FAA Announces Decision On Portable Electronics

[Cary]

The FAA has concluded that airlines can allow the use of Portable Electronic Devices (no voice, no cellular) during all phases of flight, but how it's implemented will depend on the airline.

More info here: http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/ped/

[megatop412]

So, nothing has really changed, since airlines can still make the final call and will probably drag their feet on it

[PhilDernerJr]

Why would the airlines drag their feet?

[moose135]

JetBlue and Delta seem to be in a race to see who will be the first to get final approval for this.

[megatop412]

Why would the airlines drag their feet?

I got that impression from the link Cary provided:

2. Changes to PED policies will not happen immediately and will vary by airline. Check with your airline to see if and when you can use your PED.
3. Current PED policies remain in effect until an airline completes a safety assessment, gets FAA approval, and changes its PED policy.

It's unusual to see large corporations hustle to improve the customer experience, and I don't think this will be an exception. But I hope I'm wrong- now maybe I won't have to sneak the DSLR against the window during takeoffs

[tlabranche]

JetBlue officially started to allow PEDs this afternoon.

[moose135]

I flew JetBlue CLT-JFK this evening, and when we boarded, the flight attendant announced "JetBlue is the first airline approved for gate to gate used of electronic devices."

[gonzalu]

Sweet Halleluiah

[threeholerglory]

do they have a limitation coming out for Cat II and lower approaches? I thought I had read that somewhere.

[snydersnapshots]

So, nothing has really changed, since airlines can still make the final call and will probably drag their feet on it

A lot of times it's not the airline "dragging its feet," but the FAA inspector who oversees the airline and refuses to sign off on changes the airline wants to implement. I think you'll see most of the airlines remove the restriction fairly quickly. It's my understanding they were given a "heads-up" several weeks ago that this was coming and many have already started the process to get the restrictions removed from the company operating manuals, which are the controlling documents in this case.

[PhilDernerJr]

do they have a limitation coming out for Cat II and lower approaches? I thought I had read that somewhere.

I've been pretty hands on with this and haven't heard any limitations other than larger personal devices like laptops, still need to be stowed during takeoff and landing due to their size and hazard as a flying object.

[bluejuice]

Phil D.

http://nycaviation.com/forum/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by threeholerglory http://nycaviation.com/forum/images/buttons/viewpost-right.png (http://nycaviation.com/forum/showthread.php?p=494538#post494538)
do they have a limitation coming out for Cat II and lower approaches? I thought I had read that somewhere.



I've been pretty hands on with this and haven't heard any limitations other than larger personal devices like laptops, still need to be stowed during takeoff and landing due to their size and hazard as a flying object.



I do believe that when the landings are either Cat II or Cat III ALL electronic devices are to be stowed

[bluejuice]

I do believe that when the landings are either Cat II or Cat III ALL electronic devices are to be stowed

[moose135]

From the FAA Fact Sheet on the topic:


In some instances of severe weather with low-visibility, the crew should continue to instruct passengers to turn off their devices during landing.

http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=15255

[megatop412]

Along the lines of what I was thinking

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/31/opinion/abend-flight-regulations-electronics/index.html?hpt=hp_t4