FAA Expected to Relax Use of Electronics in Flight

The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to lift the ban on using some types of personal electronic devices in flight.

According to draft recommendations from an independent advisory panel to the FAA, cellphone calls would continue to remain off limits for the time being, but the changes would allow the use of other digital devices during take-off and the intital accent.

Some devices, such as e-readers, may even be permitted during all phases of a flight, The Wall Street Journal reports.

An FAA spokeswoman released a statement saying the agency "recognizes consumers are intensely interested in the use of personal electronics aboard aircraft. That is why we tasked a government-industry group to examine the safety issues and the feasibility of changing the current restrictions."

Industry experts and safety studies over the last few years have found that personal electronics pose minimal risk of interference with airline systems.

The new guidelines, which would revise rules that have been in place since 1966, are designed to keep pace with the technological advancements of the consumer electronics industry while setting an industry standard to prevent variations from airline to airline.

The FAA is due to make a decision on the recommendations at the end of September.

Members of the advisory panel have indicated they plan to issue a separate addendum discussing possible changes to rules governing cellphone use. But it's unclear whether the FAA will actively consider it, the Journal reported.