The extent of how harmful electronic devices are to aviation safety has been discussed time and again, and will continue to be brought to the forefront as new technologies are developed, and as additional companies join forces to find alternative ways to channel and network passenger devices in a way that is not detrimental to flight electronics.
Officially risks are associated with electromagnetic interference from devices, the use of which is prohibited by the FAA at lower altitudes. As devices proliferate, frequent flyers are less and less willing to abandon use of their phones, blackberries, ipads and blueberries, even though their use, and especially their use in concert, (i.e. imagine the potential impact of 200 people aboard a leaky old jet all using their devices at the same time) has been deemed less than optimal, interfering with the plane’s avionics.
So we can look forward to various accommodations: either passengers will have to stop using their devices on board altogether, to accommodate whatever stricter guidelines may eventually occur after the next big aviation tragedy is blamed on a rogue cell phone; or airlines will accommodate passengers electronic addictions, finding new, better, hopefully safer and doubtlessly more expensive ways to channel their devices while at 10,000 feet.
