The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has relaxed rules on in-flight devices and passengers will now be allowed to use smartphones and devices like Amazon's Kindle eReader.
The ruling for the usage of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) "during all phases of flight" will come into effect by the end of 2013, albeit with some restrictions.
"We believe today's decision honors both our commitment to safety and consumer's increasing desire to use their electronic devices during all phases of their flights," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "These guidelines reflect input from passengers, pilots, manufacturers, and flight attendants, and I look forward to seeing airlines implement these much anticipated guidelines in the near future."
However, the implementation will vary depending on the airline and passengers will still be barred from surfing the Internet and checking emails once the aircraft's doors have been shut and its Wi-Fi network is turned on, which is usually above 10,000 feet.
The FAA has made its decision based on inputs from experts, which included pilots, airline representatives, aviation manufacturers, passengers, mobile technology industry and flight attendants.
"I commend the dedication and excellent work of all the experts who spent the past year working together to give us a solid report so we can now move forward with a safety-based decision on when passengers can use PEDs on airplanes," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.
Initially, the FAA will allow gadgets that are set to the airplane mode to be used aboard flights. However, heavier devices will need to be kept away during takeoff and landing.
The FAA is giving in to appeals from device makers and users who want to be connected even when aboard the airplane. However, at the same time, the FAA is building in clauses that meet the safety norms when using PEDs, which may cause potential electronic interference with the airplane's radios and controls.
"This is a big win for customers and, frankly, it's about time," said Drew Herdener, an Amazon.com spokesman, in an emailed statement to Bloomberg. "We've been fighting for our customers on this issue for years -- testing an airplane packed full of Kindles, working with the FAA, and serving as the device manufacturer on this committee."
However, mobile phone calls and text messages remain prohibited at any time during the flight for fear of interference with ground networks.
