Pilots must not use their laptops, iPads, or any other electronic device for personal use at any time while operating a Part 121 aircraft, whether for a passenger or cargo operation, the FAA said on Tuesday. The rule (PDF) reinforces procedures that already are standard at airlines, the FAA said. Also the "sterile cockpit" rule, enacted in 1981, already forbids pilots to engage in any distracting behavior during critical phases of flight, such as takeoff and landing. The new electronic-device rule was first proposed in January 2013, and takes effect in 60 days. The Air Line Pilots Association opposed the rule, on the grounds that it was "unnecessary, unenforceable and may have a negative effect on safety."
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/news/faa-bans-peds-in-airline-cockpits