Scarborough criticizes FAA gadget implementation

MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Wednesday for differences in its implementation of new rules allowing airline passengers to keep their electronic devices on during flight.

Scarborough, who is a former Republican congressman, said he was on a flight after the FAA announced it was relaxing its electronic rules, but he said he was told the airline he was flying had not been approved for the new standards.

“I was on the plane, texting my [sons] and the flight attendant came on and said ‘we understand the new law passed, but we haven’t gotten our certificate,’” Scarborough said on his “Morning Joe” show. “Excuse me? I’m sorry, but it’s either the law of the land or it’s not.”

{mosads}The FAA announced last month that it was clearing the way for airlines to allow their passengers to keep certain electronic devices on for the entire lengths of flights. However, the agency said at the time of the announcement that airlines would have to apply individually for clearance.

Major airlines such as Delta, United, US Airways, American and JetBlue received early clearances, but the airlines all said the new rules would not yet apply to shorter regional flights that are operated by other airlines in their names.

The FAA predicted that passengers on all airlines would not be able to keep their electronics on until the end of the year.