Flight Attendants Want Stricter Gadget Rules Reinstated

You might be super happy to toil away on your phone or tablet the entire time you're on a plane, but not everyone is pleased to see your face buried in your device during takeoff and landing.

The Federal Aviation Administration's new, more relaxed rules on gadget use aren't sitting well with one group - flight attendants. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the nation's largest flight attendant union is now suing the FAA to have the ban on gadget use during takeoff and landing reinstated.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA argues that the change has caused many passengers to ignore flight attendants' emergency announcements, and that the new rules violate federal regulations requiring passengers to stow all items during takeoff and landing.

The suit comes after the FAA last October found that personal electronic devices (PEDs) - like your smartphone or tablet - will not interfere with a plane's functionality and can be used during all phases of flight. Praised by airlines and passengers, the new rules mean that you can continue reading an e-book, playing Angry Birds, or watching a movie as the plane taxis, takes off, starts its initial descent, and arrives at your destination.

But the attendants union is concerned about the safety implications of the move. They claim that in at least one instance, a tablet 'became a projectile during turbulence,' the Journal reported. They also worry that the devices could delay passengers' exit from an aircraft during an emergency.

'Essentially we want to set the reset button to the way personal electronic devices were handled prior to October 2013,' said Amanda Duré, an attorney representing the union. She added that the union would also be fine with a policy that allows devices to be turned on during takeoff and landing, as long as they're stowed away.

The suit was filed in December but first became public last week in a report from the Associated Press.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Wi-Fi gadget use is not the organization's only concern. Last month, it backed a letter from 77 House members that called for a thorough review of the FCC's plan to update rules regarding the use of cell phones on planes.

'As first responders and the last line of defense in our nation's aviation system, Flight Attendants remain strongly opposed to cell phone use in the aircraft cabin,' Sara Nelson, AFA International President, said in a statement.

According to the FCC proposal, those flying on planes with new onboard access systems could use a device's cellular capabilities in addition to Wi-Fi. But 'airlines would be in total control of what types of mobile services to permit onboard, including whether to permit Web surfing, emailing, and texting, but not voice calls,' the FCC said.