FAA Rethinks Restrictions on Electronic Devices in the Air

A nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, Ed Perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid scams.

He is the author of "Online Travel" (2000) and "Business Travel: When It's Your Money" (2004), the first step-by-step guide specifically written for small business and self-employed professional travelers. He was also the co-author of the annual "Best Travel Deals" series from Consumers Union.

Perkins' advice for business travelers is featured on MyBusinessTravel.com, a website devoted to helping small business and self-employed professional travelers find the best value for their travel dollars.

Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. He has also written for Business Traveller magazine (London).

Perkins' travel expertise has led to frequent television appearances, including ABC's "Good Morning America" and "This Week with David Brinkley," "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather," CNN, and numerous local TV and radio stations.

Before editing Consumer Reports Travel Letter, Perkins spent 25 years in travel research and consulting with assignments ranging from national tourism development strategies to the design of computer-based tourism models.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Perkins lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife.

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Air passengers are required to turn off all electronic devices during takeoff and landing. This exasperating rule, however, could soon be a thing of the past. The FAA has formed a government-industry group to study whether its long-time ban on use of consumer electronics during some or all phases of a flight makes sense—or is necessary. In apparent response to the almost-universal use of smartphones, PDAs, and computers, the group will take a hard look at the use of electronics in flight.

Don’t hold your breath until the rules change, however. The committee won’t finish its work until well into next year, and even then, there may not be any new rules put into place right away. Instead, the agency may leave it up to individual airlines to create their own regulations.

Many of you will probably say, “It’s about time.” As far as I can tell, the technological foundation for the bans is not at all clear, with policy based on extreme technical conservatism rather than known risk. Certainly, nobody wants to compromise air safety, even a little. But if the committee finds that the existing rules are unnecessarily restrictive, you could see some relaxation starting next summer.

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