However, another area where it wants input is "restriction of PED use during takeoff, approach, landing and abnormal conditions to avoid distracting passengers during safety briefings and prevent possible injury to passengers."

CTIA, the main industry group for U.S. mobile operators, welcomed the FAA's move in a on its official blog.

"The use of portable electronic devices while on a flight -- the whole flight -- should absolutely be allowed," wrote Jot Carpenter, a CTIA executive in charge of outreach to lawmakers and federal agencies. He said studies have shown there is no interference to aviation systems from mobile devices and cited a 2006 decision by Dubai-based airline Emirates to . Whether cellular voice calls are allowed during flight should be determined by the market, he said.

The IDG News Service