According SITA that around 75% of air travelers
carry smart phone, but in the same time some survey found that less than 5% of
airplane passengers use electronic devices for services such as booking and
checking in. (Wald, 2013). The majority of travelers use their phones to
call a friend or a cab to pick them up from the airport, but they rarely make a
hotel reservations or purchase airplane tickets through a cellphone
application.
Airplane travelers in the near future will be
allowed to use personal devices to watch videos, play games and read, this is a
small benefit for the travelers resulted from the new rules of FAA. The recent
rules of FAA allow travelers to use devices in a certain altitude which is
below 10,000 feet, during the differences in the recent rules, the travelers
will be allowed to use their devices from gate to gate. According to the FAA,
air passengers are to be allowed to use their personal devices within the
flight span. However, the newly adopted policies will still enforce few restrictions
on electronics use. Delta Airlines announced that they will continue with their
old policy, which is above 10,000 feet. (Hanna, & Hetter, 2013)
The new policy system of the FAA will provide
the passenger with more convenience and therefore passengers should start
taking further advantages of technology, other than making phone calls and
playing games. Today’s technology allows people to make nearly any transaction
with a little tab on the screen. Thus, needs such as hotel reservations and
finding the proper transportation should be done through the mobile application
which can usually save plenty of time and money. (Federal Aviation Administration,
2013)
The president of the
Association of Flight Attendants, Veda Shook, said the change was “welcome
news.” “We’re not going to run away from technology,” she said, “but we’re not
going to run away from safety, either.”
Veda
Shook, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants stated that
changes will be made on the protocol of flight passenger management. The flight attendants will no longer be in charge
of ensuring that passengers turn off all electrical devices as the plane
descended, though they would still enforce passenger storage rules. They would ensure that all carry-on items would
be stored under the seat, in an overhead bin or what will fit into the pocket
on the back of the seat.
I believe, that some restrictions should be present to enhance the
public safety, however, the new rules of the FAA will provide significant
benefits from the connivance given to passengers boarding commercial aircrafts
Hanna, J., & Hetter, K. (2013, October 31). FAA
allowing most electronic device use throughout flights. CNN Travel.
Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/31/travel/faa-portable-electronic-devices/
Greco, K. (2013, October 31). FAA to Allow Airlines to Expand
Use of Personal Electronics. Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved
November 19, 2013, from http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=15254
Wald, M. (2013, October 31). F.A.A. Moves to Ease Electronics
Ban, Opening the Runways to Angry Birds. The New York Times. Retrieved
November 19, 2013, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/business/passengers-to-be-free-to-use-electronics-on-flights-faa-says.html?_r=0
Bellamy, W. (2013, October 3). Mobile Airline Services Need
Improvements, Poll Says Retrieved from http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/in-flight-connectivity/airlines/Mobile-Airline-Services-Need-Improvements-Poll-Says_80346.html#.UovH.
Avionics Today. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from
http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/in-flight-connectivity/airlines/Mobile-Airline-Services-Need-Improvements-Poll-Says_80346.html#.UovH_qMo6Ul
