A lawsuit filed by the Association of Flight Attendants (CWA) is asking to have FAA rules permitting gate-to-gate use of electronics overturned, claiming that devices distract passengers from hearing safety announcements, and could become dangerous objects in turbulence.
Skeptics have pointed out that the same things could be said about books. In any case, government lawyers have argued that FAA gives guidance, and airlines make the decisions about how to implement. From the Wall Street Journal: MORE
