Mobile restrictions to be lifted
Airline passengers will soon be able to use mobile devises and laptops during take-off and landing under new rules announced yesterday.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said electronic equipment no longer poses the danger to aircraft that it used to.
Carriers must prove to the FAA that their aircraft will allow the safe use of equipment with many expected to do so by the end of the year.
It will mean passengers will be able to read e-books, play games and watch videos gate-to-gate “with very limited exceptions”.
But the FAA stopped short of allowing passengers to makes phone calls.
“We believe today’s decision honors both our commitment to safety and consumer’s increasing desire to use their electronic devises during all phases of their flight,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
“These guidelines reflect input from passengers, pilots, manufacturers and flight attendants and I look forward to seeing airlines implement these much anticipated guidelines in the near future.”
Devices must be used in airplane mode or with cellular connections disabled although the wifi connection can be used if the aircraft is wifi enabled.
The change in regulations came after the Portable Electronic Devices Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) concluded that most commercial aircraft are not affected by signals from PEDs.
Once airlines verify the tolerance of their fleet, they can introduce their own policies.
The FAA said it did not consider changing the regulations regarding phone calls “because the issue is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Corporate travel community gets networking
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) staged its latest networking event last week with 170 corporate and travel industry partners gathering at the Park Royal Darling Harbour.
ACTE Australia regional director, Andrew Kelly,declared the event a huge success.
"It was a great opportunity for members of our corporate travel community to forge and strengthen their network and share challenges and solutions," he said.
The ACTE's next event will be the Corporate Travel Education Conference at the Sheraton of the Park on December 5 and 6.
From left: Beanca Daluz, China Southern Airlines; Andrew Kelly, ACTE; Rita Perivolarys, Ernst and Young; Philip Hand, Commonwealth Bank and Aileen London, Oracle.
Stephanie Cheung, ACTE; Siew Kee, AMWU and Rajesh Shah, Sydney Trains
ACTE's Andrew Kelly thanks the 170 attendees and industry partners at the networking event.
Fernando DeSilva, United Airlines; Vesna Pandza, Finnair; Andrew Kelly, ACTE; Sanna Ruuskanen, Finnair and Warren Bird, Malaysia Airlines.
Andrew Kelly, ACTE; Irene Chia, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour; Matthew Holmes, Leighton Contractors; Michelle Thompson, SAP and Robert Gray, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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