Airlines passengers who travel in part because of cheap traveloptions, such as cheapairplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, and cheap vacation packages, willbe delighted to learn that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hasdecided that airline passengers should be able to use their electronic devicesgate-to-gate on planes to read, work, play games, watch movies, and listen tomusic.
Only cell phone use continues to be forbidden while in theair.
Implementation of the FAAs new guidelines concerning morewidespread use of electronic devices on planes will vary by airline. Each airline will first have to demonstrateto the FAA that their airplanes meet the new guidelines and that they haveupdated their flight crew training manuals, safety announcements, and rules forstowing devices to reflect the new guidelines.
Delta and JetBlue announced that they would immediatelysubmit plans to implement the new policy.
Currently passengers must turn off their cellphones, tablets,and other devices once a plane door closes. Electronic devices are not supposed to be turned back on (exceptcellphones which are never supposed to be turned on while flying) until a planereaches 10,000 feet and the captain notifies passengers that it is OK to turnon their devices. Today all electronicdevices are supposed to be turned off when a plane descends and not restarted untila plane has landed.
The new guidelines allow airlines whose planes are properlyprotected from electronic interference to allow passengers to use electronicdevices during takeoffs, landings, and taxing. Most new planes as well as other planes that have been modified toenable passengers to be able to use Wi-Fi at higher altitudes should satisfythe criteria.
Connecting to the Internet for any reason such as surfing,exchanging emails, texting, or downloading data will continue to be prohibitedbelow 10,000 feet. Passengers will beinstructed to turn their devices to airplane mode at lower altitudes. Heavier devices such as laptops will have tobe stowed during takeoff and landing because of concern that they might injuresomeone if accidentally dislodged from a passenger.
The Federal Communications Commission continues to prohibitcellphone use in the air in part because of concern that phones on planesflying at hundreds of miles per hour could strain the ability of cellularnetworks and to avoid electronic interference with cockpit equipment duringtakeoff and landing.
There are no confirmed reports of passenger electronicdevices interfering with flight navigation devices.
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