Aircraft mobile ban ought to stay - study

[H Azmal 0]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/02/ai...one_risk_study/

 

Turn that phone off before we all...

By John Leyden

Published Thursday 2nd March 2006 16:32 GMT

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A study by a US university has concluded that mobile phones and other portable electronic devices are liable to interfere with the operation of critical aircraft components.

 

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found the effects of mobile transmissions of devices such as Global Positioning System receivers were worse than previously thought, after monitoring transmissions on a number of short-haul US flights. They tracked radio emissions via a broadband antenna attached to a compact portable spectrum analyzer held in a carry-on bag (which we trust didn't itself generate emissions).

 

The researchers found that on average one to four cell phone calls were made during commercial flights in the north-east US. Some of these calls are made during critical flight stages such as the climb after take-off, or on final approach, potentially placing an aircraft in danger.

 

The study focused mainly on in-flight mobile use but it also unearthed evidence that the use of devices such as laptops and DVD players, especially during critical flight stages, were also a potential hazard.

 

"We found that the risk posed by these portable devices is higher than previously believed," said Bill Strauss, an expert in aircraft electromagnetic compatibility at the Naval Air Warfare Center in Patuxent River, Maryland, and a recent doctoral graduate from Carnegie Mellon.

 

"These devices can disrupt normal operation of key cockpit instruments, especially Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, which are increasingly vital for safe landings."

 

The study comes as the US Federal Communications Commission is considering lifting the ban on the use of mobile phones during flights. Granger Morgan, head of the EPP Department at Carnegie Mellon, reckons this is a bad move.

 

"We feel that passenger use of portable electronic devices on aircraft should continue to be limited for the safety of all concerned," said Morgan.

 

Although use of mobile phones, much less electronic devices, have never been linked to an aircraft accident the Carnegie Mellon boffins reckon the risk is all too real. Researchers behind the study advise the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Aviation Authority begin to coordinate electronic emission standards. They also recommend routine monitoring of on-board radio emissions by flight data recorders. The study will be featured in an article due to appear in the March issue of IEEE Spectrum magazine. ®

 

Edited March 3, 2006 by H Azmal

[Delwin A 0]

How about ipod, mp3 player and digital camera? Are they potential hazards as well?

[Naim 6]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/02/ai...one_risk_study/

...

 

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found the effects of mobile transmissions of devices such as Global Positioning System receivers were worse than previously thought, after monitoring transmissions on a number of short-haul US flights.

 

...

 

"These devices can disrupt normal operation of key cockpit instruments, especially Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, which are increasingly vital for safe landings."

 

...

 

 

 

This report sounds funny. See the 2 sentences above. Sentence 1 says, GPS receivers are the culprits, but sentence 2 says GPS receivers are the victims. So I checked the original source here:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/print/3069

 

and found that sentence 1 is misleading. It should have read:

 

"Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found the effects of mobile transmissions of on devices such as Global Positioning System receivers were worse than previously thought, after monitoring transmissions on a number of short-haul US flights.

 

But anyway, I hate ppl yakking into their cellphones anywhere so the last thing I want is them yakking into theirs at 35,000 ft! So pls keep the cellphones off planes, thanks. Sorry, I'm a Luddite.

 

.ny

 

 

How about ipod, mp3 player and digital camera? Are they potential hazards as well?

 

Pls read original story here:

 

http://spectrum.ieee.org/print/3069

 

.ny

[H Azmal 0]

This report sounds funny. See the 2 sentences above. Sentence 1 says, GPS receivers are the culprits, but sentence 2 says GPS receivers are the victims. So I checked the original source here:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/print/3069

 

It could be purely a matter of semantics, naim. The first sentence did say "effects of mobile transmissions of devices such as Global Positioning System receivers ", not the GPS device per se. The second sentence merely says GPS receiver of the *plane* might be disrupted by other HF transmitting devices, which might not necessarily be a (another) GPS device itself.

 

At least that's how I understood the article.

 

Thanks for the IEEE link. Interesting read that.

Edited March 3, 2006 by H Azmal

[Denny Yen 0]

FAA classifies electronic devices according to categories set by the FCC, for e.g., Class A devices, Class B and so on. The factors for classification include RF output, shielding in the device itself, etc.

 

At present almost all of RF devices are prohibited, and these include cellphones, walkie-talkies, wireless LAN card on laptop, etc.

 

A few weeks ago, on a CX flight I took from TPE to HKG, someone's cellphone rang at a critical moment just after take-off (before reaching cruising altitude). And it continued ringing for less than a minute.

 

Nothing happened to the a/c...but F/A immediately made a PA saying a cellphone ringing was heard and remind passengers to switch off.

 

After we reached cruising altitude, the F/As went from seat to seat asking passengers to re-check their cells to make sure it is properly turned-off.

[KK Lee 5]

 

If wireless lan is available on Lufthansa long haul, don't see the hazard of handphone transmission in flight. Believe in a study conducted in UK a few years ago, on average 5 handphones were left on during a transatlantic flight.

 

May be it is about time for Malaysians to catch up with the technology.

 

 

[Naim 6]

If wireless lan is available on Lufthansa long haul, don't see the hazard of handphone transmission in flight. Believe in a study conducted in UK a few years ago, on average 5 handphones were left on during a transatlantic flight.

 

May be it is about time for Malaysians to catch up with the technology.

 

Can't really compare WiFi with cellphone. Their modulation schemes and frequencies are different, and these have major implications on interference with avionics. GSM phones, for e.g., emit intense bursts of radio signals. Place one next to your TV, say, and you can see its effect on the TV audio and video. So in a plane, what if there's a mission-critical cable snaking its way next to you?

 

And as I said before, I'll only fly with an airline with no ppl babbling into their gadgets. Heck, in Japanese trains they don't even allow you to make luv to your cellphone except at designted areas, such as the enclosed space between coaches. That's how important they view individual's privacy. So calls can wait till I land.

 

.ny

[Attan 0]

Agree with you, Naim. The onboard phone and wireless LAN systems have been structured not to interfere with the aircraft nav/com systems. The cellphone we carry is a different animal altogether.