Europe to allow use of electronic devices on board

After the US, Europe plans to relax rules on the use of personal electronic devices during flights, allowing passengers to use gadgets like tablets, smartphones and mp3 players during take-off and landing.
Currently smartphones, tablets and other personal electronic devices (PED) can be used only while a flight is in the air.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published guidelines yesterday saying use of such devices should now be allowed during take-off and landing.
It follows the US bringing in similar rules last month.
The EASA stipulates that devices must be used in "airplane mode", meaning passengers cannot use voice or text services.

This is due to the possibility of radio interference with flight equipment.

However, bulky PED such as laptop computers will need to be stowed during taxiing, take-off and landing, the EASA said.
The changes will apply to aircraft operated by European airlines and are likely to be introduced at the end of the month, the BBC reported.
"This is a major step in the process of expanding the freedom to use personal electronic devices on-board aircraft without compromise in safety," EASA executive director Patrick Ky said.
The aim of the EASA is to ensure safe and harmonised use of PED on-board aircraft operated by European airlines.

In the long term, the EASA is looking at new ways to certify the use of mobile phones on-board aircraft to make phone calls.
EASA recognises the wide proliferation of personal electronic devices and the wish of the travelling public to use them everywhere.
Explaining the US change of heart, the Federal Aviation Administration had last month said that recent reviews had determined that most commercial aircraft can tolerate radio interference signals from such devices.