The friendly skies are finally friendly to mobile devices.
According to the FAA’s official new position on mobile device use in-flight, airplane travelers will soon see restrictions lifted on most electronic devices throughout their entire flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed Thursday, however, that a ban on using cell phones for voice communication will not change.
The FAA, following months of study by a group of aviation experts, said Thursday that airlines can soon allow passengers to use portable electronic devices such as tablets, laptop computers, e-readers and cell phones in airplane mode throughout the flight — with some circumstantial restrictions.
According to CNN, passengers in the United States were previously prohibited from using the devices until their plane rose above 10,000 feet. But the FAA said it now expects “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,” FAA administrator Michael Huerta revealed.
