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Traveling has been made affordable by virtue of cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, and cheap vacation packages. However, as many travelers will share, various Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) policies remain head scratchers. For decades FAA has had a rule in place that requires all passenger electronic devices be turned off before a plane departs or lands without any evidence that consumer gadgets can threaten safety. Common sense suggests that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) which will not allow more than 3.5 ounces of hand lotion or gel shoe inserts carried onto a plane would not allow passengers to board a plane with an cell phone, iPad or Kindle if there was reason to fear that they could be used by terrorists. The FAA position is that it would rather err on the side of caution when it comes to digital devices on planes. In support of its position the FAA points to a 2006 study by the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, a nonprofit group that tests and reports on technical travel and communications issues. When asked to test the effects of cell phones, Wi-Fi and portable electronic devices on planes it found “Insufficient information to support changing the policies.” It observed that there was no evidence that electronic devices cannot interfere with a plane and no evidence that they can. CTIS, a wireless industry association, conducted a study over a decade ago that found there is no interference from mobile devices. Radio frequencies assigned for aviation use are separate from commercial use. The wiring and instruments for planes are shielded to protect them from interference from commercial wireless devices. Clearly, it is past time for the FAA and TSA to reconsider their policies regarding the use of passenger electronics on planes.
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