Victory for Bored Air Travelers Everywhere: FAA Lifts Ban on Electronics Use (+video)
Photo Credit: Sean MacEnteeIn a victory for bored air travelers everywhere, federal aviation regulators gave airlines the go-ahead Thursday to let passengers keep their iPads, Kindles and other electronic gadgets switched on during takeoffs and landings — a change that had airlines jockeying to be the first to make the switch.
JetBlue said it would carry out the loosened policy “as quickly as we receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, which can be as early as this afternoon.” That apparently hadn’t happened by early evening, however.
Delta Air Lines, which boasted of being the first carrier to file the necessary paperwork with regulators, said it hoped its passengers could see the change as soon as Friday. American Airlines said it will file its own plan with the FAA that day as well. Virtually all other major U.S. airlines said they’re working as fast as they can.
The FAA wouldn’t confirm anybody’s optimistic timing, and agency chief Michael Huerta told reporters that the airlines will first have to conduct tests to make sure the gizmos’ radio signals won’t interfere with their planes’ electronics. Still, airlines had been preparing for a decision such as this and will most likely try to roll out changes as soon as possible, with their eye on the Christmas travel season.
The changes don’t mean you’ll have to put up with a seatmate who yammers on his iPhone for the entire trip from Dulles to LAX. Cellphone calls will still be banned in flight.
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