Electronic devices in planes: 3 questions.
Discussion
1. Mobile: I fly probably 3/4 times per month and sometimes forget to switch the Blackberry off, other times it switched itself back on as I throw it into my bag before putting it in the overhead locker. Not often but it has happened. Now if I do it, I can imagine that others do too, how does it affect the plane's systems?
2. Kindle: as I understand, it only uses power when I change page and so little that it's probably as much as a watch. Why do I have to switch it off.
3. Airlines discrepancies: I never have to switch anything off when flying with Swiss. Why is that?
No great inconveniences but just wondering for general knowledge.
2. Kindle: as I understand, it only uses power when I change page and so little that it's probably as much as a watch. Why do I have to switch it off.
3. Airlines discrepancies: I never have to switch anything off when flying with Swiss. Why is that?
No great inconveniences but just wondering for general knowledge.
It's mainly a load of b
ks and I don't worry about it. Can you turn the wireless on your Kindle off?
I normally use my phone in 'airplane mode' to watch films and listen to music. It kills the battery if I don't switch modes, as it spends the whole flight searching for signal. The worst that will happen is that you get an over zealous air hostess on your case.
ks and I don't worry about it. Can you turn the wireless on your Kindle off? I normally use my phone in 'airplane mode' to watch films and listen to music. It kills the battery if I don't switch modes, as it spends the whole flight searching for signal. The worst that will happen is that you get an over zealous air hostess on your case.
Edited by hyperblue on Friday 9th March 15:19
Reason 1 (for the pilot's benefit): you know that radio interference jingle you sometimes get when your phone is near your PC speakers? That can happen over the aircraft radio, at least it does in smaller aircraft. Most of the time, just a nuisance but if it happens when ATC are telling the pilot "go around I say again go around" it could be a bit of a bummer
Reason 2 (for the telco's benefit): while you're still in signal distance of the cell masts on the ground - a signal at altitude is received at near-equal strength at a lot of masts at the same time; this could be anecdotal, but I've been told that causes issues with the tracking algorithms (cue correction from someone who works as a telcomms engineer...)
Reason 2 (for the telco's benefit): while you're still in signal distance of the cell masts on the ground - a signal at altitude is received at near-equal strength at a lot of masts at the same time; this could be anecdotal, but I've been told that causes issues with the tracking algorithms (cue correction from someone who works as a telcomms engineer...)
They make a 'phner-ner-ner' sound on the cockpit radio when signal seeking or something.
Possible electrical sparks in the event of a massive crash on take off or landing (similar to using a mobile at a petrol station).
Different airlines have different 'lowest common denominator' rules I guess.
Possible electrical sparks in the event of a massive crash on take off or landing (similar to using a mobile at a petrol station).
Different airlines have different 'lowest common denominator' rules I guess.
J B L said:
3. Airlines discrepancies: I never have to switch anything off when flying with Swiss. Why is that?
That sounded wrong, so I googled... 
Swiss Air said:
Electronic devices may not be used during start, landing and taxiing when the fasten seat-belt signs are switched on. Laptops, MP3 or CD players may be used during the flight. However, mobile telephones, radios and TV receivers, radio equipment and cordless computer mice may not be used during the flight.
http://www.swiss.com/web/en/services/baggage/Pages/baggage_overview.aspxIt's all to do about EMC. Obviously a phone or Kindle has a radio such as WiFi,GSM,3G and Bluetooth. When you put your phone in to aircraft mode then the radios are switched off but, the processors are still running which operate at radio frequencies and so any device that has a processor in it will be radiating a minute amount of RF. This is why for critical stages in flights (take-off landing) they request that all devices (phones, i-pods, MP3 palyers etc) are switched off altogether.
In any other environment the processor RF (and mostly the phone RF) would not be an issue because any cabling nearby (the transmitted RF will induce currents in the cabling)would be screened but on aircraft, to save weight, none of the cable is screened so with control cabling running throughout the cabin it is very susceptible to RF interference from even very low-powered emissions.
Radio sources outside the aircraft are not a problem because the metal skin of the aircraft is itself the RF screen. In addition, the RF-decoupling that is required for connections to avionic systems is pretty stringent.
It's debatable whether there are any documented cases of phones causing interference that have affected aircraft navigation systems for example but I for one won't take a chance so will happily oblige in switching off.
In any other environment the processor RF (and mostly the phone RF) would not be an issue because any cabling nearby (the transmitted RF will induce currents in the cabling)would be screened but on aircraft, to save weight, none of the cable is screened so with control cabling running throughout the cabin it is very susceptible to RF interference from even very low-powered emissions.
Radio sources outside the aircraft are not a problem because the metal skin of the aircraft is itself the RF screen. In addition, the RF-decoupling that is required for connections to avionic systems is pretty stringent.
It's debatable whether there are any documented cases of phones causing interference that have affected aircraft navigation systems for example but I for one won't take a chance so will happily oblige in switching off.
I was sat on a plane before doors closed a few years ago and a tech got on, went straight to an overhead locker, pulled out a jacket and asked "whose is this jacket?"
The jacket's owner made himself known, the tech asked him if he had a phone in it, which he did, and was told to turn it off.
Tech then left plane, doors closed and we departed. This was a A320 or similar at Heathrow. Still no idea what went on there.
The jacket's owner made himself known, the tech asked him if he had a phone in it, which he did, and was told to turn it off.
Tech then left plane, doors closed and we departed. This was a A320 or similar at Heathrow. Still no idea what went on there.
I flew to Norway at New Year on some budget Norwegian airline that we got punted onto by Neilsons. Amazed to find it had free internet via WIFI. Virtually the whole plane were on there phones and I Pads surfing, it was quite quick as well. From what I remember we did have to turn them off for take off and landing though.
essayer said:
I was sat on a plane before doors closed a few years ago and a tech got on, went straight to an overhead locker, pulled out a jacket and asked "whose is this jacket?"
The jacket's owner made himself known, the tech asked him if he had a phone in it, which he did, and was told to turn it off.
Tech then left plane, doors closed and we departed. This was a A320 or similar at Heathrow. Still no idea what went on there.
Sorry, sounds like complete bThe jacket's owner made himself known, the tech asked him if he had a phone in it, which he did, and was told to turn it off.
Tech then left plane, doors closed and we departed. This was a A320 or similar at Heathrow. Still no idea what went on there.
ks to me, show me the gadget that finds a switched on phone and I'll show you a very rich man.A mate of mine who now works for the CAA, (and is an ex airline Captain) has said on many occasions he has no problem with phones being used on flights, at any point on the flight to the point where he has used his when he's got a signal.
It's nothing more than 'belt and braces' and totally unnecessary.
HoHoHo said:
essayer said:
I was sat on a plane before doors closed a few years ago and a tech got on, went straight to an overhead locker, pulled out a jacket and asked "whose is this jacket?"
The jacket's owner made himself known, the tech asked him if he had a phone in it, which he did, and was told to turn it off.
Tech then left plane, doors closed and we departed. This was a A320 or similar at Heathrow. Still no idea what went on there.
Sorry, sounds like complete bThe jacket's owner made himself known, the tech asked him if he had a phone in it, which he did, and was told to turn it off.
Tech then left plane, doors closed and we departed. This was a A320 or similar at Heathrow. Still no idea what went on there.
ks to me, show me the gadget that finds a switched on phone and I'll show you a very rich man.andy_s said:
They make a 'phner-ner-ner' sound on the cockpit radio when signal seeking or something.
Possible electrical sparks in the event of a massive crash on take off or landing (similar to using a mobile at a petrol station).
Different airlines have different 'lowest common denominator' rules I guess.
You may well laugh but I always turn my phone off whilst flying myself because of this very fact! Bloody annoying whilst you're trying to have a snooze!Possible electrical sparks in the event of a massive crash on take off or landing (similar to using a mobile at a petrol station).
Different airlines have different 'lowest common denominator' rules I guess.
cerbfan said:
I flew to Norway at New Year on some budget Norwegian airline that we got punted onto by Neilsons. Amazed to find it had free internet via WIFI. Virtually the whole plane were on there phones and I Pads surfing, it was quite quick as well. From what I remember we did have to turn them off for take off and landing though.
Norwegian air. Switches on/off at 10,000 ft and is a cracking perk. Ryanair should take note of their practices. Cabin crew were all nice too, knee high boots!AlfaFoxtrot said:
The other consideration is that if it 'really' could affect things, they wouldn't just politely ask you to turn it off, they wouldn't let you on board with one (or have them all put in a shielded box).
That is my conclusion too.300+ passengers, all told to turn their mobiles off. The chances of them all doing it are very slim I think.
So it's a 'well it probably won't but just in case' thing. Surprising that they'd allow airplanes to fly on 'probablies' but there you go.
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