FAA’s ruling on smartphones during takeoff has had little impact

Airlines have seen almost no increase in the use of smartphones, tablets, and laptops among passengers since the Federal Aviation Administration ruled in October that they are now allowed to do so during takeoff and landing, a recent study found.

Over a four month period observed by DePaul University’s Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development this year, 35.9% of passengers used mobile devices at any point during the flight, USA Today reported. In last year’s study, while flight attendants still patrolled the aisles for devices that hadn’t been shut off, 35.3% of passengers used devices during flight.

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