Pilot That Arwing From Takeoff To Touchdown: FAA Allows Console Play Throughout Flights

If you’ve ever had to pack away your 3DS console right in the middle of a rousing game of Star Fox 64 3D because your commercial airline flight was about to take off, fret no more. The FAA is letting up on their restriction of electronic devices like gaming systems and tablets, as a new report indicates that airplanes are not nearly as affected by the devices as previously thought. While cell phone calls and texting will still be banned, and all devices must continue to stay in “airplane mode,” the FAA will no longer require passengers to power off other devices, like Nintendo 3DS consoles, during takeoff and landing.

Michael Huerta, administrator of the FAA, was quoted as saying, “The world has changed a lot in 50 years,” referring to the fact that the restrictions on electronic devices have been in place for a full five decades. No definitive date has been given on the lifting of these restrictions. Instead, the FAA is allowing each individual airline to decide how gradually they will implement the new rules, but Huerta seems confident that soon enough, Nintendo fans will be able to battle Andross to their heart’s content from takeoff to touchdown. Here is Huerta’s full quote regarding the policy modification:

“The world has changed a lot in the past 50 years, let’s take a fresh look. It will take some time for each airline to certify their fleet is safe, but we expect implementation to be soon.”