FAA May Loosen Restrictions on Personal Electronic Devices; There Was Much Rejoicing

A preface: This post is about products, to be sure, but not necessarily products liability.  We, as lawyers, travel very often. With us, we carry many personal electronic devices.  Not so long ago, we’d have to carry cell phones, Blackberries, laptops, and iPods.  Now, for the most part, we can get away with just a smart phone and perhaps a laptop or tablet. All of this, though, still makes air travel more difficult.

But there is hope on the horizon.

Could it be that we, as consumers of air travel, may soon be allowed to listen to our iPods upon take off and landings?

Could it truly be?

The Guardian – which has been in the news itself of late for unrelated reasons – reports that the Federal Aviation Administration is considering new rules on the use of personal electronic devices:

Relief may be on the way for airline passengers who can’t bear to be separated even briefly from their personal electronic devices, as the Federal Aviation Administration moves towards allowing gate-to-gate use of music players, tablets, laptops, smartphones and other gadgets.

Restrictions on cellphone calls and internet use and transmission are not expected to be changed.

Now we wait.

(Hat tip:  Spin).