Now, customers flying in Canadian airspace will not be warned by
flight attendants against using their portable mobile devices on board
their flights until the aircraft attains its cruising altitude. Such
warnings will soon become a thing of the past.
Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Transport Minister, has relaxed rules regarding
using of the portable electronic devices in flights. The United States
has already permitted the use of electronic devices in 2013.
Media reports said that Canadian airlines are now all set to allow their
customers to start using their portable electronic gadgets as soon as
they board their flights until it has finally landed at its destination.
This will however be permissible on the condition that the transmitting
of data doesn’t take place during the course of the flight. This has
become possible only because of the new rules being implemented by
Transport Department in the country.
Air Canada indicated that it is planning to allow its customers to make
use of their electronic devices on board their flights in a few days.
While, other two prominent carriers – WestJet Airlines and Porter
Airlines – said that they will implement this new rule in early summer.
Canada’s Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said that the rules regarding the
use of portable electronic gadgets on board the aircrafts are being
relaxed. Under the new rules, the airlines are now permitted to apply
for this. However, before doing so they will have to ensure that the
aircraft fleet is ready to withstand and tolerate radio interference.
The airlines are also required to update manuals and make amends to the
flight crew training programs.
Media reports quoted Raitt as saying that there is a need to grant
Canadians the freedom to take their electronic devices on board their
flights as soon as possible and make use of them. Raitt made the remarks
while addressing a news conference in Ottawa.
This exemption is however also applicable to the use of devices such as
e-readers, electronic games, tablets and cameras, from gate-to-gate, on
the condition that they are kept in flight mode or non-transmitting mode
during landings and takeoffs. Cellphones, also termed as electronic
devices, are also allowed on board the flights and can be used. However,
the customers cannot use their cell phones for making calls or
receiving and sending wireless signals.
The Transport Canada is implementing new rules in an attempt to keep
itself in sync with the changes elsewhere including Europe and the
United States. The rules regarding use of electronic gadgets on board
the aircrafts have been relaxed in European countries and the U.S. in
2013.