Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Jeroen Moes via Flickr

FAA panel advises lifting ban on use of gadgets during take-off and landing

The panel said a ban should remain on browsing the Internet and sending or receiving texts and emails while the plane is flying below 10,000 feet.

AN ADVISORY PANEL to the US Federal Aviation Administration has urged regulators to allow some personal electronics to be used throughout flight, including during take-off and landing.

The recommendations would allow devices for reading, playing games or watching videos to be operated on an airplane at any altitude, according to US media reports.

According to current regulations, personal devices like smartphones and other computers must be powered down during takeoff and landing.

Texts and phonecalls

The panel said a ban should remain on browsing the Internet and sending or receiving texts and emails while the plane is flying below 10,000 feet. Those activities could be allowed again once the WiFi in the plane was activated.

The panel did not consider whether mobile phone calls should be allowed in flight. Those are banned by a separate government agency, the Federal Communications Commission.

The panel’s advice was delivered on yesterday and is being considered by the FAA. If approved, it may be implemented as early as next year.

No significant interference

Support for the move to allow wider use of personal electronic devices (PED) came from the Consumer Electronic Association.

“There has been widespread passenger use of PEDs aboard airplanes for several years with no significant interference incidents during tens of millions of flights,” the group said in a statement.

The 28-member advisory panel was convened by the FAA last year to consider the latest technologies and whether some consumer devices should be allowed during flight.

The final decision is up to FAA administrator Michael Huerta. The FAA spokesman was not reachable for comment Tuesday due to the US government shutdown, prompted by a battle among lawmakers over health care reform.

- © AFP 2013.

Read: US aviation authority warns of fines for directing lasers at aircraft>

Read: This gadget prevents plane seat in front of you from reclining…>

Read: 13 essential rules of airplane etiquette>

Author
View 40 comments
Close
40 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Treacy
    Favourite Conor Treacy
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 3:15 PM

    Interesting language used in the article. Terrorists are called rebels. The Syrian government is called the Syrian regime. It’s always good to hear what the ‘independent’ British backed Syrian Observatory for Human Rights have to say. It would be interesting to see the reaction of the ‘West’ if the Russians/Chinese started labelling the protesters in Paris as ‘freedom fighters’, started supporting them directly/indirectly in order to disrupt/displace the Macron government, met with them on the streets shaking hands and spurring them on, protested aggressive government actions on ‘peaceful protests’, etc a la Maidan in Kiev.

    213
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pixie McMullen
    Favourite Pixie McMullen
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 3:20 PM

    @Conor Treacy: Nail on head,
    But sure it is no wonder the language used in these articles when they are all copied and pasted from AFP which is a French Government controlled news association.

    129
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Whitehead
    Favourite Harry Whitehead
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 4:00 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: Oh look, someone else who thinks ‘state-owned’ and ‘state-controlled’ are the same thing. Just because the two are mutually inclusive where you’re concerted, it doesn’t mean the same applies everywhere else.

    11
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cal Mooney
    Favourite Cal Mooney
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 4:21 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: Leave Harry’s terrorists alone. Did u not read yesterday that the english don’t consider ISIS a major threat anymore. Russia is the big bad wolf now. Saudi Arabia having killed 48,000 children in Yemen year to date are considered Harry and englands ally.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Whitehead
    Favourite Harry Whitehead
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 4:51 PM

    @Cal Mooney: “The English”? There hasn’t been an English state since the 1700s. Try and keep up Wally. And I’m still waiting for your examples of my having defended the Saudo regime.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Durkin
    Favourite Derek Durkin
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 2:16 PM

    Who to believe??….the Russians or Al-Qaeda.

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charliegrl80
    Favourite Charliegrl80
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 2:21 PM

    @Derek Durkin: Neither!

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pixie McMullen
    Favourite Pixie McMullen
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 2:37 PM

    @Derek Durkin: Maybe if you and Charliegrl80 took your head out of the western media and read some other news sources you would both have a better understanding of what`s going on, but i won`t hold my breath on either of you bothering, keep drinking the Koolaid.

    121
    See 20 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Whitehead
    Favourite Harry Whitehead
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 2:40 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: Bore off comrade. RT’s that way, you’re on the wrong site.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pixie McMullen
    Favourite Pixie McMullen
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 2:45 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: Ah, There you are Harry, throwing in your pearls of wisdom as always..
    For a bloke with a bio saying he is interested in history, politics, linguistics and current affairs, It is pretty laughable when all your actions on this site are always just little wisecracks, insults or comments with no substance.

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Dub
    Favourite Ryan Dub
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 2:50 PM

    @Derek Durkin: President Assad used chlorine, bombing civilians. The Russians, Assad’s ally, then use this to justify attacking a rebel group.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Whitehead
    Favourite Harry Whitehead
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 2:51 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: “For a bloke with…” blah blah blah. Didn’t you say more or less exactly the same thing a while back, comrade?

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pixie McMullen
    Favourite Pixie McMullen
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 2:53 PM

    @Ryan Dub: So you are telling me that the Syrian army moved into the terrorists positions, fired a load of chlorine filled missiles on their own civilians into an area they hold, then moved back out giving the positions back to the Jihadis who waited patiently for the Russian air force to show up?
    Where do you buy your weed? It seems to be a lot better than anything i can get.

    83
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Whitehead
    Favourite Harry Whitehead
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 2:54 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: “read some other news sources”

    Translation: read something which refuses to criticise our Glorious Leader or his Aliies under ANY circumstance.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pixie McMullen
    Favourite Pixie McMullen
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 2:54 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: You really should be put in between 2 fingers and squeezed………like any other whitehead

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Whitehead
    Favourite Harry Whitehead
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 3:01 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: For a bloke who whines about “wisecracks, insults or comments with no substance” you sure have a funny knack for farting them out yourself. Making whitehead jokes though? That’s lame even by your pisspoor standards.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pixie McMullen
    Favourite Pixie McMullen
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 3:04 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: You triggered hon?
    Not very nice when you slag someone off who turns out to be better at slagging than yourself, is it?
    Go have a wee lie down and a good cry

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Whitehead
    Favourite Harry Whitehead
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 3:09 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: “turns out to be better at slagging” no comrade, that’s kinda the whole point. Never mind though, you keep telling yourself you’re Oscar Wilde reborn. Attaboy.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Eric Devine
    Favourite Michael Eric Devine
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 3:29 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: Harry grow up and drop the comrade crap, you come across clueless

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Whitehead
    Favourite Harry Whitehead
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 3:56 PM

    @Michael Eric Devine: “Sorry, this content isn’t available right now” Mighty fine coincidence there, wouldn’t you say?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pixie McMullen
    Favourite Pixie McMullen
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 4:00 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: He has the Idiot blocker activated on his Facebook profile, That`s why you can`t see it `arry

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Eric Devine
    Favourite Michael Eric Devine
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 4:00 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: you are such a damn cliche. You have to be an especially arrogant and delusional person to believe Russian agents are being paid to argue against you (the hint is you don’t have an actual argument you’re just slinging shit)

    The absolute neck on you telling someone who raised a valid point the ‘other side’ is that way. You may have picked your side and chosen to unquestionably swallow all it presents, that’s entirely on you.
    You’re everything that’s wrong with debate in 2018

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Whitehead
    Favourite Harry Whitehead
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 4:08 PM

    @Michael Eric Devine: “Cliche!” squawked someone from with a fake profile and a kneekerk defensive reaction to anyone dissing Uncle Vlad and his pet regimes. LOLz

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
    Favourite Fr. Fintan Stack
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 4:16 PM

    @Harry Whitehead: Harry give up responding you really are just making a fool of yourself

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fenian⚔
    Favourite Fenian⚔
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 4:48 PM

    @Ryan Dub: if chlorine was used why have loads of people moved back into east ghouta
    when chlorine bombs are used it makes houses uninhabitable for years

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 4:48 PM

    Russia’s RT broadcast claims that French special forces were involved in the attact…

    “French special forces on the ground from where the missiles were fired”

    Now Russia, conviently, has Casus belli to begin it’s Idlib campaign.

    https://youtu.be/ApIhgFVa6-A?t=78

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fenian⚔
    Favourite Fenian⚔
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 5:01 PM

    @Ryan Dub: army of islam and hayat tahrir al sham
    the media for some reason never mentions these terrorists groups names.
    they also infight alot and regularly change their names
    The last real legitimate rebel groups you could say, not the islamic jihad groups in idlib, surrendered under reconciliation agreements in june the only requirement was to hand over heavy weapons and ieds they were let keep their ak47s and mgs and most took the offer to integrate themselves in to a syrian army division as they weren’t active in fighting for 2 years.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pixie McMullen
    Favourite Pixie McMullen
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 5:12 PM

    @David Jordan: Conveniently???
    They have held off for the last 2 months after a ceasefire was brokered, The headhackers haven`t lived up to their part of the ceasefire, firing indiscriminately and refusing to relinquish the heave weaponry and move out of the buffer zone Turkey helped set up.
    Russia and the SAA have every right to go on the offensive, as they are the only 2 legitimate forces in this war, but of course, you know all this already

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pixie McMullen
    Favourite Pixie McMullen
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 2:33 PM

    I can`t wait to see the French and US Tomahawk missiles to start raining down on these headhacking western backed terrorists over the use of chemical weapons…..

    107
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 4:54 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: Russia’s RT broadcast claims that French special forces were involved in the attact. This is grade A conspiracy rubbish.

    “French special forces on the ground from where the missiles were fired”

    Now Russia the Syrian government, conviently, have Casus belli to begin it’s Idlib / West Aleppo campaign. Russia and Syrian government forces have started bombing West Aleppo, breaking a months long ceasefire.

    https://youtu.be/ApIhgFVa6-A?t=78

    https://twitter.com/dannymakkisyria/status/1066647370115571713?s=21

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pixie McMullen
    Favourite Pixie McMullen
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 5:04 PM

    @David Jordan: And you know this to be rubbish because……

    Russia warned of chemical weapon in the hands of jihadis time and again over the last few months, there are reports that one terrorist group attacked another and took 2 cannisters of Chlorine from them a few weeks back, there are reports of chemical weapons being smuggled in over the turkish border to be used…
    It wouldn`t surprise me in the slightest if this report is true, UK, US and French ALL have special forces on the ground in Syria, and have done for quite a few years now

    44
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 5:32 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: for what it’s worth, the syriancivilwar sub on reddit which is pro-Syrian government and pro-Russia, is very skeptical that an attack actually took place. West Aleppo has been bombed by Syrian government and Russia for the first time in 75 days in response.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/syriancivilwar/comments/a07tze/dozens_hospitalized_in_syrias_aleppo_after?sort=top

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brendan fitzsimons
    Favourite brendan fitzsimons
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 5:59 PM

    @David Jordan: Odd then that “The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights”, which has been relentlessly on the side of the “rebels” are confirming the chlorine attack.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    Nov 28th 2018, 10:33 AM

    @brendan fitzsimons: They didn’t confirm a chlorine attack, they reported on claims of a chlorine attack. Anyway, here we are a few days later, and still no proof that a chlorine attack happened. No dead, no chlorine cannisters, no results of an independent investigation. 1the OPCW and UN have not been asked to investigate – Russia has gone quiet on the story, it’s now all forgotten about as if it didn’t happen. News later on suggests people panicked.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute iComment
    Favourite iComment
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 6:28 PM

    BBC and the Guardian still hold onto myth that these rebels are moderate and not Al Queada or IS….Within a few years of start of civil war the rebels became radical Sunni Jahadi backed by Saudi… Qatar and the US….

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christophe Walter
    Favourite Christophe Walter
    Report
    Nov 25th 2018, 10:10 PM

    The Russian Federation is not the same as the Communist led USSR. Under Putin, Russia has reinvigorated her Christian soul. The Western democracies can’t handle that. Where we in the West are witnessing constant attacks on Christianity, the same cannot be said about Russia.

    19
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.