There is good news for travelers who love their smart devices- the Federal Aviation Administration has now allowed portable electronic devices, laptops, e-readers, tablets and smartphones to be used within certain altitudes.
Up till now, passengers were prohibited from using devices in flight until the plane passed the 10,000 foot mark. The FAA made the statement, “Many carriers will prove to the FAA that their planes allow passengers to safely use their devices in airplane mode, gate-to-gate, by the end of the year. Each airline will determine how and when this will happen.“
Commercial airline pilot Patrick Smith told CNN that a normally ascending plane takes 10 minutes to reach 10,000 feet, relative to the weather. At this time Both Delta and JetBlue Airlines have made announcements that ask to approve the use of the coveted electronic devices below 10,000 feet.
While this is a new addition to the services rendered in-flight, airlines that provide wi-fi will continue their offering. The FAA created a panel to study the effects on radio signals from the devices that passengers love to so if they could possible interfere with the plane’s mechanisms and navigation in any way. The study concluded that the planes could handle whatever small amount of interference came from the devices. New rules and new planes will make sure that safety is the first priority – in cases of low visibility; devices will still have to be turned off.
Image Credit: The Blaze.com