The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has given American Airlines pilots approval to use Apple iPads in the cockpit in lieu of paper-based flight manuals.
The airline had been testing the use of in-flight iPads for pilots for several months prior to the decision.
The approval takes effect this Friday.
Airline passengers are typically told to turn off all wireless devices for fear they may interfere with the plane's electronics. The rule is strictly enforced, as actor Alec Baldwin recently discovered.
On December 6, the actor was kicked off an American Airlines plane in Los Angeles for refusing to turn off his smart phone, which he was using to play a word game.
Other airlines, including United and Air Canada, have also been testing iPads in the cockpit.
Among other benefits, "iPads are environmentally friendly as carriers elsewhere have found they can save 35 pounds of paper per pilot, which translates into significant fuel savings," said Air Canada spokesperson Angela Mah.
In addition to being good for the environment, iPads are considerably less bulky than traditional flight bags containing paper charts, maps and other documents.
It is expected that other airlines will follow suit and start equipping their pilots with iPads or similar tablet computers.
The question remains, however, if it's okay for pilots to use wireless devices, what about passengers?
Inconvenienced wireless enthusiasts and disgruntled actors would certainly appreciate an answer.
