EASA Allows Use Of Smartphones, Tablets During Flights

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) now allows European airlines to permit mobile phones and other portable electronic devices to stay switched on during flights, according to a recent announcement.

Airlines can also allow the use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) throughout the flight, after a safety assessment process. As a result, passengers will be able to use their smartphones, tablets, laptops, e-readers or MP3 players just like in any other mode of transport: throughout the trip.

EASA’s new guidance allows airlines to permit PEDs  to stay switched on, without the need to be in “Airplane Mode.” This is the latest regulatory step towards enabling the ability to offer “gate-to-gate” telecommunication or WiFi services.

According to EASA, it is up to each airline to decide to allow the use of PEDs. In order to do this, the airline will have to go through an assessment process, ensuring aircraft systems are not affected in any way by the transmission signals from the PEDs. For this reason, there may be differences among airlines whether and when PEDs can be used.

“Passengers must at all times follow the airline crew instructions. Safety always comes first onboard of an aircraft,” EASA said in announcement.

This measure follows the initial action from EASA in December 2013, toward permitting the use of PEDs through almost all stages of flight, when the “Airplane Mode” not transmitting was allowed.