RobBob Posted October 7, 2003 Share Posted October 7, 2003 Now that everybody's putting wireless cards in their laptops, isn't that adding a tremendous amount of radio signal inside commercial aircraft? I mean, when they ring the bell and the geeks pull'em out and boot'em up, aren't all those cards automatically transmitting and looking for radio signals? Seems to me that any device intentionally transmitting a radio signal (regardless of frequency) poses a potential interference risk with avionics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik Posted October 7, 2003 Share Posted October 7, 2003 i think the aircraft are actually shielded from this sort of shite? now more importantly think of your nutz when you place your laptop on your lap and turn it on!!! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzappp!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobBob Posted October 7, 2003 Author Share Posted October 7, 2003 Well they don't let people use cellphones, GPSs, etc. in the air for fear of interference, tho I believe you're right that there is shielding. One time I sat behind an old dude who pulled out one of those early-model lunker GPSs and proceeded to turn it on and wand it around his window, trying to get a signal. Freaked me out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rr666 Posted October 7, 2003 Share Posted October 7, 2003 Actually from what I have heard, the interference from the cell phones and all that stuff is not really too bad for the avionics. There is a slight potential, but it is a minimal potential, for interference. For instance, Sept 11, a bunch of people on those flights were using their phones, and they flew just fine... In the end, I think it the FAA is being better safe than sorry when it comes to those. the interference testing that avionics go through before they ever fly is beyond what 99.9999% of any of them will ever see in real life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gslater Posted October 7, 2003 Share Posted October 7, 2003 rr666 said: Actually from what I have heard, the interference from the cell phones and all that stuff is not really too bad for the avionics. There is a slight potential, but it is a minimal potential, for interference. For instance, Sept 11, a bunch of people on those flights were using their phones, and they flew just fine... In the end, I think it the FAA is being better safe than sorry when it comes to those. the interference testing that avionics go through before they ever fly is beyond what 99.9999% of any of them will ever see in real life. All true. I work in the avionics biz, and it annoys the hell out of me that they ban the personal electronics stuff. That's about the absolute LAST thing I worry about when it comes to aircraft safety. The airplanes themselves aren't really "shielded" per se, but the avionics equipment does have to be designed and tested to show that it can handle some serious interference/fields/radiation/etc.. At least, the important equipment (nav, guidance, etc.) has to be proven that way. When we're out flight testing, we run all sorts of scary electronics, ESPECIALLY during landings and takeoffs, and nothing ever happens. I think it's all for show, much like the majority of the airport security. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinfox Posted October 7, 2003 Share Posted October 7, 2003 I have used a GPS on an airplane. It was fun to see Altitude: 30,127ft Speed: 589mph on the little screen. We didn't crash either GPS doesn't transmit any frequency anyway, just recieves. How can that possibly cause any problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rr666 Posted October 7, 2003 Share Posted October 7, 2003 Alpinfox said: I have used a GPS on an airplane. It was fun to see Altitude: 30,127ft Speed: 589mph on the little screen. We didn't crash either GPS doesn't transmit any frequency anyway, just recieves. How can that possibly cause any problem? I believe the reason you can't use GPS on an airplane is not because it interferes with anything, but you have more or less exact coordinates of the airplane, speed, altitude, etc. and can relay this info to someone on the ground with a missle on their shoulder.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrashador Posted October 7, 2003 Share Posted October 7, 2003 Just returned from a trip flying SAS from Copenhagen to Seattle. According to their promo literature by June 2004 they will have wireless broadband capability in their planes. And not just for 1st class customers. They claim they will be the first airline in the world to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted October 7, 2003 Share Posted October 7, 2003 You don't even need a wireless card to generate serious EMF from a notebook. Most of those electronics are very poorly shielded. It's pretty ridiculous to ban GPS etc. when laptops are a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gslater Posted October 7, 2003 Share Posted October 7, 2003 rr666 said: I believe the reason you can't use GPS on an airplane is not because it interferes with anything, but you have more or less exact coordinates of the airplane, speed, altitude, etc. and can relay this info to someone on the ground with a missle on their shoulder.... I don't personally recall any airlines ever saying it was a no-no to use a GPS during cruise (non-landing/takeoff phases), but it wouldn't surprise me. I've certainly done it quite a bit. But if they do ban them, I highly doubt it has anything to do with transmitting coordinates to anyone on the ground. That info is already usually available elsewhere (there used to be a web site that showed flight info like that), and the coordinates are pretty worthless. An airplane is infinitely more vulnerable to such an attack when near the ground. A shoulder-mounted heat-seeking missile isn't too effective against something flying at 40,000 ft.. Taking out a commercial flight near the ground with a Stinger would be pretty much a no-brainer; I can't believe it hasn't happened here yet. If they don't allow you to use a GPS on a flight, it's probably because they're basically radio receivers, and many/most radio receivers also emit radiation in that same frequency range, thus the remote possibility for interference with nav equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rr666 Posted October 7, 2003 Share Posted October 7, 2003 Good point. One airline I fly quite often (too often actually) is Alaska, and they banned GPS long ago. I am not sure if they were doing it prior to an FAA ruling, or just because they want everybody on the airplane to be really bored because they can't play with all their electronics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_w Posted October 7, 2003 Share Posted October 7, 2003 About 1-2 years ago when I got my gps, I actualy read the rules for electronics. GPS's where not allowed for takeoff\landing but were allowed during flight. Can't remember airline, I think it was a domestic flight. But it was cool to read the speed at over 600mph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neversummer Posted October 7, 2003 Share Posted October 7, 2003 Using a cell phone from 30000 feet actually causes more problems for the cell network that anything, constant tower hand offs and the possibility of pulling in multiple towers at the same time, it can (and does) actually crash an MTSO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.