US to lift ban on use of laptops during take-off and landing
The US is to lift an ‘outdated’ ban on airline passengers using laptops during take-off and landing.
The Federal Aviation Authority in the US is to rule that travellers can keep laptops, iPads and electronic readers on during taxi, takeoff and landing because they are safer than had been thought.
Research found such gadgets do not interfere with navigation systems and that data used to draw up the ban was from the 1960s when such devices were very different, reports the Daily Mail.
But mobile phones will still have to be kept switched off as they were not part of the research. The FAA is expected to look at this separately.
It could lead to a worldwide relaxation of the rules barring air passengers from using these electronic devices before a plane takes off.
The Civil Aviation Authority said it would be interested in looking at the final report and its data and analysis before considering whether it needs to do further research on the subject.
A CAA spokesman said many electronic devices, such as electronic readers, do not emit the same electromagnetic interference as mobile phones but added that they need to be sure a plane full of people using such devices doesn’t have a cumulative effect.
A spokesman said: "We will look at the FAA study and if we think we need to do more work, we will. It’s very important that we are all joined up and if we can learn something in the UK, we will look at what they’ve done."
But he added that both research and anecdotal evidence still showed that electromagnetic interference caused by mobile phones can be a concern on critical manoeuvres like take-off and landing.
The US Federal Aviation Authority is to formally unveil its findings in September.
In its report the FAA concluded that the ban has ‘become untenable’ because of the widespread use of consumer electronics.
Whether by accident or on purpose, a third of passengers had left their gadgets on when they should be turned off.
Diane
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
All eyes on Qatar as Qatar Airways leads a season of global events