Clear for takeoff — FAA to formally renounce majority of restrictions on in-flight gadget usage

An advisory panel working with the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to finalize a more lax approach towards in-flight gadget usage this week, according to a report in the New York Times.

If all goes smoothly, the new rules are expected to go into effect next year. 

Among some of the changes: reading e-books, listening to podcasts, and watching videos will now be allowed during takeoff and landing.

Making phone calls, sending / reading emails, and using Wi-Fi are all expected to remain off-limits.

The FAA has received a ton of criticism over their stance on in-flight gadget-usage for two main reasons:

(1) The incorporation of electronics into everyday life is hard to ignore and a habit most people are not willing to give up, and

(2) The policy in question is based on regulations that have not changed since 1966.

The panel is expected to finalize their recommendations over the next few days and then present their changes to the FAA by the end of the month.

Story via: nytimes.com