Archive for FAA

Poll: Do You Want Cell Phone Calls On Your Next Flight?

Posted in Commentary with tags on November 26, 2013 by itnerd

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FAA To Allow Personal Electronics During Flights

Posted in Commentary with tags on October 31, 2013 by itnerd

A press release hit the wires today from the FAA announcing that in flight use of personal electronics will finally be allowed:

Passengers will eventually be able to read e-books, play games, and watch videos on their devices during all phases of flight, with very limited exceptions. Electronic items, books and magazines, must be held or put in the seat back pocket during the actual takeoff and landing roll. Cell phones should be in airplane mode or with cellular service disabled – i.e., no signal bars displayed—and cannot be used for voice communications based on FCC regulations that prohibit any airborne calls using cell phones. If your air carrier provides Wi-Fi service during flight, you may use those services. You can also continue to use short-range Bluetooth accessories, like wireless keyboards.

By the end of the year this should be rolled out though the actual timing is being left up to the individual airlines. The only exception will be takeoff and landing, again subject to the needs of individual airlines. Airlines will have to certify that their aircraft can tolerate any radio interference from the personal electronics devices, and the FAA will provide clear guidelines on various risks of allowing personal electronic devices.

This is a very good change and I look forward to it.

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FAA Recommends Relaxing Of Electronic Device Restrictions On Airplanes

Posted in Commentary with tags on September 27, 2013 by itnerd

I was expecting this decision from the FAA sometime next week, but I am pleasantly surprised to hear that the decision that is going to be delivered to the FAA will be to relax the use of electronic devices on aircraft according to AP:

If the panel’s advice is followed, passengers would have greater opportunity to use most devices below an altitude of 10,000 feet, although some devices would have to be switched to airplane mode. Downloading data, surfing the Web and talking on the phone would remain prohibited.

“You will not be able to play `Words With Friends,’ you will not be able to shop, you will not be able to surf websites or send email,” said Henry Harteveldt, an airline and travel industry analyst with Hudson Crossing who was reacting to word of the recommended change.

“You will be able to read or work on what’s stored on the device,” he said. “You want to edit that PowerPoint? Great. You want to watch `Breaking Bad’ and you have it downloaded to your smartphone or your tablet? You can continue to do that.”

This is something that I along with others would welcome. How about you? Would you like to be able to play Angry Birds in flight? Post a comment and share your thoughts.

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FAA Getting Word On In-Flight Use Of Portable Electronics Next Week

Posted in Commentary with tags on September 26, 2013 by itnerd

According to USA Today, the FAA is due to hear back from a panel of industry representatives, which could recommend that the agency relax its rules regarding in-flight use of portable electronics such as phones, tablets, and laptops:

The panel, comprised of industry and labor representatives, will meet Tuesday and Wednesday and is expected by the end of the month to provide a report and recommendations to the FAA on whether current rules restricting the use of portable electronics during the start and end of a flight should be loosened.

“The FAA recognizes consumers are intensely interested in the use of personal electronics aboard aircraft,” the agency said in a statement Monday. “That is why we tasked a government-industry group to examine the safety issues and the feasibility of changing the current restrictions. . . . We will wait for the group to finish its work before we determine next steps.”

As it stands, you can’t use these devices during takeoffs and landings. Though I know many people who don’t turn their devices off completely. They may disable WiFi and cell service during those times and nothing bad has happened. But the current rules are a precaution against something bad happening. It will be interesting to see what comes out of this next week as I know a lot of people would jump for joy if these rules were relaxed.

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FAA Looks At Relaxing Restrictions On Electronics During Flights

Posted in Commentary with tags , on March 25, 2013 by itnerd

You might recall that I wrote about the chairman of the FAA asking that in flight restrictions on electronics be eased. Well, he might get his wish:

According to people who work with an industry working group that the Federal Aviation Administration set up last year to study the use of portable electronics on planes, the agency hopes to announce by the end of this year that it will relax the rules for reading devices during takeoff and landing. The change would not include cellphones.

One member of the group and an official of the F.A.A., both of whom asked for anonymity because they were not allowed to speak publicly about internal discussions, said the agency was under tremendous pressure to let people use reading devices on planes, or to provide solid scientific evidence why they cannot.

That’s positive. Here’s more:

The group has several goals beyond determining the safety of electronics on planes, according to an internal document that describes its objectives that was shown to The New York Times. Those include ensuring that flight attendants do not have to be the social police for which devices are acceptable during flight and determining what the term “airplane mode” really means. Finally, the group wants to ensure that whatever rules the agency announces apply to devices that are not on the market today.

That’s a good thing as I really think that we need to look at this issue scientifically and base whether a ban on electronics stays or goes based on that. Expect some feedback sometime this summer.

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FCC Chairman Calls For Lifting Of Electronics Ban On Airplanes

Posted in Commentary with tags , , on December 11, 2012 by itnerd

Do you think it’s kind of lame that you have to turn off your laptops, tablets and other toys during takeoff and landing ? Federal Communications Commission chairman Julius Genachowski agrees with you. He’s calling for an easing of the ban on using mobile phones and other electronic devices on airplanes during takeoff and landing.

In a letter this week to the Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates the airline industry, Genachowski pushed for a new look at the ban.

“I write to urge the FAA to enable greater use of tablets, e-readers and other portable electronic devices during flight, consistent with public safety,” the FCC chief said in the letter, seen Friday by AFP, to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.

Genachowski said the FAA has begun a review of these rules, and added that “I support” the initiative.

“The review comes at time of tremendous innovation as mobile devices are increasingly interwoven in our daily lives,” the letter said.

“They empower people to stay informed and connected with friends and family, and they enable both large and small businesses to be more productive and efficient, helping drive economic growth and boost US competitiveness.”

The ban is in place based on the assumption that devices could interfere with an airplane’s navigation equipment. But there have been questions about the validity of this claim, and many point out that some people forget to turn off their devices during flights and nothing bad has happened. Thus you can’t be surprised that this is coming up as a topic for discussion.

My opinion? Let’s get someone to look at this issue scientifically and base whether a ban on electronics stays or goes based on that. That way, the issue is settled once and for all.

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