Will the FAA Relax Its Electronics Ban?

Powering your smartphone on and off during a flight can be a battery-sucking pain. But there may be good news on the horizon. In September, the Federal Aviation Administration will listen to an industry working group’s findings which are expected to recommend allowing passengers to use their devices more freely during takeoff and landing. A member of the F.A.A.-assigned group says it will likely recommend using smartphones and tablets for data, but not talking, during takeoff and landing—if this usage is found not to interfere with the plane's flight instruments. The findings will be delivered to the agency in September.