FAA May Amend Rules on Electronic Device Use During Takeoff, Landing

By Cynthia Herbert :: 12:27 PM

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may be getting ready to evaluate and change rules about using certain electronic devices on board commercial airliners during takeoff and landing.

Currently, use of iPads, Kindles, Nooks, and other e-reader devices are not permitted during takeoff and landing.  According to sources who are part of the industry working group that the FAA pulled together to study the use of portable electronics on board, the regulatory agency hopes to put new rules in place by the end of the year that allow for reading devices. Cellphone use is not included in these rule changes.

The industry working group is comprised of members from a number of industries, including Amazon, the Consumer Electronics Association, Boeing, the Association of Flight Attendants, the Federal Communications Commission and aircraft manufacturers. The group will make its final recommendations to the FAA by the end of July.

With the advent of more wearable computing devices, like Apple’s proposed iWatch, and Google’s Glass product, the issue of what electronics can be used when on a flight will be more pressing, and the FAA’s working group has been charged to examine the problem from the standpoint of today’s technology as well as considering what future portable electronic devices are in the pipeline.