No phones on US planes

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has gone ahead with the approval of the use of gadgets such as tablet computers and e-readers during take-off and landing.  Many airlines are expected to adopt the new guidelines by the end of the year and Jet Blue has already given the go-ahead.  Passengers on American Airlines, Delta, United and US Airways flying out of the UK will benefit.  (BTN 7 October).

Happily, for those who enjoy in-flight respite from everybody else's one-sided conversation, making phone calls will still be strictly prohibited.

"These guidelines reflect input from passengers, pilots, manufacturers, and flight attendants", Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx wrote in a statement.

"We believe today's decision honours both our commitment to safety and consumer's increasing desire to use their electronic devices during all phases of their flights".

Covered under the rule change are lightweight, electrically powered devices including music players, gaming consoles and smart phones – with the mobile telephone service disabled.

"There is one thing that won't change", FAA Administrator Michael Huerta has told the media.  "Passengers must take a break from their devices, their reading material, their music, whatever they are doing, and listen to the safety briefing before each flight. It is information that can save your life". www.faa.gov

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