed. Neither will be transmitting any kind of signal during that time via, for instance, a tablet that also uses cell signals for data.
The agency has come under increasing pressure in recent years from passengers, lawmakers and the electronic device industry who have argued the devices pose little threat.
Contact Ben Popken via ben.popken@nbcuni.com, @bpopken, or benpopkenwrites.com.