The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has relaxed its rules on electronic device usage during flights. Passengers will now be able to use their laptop computers, iPads and other mobile technology during takeoff and landing, rather than having to put them away until the plane is above 10,000 feet. 

It's expected that most flights will allow this by the end of the year. Each airline will have to prove that electronics do not interfere with their planes' instrumentation. They'll also have to rewrite safety manuals and procedures to account for the new policy.

Travelers will still have to keep their devices on "airplane mode" when the jet is in the air. Passengers will not be allowed to text or place phone calls and they'll only be able to connect to the internet using the plane's WiFi, rather than using a cellular signal. The decision was made in light of a report by a 28-person committee made up of manufacturers, airlines and flight attendants.

"We found that we could protect aviation safety and at the same time address the passenger desire for use of their portable devices," Michael Huerta, FAA Administrator, said at a news conference held at the Reagan International Airport in Washington, D.C. "The committee determined that most commercial airplanes can tolerate radio interference from portable electronic devices."

This is good news for anyone who relies on their new iPad to keep them entertained during long flights. If you haven't bought yourself a tablet yet, you'll want to before your next trip, as these devices allow you to watch movies, listen to music and read eBooks while you're on your way to your next destination. Check out the PortableOne online store for more information about the latest Apple iPad technology!