Do handheld non-communicating electronics really affect airplane navigation?

[Reel]

I can agree that it might distract someone in a crisis situation. I can agree that it could bother somebody. However, I can't really see how electronics such as an ipod, game boy, etc would be affecting the navigation equipment. I was always under the impression that this was more of a "wives tale" by pilots to explain a rare phenomenon they didn't have a better explanation for. Is there anything conclusive either way?

 

[Gibson486]

EMI.

When you are around metal (acts as an antenna), EMI actual increases exponentialy for every path it has.

 

[jfall]

Didn't Mythbusters do something about this

 

[zig3695]

they wouldnt allow those devices to be carried on if they affected the plane's operation. besides, planes are fly-by-wire, not fly-by-wireless so at worst i would think the communication raidios might be affected but full control of the plane should still be there

 

[pm]

It's possible, but unlikely. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they lifted the ban on cell phone and electronics equipment within the next two years. There's been several rumors recently that this might happen.

However, on the other side of the issue:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3926029.stm

research published last year by the British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) found mobile phone signals skewed navigation bearing displays by up to five degrees.

The CAA says it has documented a number of incidents of electronic devices interfering with on-board avionics.

All electronic devices emit electromagnetic radiation. Some, like mobile phones, do so intentionally in order to reach a base station. Others, like CD players, do so unintentionally and have lower emissions levels.

Pilots over Luton picked up cries from a rogue baby monitor
When two devices are close by the electronic pulses can interfere with each other, and theoretically cause a malfunction. The potential for this was highlighted last year when pilots flying over Luton airport picked up the sounds of a crying baby as they tried to reach air traffic control. The problem was isolated to a rogue baby monitor in a nearby house.

Modern electronics have made matters worse. Digital gadgets like CD players emit more than old-fashioned personal stereos while the latest planes have substituted old fashioned hydraulics for microchips.

In addition, mobile companies say using phones on planes can play havoc with their ground networks, because the antennae can't cope with relaying the signal from a phone which is travelling at 500mph.

Specifically the report quoted is here: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/389/...cp_00021-01-030303.pdf

Look specifically at pages 5 & 6.

As far as non-communicating devices - this is a good point, but it's one that would go over the heads of a good percentage of the population. Can people use laptops, ipods and handheld gaming machines on board? If the answer is yes, then what about the WiFi and bluetooth on laptops, iPod touch's, and PSPs? While any technically minded person would know that an iPod Touch has Wifi, I'm not sure that people who aren't technically minded would know. I am virtually certain that my father wouldn't have the faintest idea how to turn off WiFi on his laptop. I'm not entirely sure that my father would even realize that the way that his laptop connects to the internet without wires is using radio communication. Seriously. And he's a very smart man who runs a successful business, but he's still not all that adept with a mouse on Windows.

My point is, I don't think you can tell people in an announcement "in preparation for landing please turn off all communicating devices - these include some models of game machines, some models of MP3 players, most laptops, all cell phones, nearly all tablet computers, some digital cameras, and many other types of portable consumer electronic items - the rest of you are ok." and hope to get anywhere near the level of response you would hope for. Heck, they tell people to turn off cell phones, but I've heard cell phones ring several times in flight. (fortunately, the plane didn't crash).

Either they allow all electronic devices, or none at all. I don't think we can rely on people to know which ones are allowed and which ones aren't.

But, for all that I've been playing the part of banning everything - I think this "no portable electronic equipment during take-off and landing" is complete nonsense. If the FAA really thought that there was a problem, they wouldn't allow people to carry them onboard. I personally think the whole ban is more about being paranoid than it is based on real science.

 

[corkyg]

And, the last time I flew with them (July 07) Lufthansa prohibited the use of CD/DVD drives in laptops. Go figure!