June 24, 2013 7:00am by David Farrar

FAA reviewing device takeoff rules

A working group assigned by the Federal Aviation Administration to research the use of electronics on airplanes is expected to recommend relaxing the ban on portable devices during takeoff and landing.

But the group has postponed its final report until September, two months after its original deadline.

The group is expected to endorse permitting a wider use of devices during takeoff and landing, including tablets and smartphones used only for data, said a member of the panel, who declined to be named because members are not permitted to speak publicly about internal discussions. Talking on cellphones will still be prohibited during all phases of flight, the person said. These recommendations are outlined in a draft document that the panel member has seen.

News of the draft document was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.The panel hopes to allow “gate-to-gate” use of electronics, the person said, meaning devices could be left on in a limited “airplane mode” from the moment the gate door closes on the tarmac until the plane arrives at the gate of its destination.

This is long overdue. An iPad in flight mode (ie no wireless, mobile or bluetooth) can not interfere with flight devices, anymore than a hearing aid could.

Personally I’m even dubious that they can interfere if in non-flight mode, but one battle at a time.

I used my iPad on flights to read books. It is frustrating that you have to stop reading for up to a third of the flight due to these silly rules.