Kindles and iPads To Be Allowed During Takeoff
0
Many of us have suspected that using an iPad or Kindle during takeoff probably would not hurt. If you have traveled by air recently, you have realized that you are still asked to turn your electronics off during that time. Apparently, the FAA understands some of these policies are outdated. It will take the FAA time to change these well-established policies though:
The current guidelines require that an airline must test each version of a single device before it can be approved by the F.A.A. For example, if the airline wanted to get approval for the iPad, it would have to test the first iPad, iPad 2 and the new iPad, each on a separate flight, with no passengers on the plane. It would have to do the same for every version of the Kindle. It would have to do it for every different model of plane in its fleet. And American, JetBlue, United, Air Wisconsin, etc., would have to do the same thing. (No wonder the F.A.A. is keeping smartphones off the table since there are easily several hundred different models on the market.
as explained by the NY Times reporter Nick Bilton. The FAA needs to take a fresh look at this issue. But the above statement does suggest it will take a long time for these rules to be changed. Airlines could request use of electronic devices as long as they do not interfere with aircraft avionics. But the process is expensive for them.
The FAA is ready to get the ball rolling with this. But it will be some time before we get to use our Kindles and iPads during takeoff.
