FAA Will Take 'Fresh Look' At Guidelines Regarding Electronics On Planes

It looks like someone at the Federal Aviation Administration is actually listening to the iPad-toting public. According to The New York Times, the FAA is planning on taking a “fresh look” at its much-maligned guidelines that forbid the use of personal electronic devices during taxi, takeoff and landing. There has continued to be a public outcry regarding the rules, especially after airlines across the country began replacing paper manuals with iPads for pilots to use during the entire flight. And FAA deputy assistant administrator for public affairs Laura J. Brown said the agency would look into the guidelines, which were last examined in 2006, way before Apple sold millions of iPads in three days:

“With the advent of new and evolving electronic technology, and because the airlines have not conducted the testing necessary to approve the use of new devices, the FAA is taking a fresh look at the use of personal electronic devices, other than cellphones, on aircraft.”

But there is some bad news to go along with the development:

Abby Lunardini, vice president of corporate communications at Virgin America, explained that 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.

Yikes, that doesn’t sound very promising, as the airlines aren’t exactly rolling in cash and free time these days. Can you imagine how much it would cost in just jet fuel for one test? Add a dash of bureaucracy, and the iPad 9 might be out before fliers could actually benefit. But at least we can hope. Maybe Words with Friends fan Alec Baldwin can help.

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