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FAA Approves Use Of Electronic Devices For Entire Flight

Adithya Manjunath |
October 31, 2013 | 11:03 a.m. PDT

Executive Producer

The FAA has decided to allow the use of specific electronic devices at any time during a flight, with Delta likely to be the first airline to adapt to the new regulations. (Wikimedia Commons)
The FAA has decided to allow the use of specific electronic devices at any time during a flight, with Delta likely to be the first airline to adapt to the new regulations. (Wikimedia Commons)
One month after the FAA's investigatory panel endorsed a change in policy to allow passengers to use personal electronic devices at any point during a flight, the agency has officially decided to allow the use of certain electronics for the entire duration of a flight – including takeoff and landing.

The agency made a statement that said that they were helping airlines to integrate the new rules, with each airline expected to submit a proposal to manage its passengers' use of electronics. Delta Airlines have already concluded their own testing and have proposed a plan, that could be put into effect as early as tomorrow depending on the FAA's decision.

The FAA also published a Frequently Asked Questions page about portable electronic devices to its website, explaining that each airline must show to the NSA that their aircrafts can safely handle any kind of radio interference from portable electronics before users are allowed to use their electronic products (albeit on airplane mode in the case of tablets or cell phones).

The FAA also stated that it expects airlines to "allow passengers to safely use their devices in airplane mode, gate-to-gate, by the end of 2013". U.S. Senator for Missouri Claire McCaskill, who was seen by many as one of the biggest critics of the FAA's previous policy regarding personal electronic devices, was quoted as saying in a press release

"This is great news for the traveling public-and frankly, a win for common sense. I applaud the FAA for taking the necessary steps to change these outdated regulations and I look forward to the airlines turning around quick plans for implementation."

Read more about the FAA's policy change here.

Contact Executive Producer Adi here, or follow him on Twitter.



 

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