WASHINGTON — Government safety rules are changing to let airline passengers use most electronic devices from gate-to-gate.
The change will let passengers read, work, play games, watch movies and listen to music.
The Federal Aviation Administration says airlines can allow passengers to use the devices during takeoffs and landings on planes that meet certain criteria for protecting aircraft systems from electronic interference.
Travelers departing from the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock on Thursday seemed generally receptive to the idea.
Angela Dollar, 19, of Cabot said the restriction didn't really bother her, but she sees how many passengers could have been frustrated by it.
"I don't think it's a bad idea" to change the policy, she said. "I mean, if it's a simple e-reader that doesn't use any kind of frequency, I don't see it messing with anything."
Dollar said she thinks the change may be most beneficial to parents who can now use electronic devices for the to keep young children entertained for the duration of the flight.
Sam Marcove, a 58-year-old owner of a trucking company from Denver, said he welcomes the shift in policy and will take advantage of it "in a heartbeat" when it's actually implemented.
"I think it's a great change," he said, smiling as he admitted to sometimes having broken the rule on using electronics as a plane descended for a landing. "Now it's going to be OK."
Mike Sowinski, a Jacksonville, Fla., resident who flies about once a week, said he'll likely take advantage of the change to listen to his iPod at times when it was previously disallowed. He said it's a good decision and one that does away with a policy that didn't make much sense, but he doesn't want to ever see it extended to allowing cellphone use — and loud phone conversations — mid-air.
"Sooner or later, I think somebody will probably bring that up," he said.
Most new airliners are expected to meet the criteria, but changes won't happen immediately. Timing will depend upon the airline.