The Canadian government approved the use of electronic devices from gate to gate on Monday, the latest in a string of countries to ditch the archaic restrictions.
Passengers will still need to place devices in non-transmitting mode in flight.
Roll-out is up to each individual airline, which will first have to prove the devices are safe to use on its airplane. Details on what exactly each must do were not provided.
Air Canada, in a release, noted that it is in the process of finalizing measures to “safely implement the new procedures.” No timeline was given. WestJet, also via release, said it expects to roll-out the new rules early this summer.
Toronto-based Porter said it has not set a firm implementation date, but is “working toward a July timeline.”
The move adds Canada to the growing list of nations that have relaxed long-standing bans on personal electronic devices during taxi, take-off, and landing. The FAA announced it would lift the ban in the US back in late October of 2013. The European Aviation Safety Agency announced it would follow suit in November, though it didn’t update its guidance until early December.
The original bans were put in place decades ago, back in a time when electronics were believed to interfere with navigational and communications equipment.
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