New FAA Rules are a Big Win for Indie Authors

Have you ever wondered if your electronic device really interferes with an aircraft’s flight equipment?

The Babelcube team is excited to learn that ebooks can be read safely throughout a passenger’s time on a plane. Soon electronic devices will not need to be turned off, providing they are in “airplane mode.” This eliminates one of biggest hurdles some readers had to switching from paper books to ebooks. We expect that this change will accelerate the already rapid adoption of ebooks.

A few days ago the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) announced that electronic devices can be kept on for uses such as reading ebooks, playing games, and listening to music. Texting and voice calls will remain prohibited. Airlines are expected to review the new guidelines and submit their plans shortly. The industry expects that multiple airlines will allow eBooks to be read at any point in the flight as early as the end of 2013.

You can watch the FAA announcement here.

While the new rules are for United States airlines, the European Aviation Safety Agency participated in the FAA’s review and plans to consider amending their regulations for electronic devices upon an aircraft.