FAA loosens rules for electronic devices during flights

• Passengers can begin using electronic devices when planes are below 10%2C000 feet in elevation
• FAA%27s move comes as wildly popular devices spread worldwide
• Voice calls remain banned during entire flight

Airlines are racing to allow passengers to use portable electronic devices such as readers and games during takeoffs, landings and taxiing after the Federal Aviation Administration announced a major policy change Thursday.

FAA Administrator Michael Huerta announced the change at Reagan National Airport, saying airlines would still have to demonstrate that greater use of electronics won't interfere with each type of plane. Flight manuals, crew training and safety briefings also must be changed. But the change is expected on most flights by the end of the year.

Delta Air Lines spokesman Paul Skrbec said the airline already has performed the required tolerance tests on all of its aircraft and has submitted paperwork to the FAA for its approval.

"All of our aircraft are ready to go," he said. "That could come as early as today for us."

JetBlue Airways also expects to be among the first airlines to allow greater electronics use because it has a relatively small fleet -- less than 200 aircraft -- and only two types of planes, said spokeswoman Jenny Dervin. "We intend to be the first airline to allow fleet-wide PEDs"

The change allows the use of electronics such as smartphones, e-readers and games while the plane is taxiing, taking off and landing. Those devices can be used now only while the plane is at cruising altitude. The decision follows a report Sept. 30 from a 28-member committee representing airlines, manufacturers, electronics makers, pilots and flight attendants.

"We found that we could protect aviation safety and at the same time address the passenger desire for use of their portable devices," Huerta said. "The committee determined that most commercial airplanes can tolerate radio interference from portable electronic devices."

Connecting to the Internet remains prohibited when the plane is less than 10,000 feet in the air. Voice calls also are banned during the entire flight, under a Federal Communications Commission rule.

The prohibition against electronics began decades ago because of concerns about interference with cockpit communications and navigation equipment. But passengers have sought easier use of their gadgets as electronics became more widespread and aircraft equipment less susceptible to stray signals.

Flight attendants welcomed the opportunity to ease enforcement of the prohibition against gadgets. Laura Glading, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, said the change in rules will benefit passengers and crew.

"Once the new policy is safely implemented – and we're going to work closely with the carrier to do that – it will be a win-win," Glading said. "We're frankly tired of feeling like 'hall monitors' when it comes to this issue."

Amazon.com, which produces Kindle electronic readers, welcomed the decision after working for years testing gadgets aboard planes to satisfy FAA safety requirements, according to spokesman Drew Herdener.

"This is a big win for customers and, frankly, it's about time," he said.

Electronics have always been allowed once a plane reaches 10,000 feet in the air. On planes equipped with their own Wi-fi hot spots, passengers have been able to connect to the Internet while the flight is cruising.

Consumer groups and lawmakers such as Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., have argued that electronic readers are no more dangerous than books during takeoff and landing. "This is great news for the traveling public — and frankly, a win for common sense," McCaskill, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, said of the FAA's decision. "I applaud the FAA for taking the necessary steps to change these outdated regulations and I look forward to the airlines turning around quick plans for implementation."