Today in TechFAA to reconsider gadget guidelines, could allow electronics during takeoff
As any frequent flier can attest, one of the most annoying parts of an already-stressful airport trip is the need to power down all your electronic devices for long stretches of time during takeoff and landing. The ban was initially put in place by the FAA for safety reasons, but in the years since its inception, even experts have come out and said that banning electronics at any point during a flight is simply silly. It appears as though the FAA has finally decided to listen, and a "fresh look" at the ban and the impact of personal electronics on airplanes will soon be performed.
Most airlines currently prohibit passengers from using cell phones, tablets, and other personal gadgets during runway taxi, takeoff, and landing, and in-flight use must be restricted to devices which aren't communicating with a cellular or data network. Turning your device off for those 15 or 20 minutes — or sometimes much, much longer, if a delay occurs — isn't usually a big deal. But if the act itself does nothing in terms of plane safety, it seems like a pointless rule regardless.
It's not just passengers who would benefit from the ban being lifted: Pilots and flight crews now use things such as iPads and other electronic devices during takeoff and landing. Performing a power cycle on those gadgets several times a day could also be avoided. The FAA isn't hinting at what changes could ultimately take place, but the fact that they're willing to revisit the ban at all is cause for celebration.
This article originally appeared on Tecca
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