Electrical devices during takeoff and landing
Discussion
There have definitely been some issues, partcularly on helicopters.
Introduction
This Red Alert reports on a recent helicopter incident in a Total EP affiliate which reminds the legal
and safety requirement:
MOBILE PHONES MUST BE SWITCHED OFF WHILE
THE AIRCRAFT’S ENGINES ARE RUNNING.
Incident Description
Date: 29 April 2004, aircraft type: Super Puma AS 332 L2, during the landing phase at airport.
During the final approach of the helicopter to the airport (returning from offshore), one unidentified
passenger used his mobile phone in flight about one minute before landing, which caused the loss
of all the flight and navigation parameters of the four IFDS screens (Integrated Flight
Display System).
The four screens became black during this critical flight phase for one second, and then
returned to normal.
In addition, there was illumination of the HUMS caution light, due to the loss of all the flight data
of the HUMS (Health and Usage Monitoring System).
Comment
This incident is not an isolated occurrence: another incident has been reported on a Sikorsky S 76:
a mobile phone - in the cargo bay, but not switched off - caused a false engine fire alarm during the
flight.
Regulatory Reminder
Mobile phone calls made by passengers on aircraft can seriously affect the aircraft's onboard
equipment.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority carried out tests on two parked aircraft to find out the potential
dangers of mobile phone use. It found evidence that calls produced interference levels which could
disrupt aircraft systems.
Faults that could be attributed to mobile phones use include false cockpit warnings, the
malfunctioning of aircraft systems, interference in pilots' headsets and the distraction of
cabin crews from their normal duties.
February 28, 2006
Contact: Chriss Swaney
(412) 268-5776
PITTSBURGH—A study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) has found that cell phones and other portable electronic devices, like laptops and game-playing devices, can pose dangers to the normal operation of critical electronics on airplanes. The study will be featured in an article appearing in the March issue of IEEE Spectrum.
“We found that the risk posed by these portable devices is higher than previously believed,” said Bill Strauss, who recently completed his Ph.D. in EPP at 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.” Strauss is an expert in aircraft electromagnetic compatibility at the Naval Air Warfare Center in Patuxent River, Md.
With support from the Federal Aviation Administration, three major airlines and the Transportation Security Agency, EPP researchers crisscrossed the northeast United States on commercial flights, monitoring radio emissions from passenger use of cell phones and other electronic devices. They tracked these radio emissions via a broadband antenna attached to a compact portable spectrum analyzer that fit into an innocuous carry-on bag.
“A laptop computer controlled the system and logged the data,” said Granger Morgan, head of the EPP Department. “While we looked primarily at wireless phones, we also discovered that emissions from other portable electronic devices were problematic.”
The researchers found that on average one to four cell phone calls are typically made from every commercial flight in the northeast United States. Some of these calls are made during critical flight stages such as climb-out, or on final approach. This could cause accidents, the investigators report.
Both Strauss and Morgan, along with Carnegie Mellon researchers Jay Apt and Dan Stancil, recommend that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the FAA begin to coordinate electronic emission standards. At the moment, there is no formal coordination between the two federal agencies. The researchers also recommend routine monitoring of on-board radio emissions by flight data recorders and deploying specially designed tools for flight crews to monitor passenger use of electronic devices during final approach.
While the FCC recently suggested that it might be appropriate to allow passengers to use cell phones and other electronic devices on airplanes, Morgan disagrees.
“We feel that passenger use of portable electronic devices on aircraft should continue to be limited for the safety of all concerned,” Morgan said
Old thread on PPRUNE:
http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-221320.h...
Introduction
This Red Alert reports on a recent helicopter incident in a Total EP affiliate which reminds the legal
and safety requirement:
MOBILE PHONES MUST BE SWITCHED OFF WHILE
THE AIRCRAFT’S ENGINES ARE RUNNING.
Incident Description
Date: 29 April 2004, aircraft type: Super Puma AS 332 L2, during the landing phase at airport.
During the final approach of the helicopter to the airport (returning from offshore), one unidentified
passenger used his mobile phone in flight about one minute before landing, which caused the loss
of all the flight and navigation parameters of the four IFDS screens (Integrated Flight
Display System).
The four screens became black during this critical flight phase for one second, and then
returned to normal.
In addition, there was illumination of the HUMS caution light, due to the loss of all the flight data
of the HUMS (Health and Usage Monitoring System).
Comment
This incident is not an isolated occurrence: another incident has been reported on a Sikorsky S 76:
a mobile phone - in the cargo bay, but not switched off - caused a false engine fire alarm during the
flight.
Regulatory Reminder
Mobile phone calls made by passengers on aircraft can seriously affect the aircraft's onboard
equipment.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority carried out tests on two parked aircraft to find out the potential
dangers of mobile phone use. It found evidence that calls produced interference levels which could
disrupt aircraft systems.
Faults that could be attributed to mobile phones use include false cockpit warnings, the
malfunctioning of aircraft systems, interference in pilots' headsets and the distraction of
cabin crews from their normal duties.
February 28, 2006
Contact: Chriss Swaney
(412) 268-5776
PITTSBURGH—A study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) has found that cell phones and other portable electronic devices, like laptops and game-playing devices, can pose dangers to the normal operation of critical electronics on airplanes. The study will be featured in an article appearing in the March issue of IEEE Spectrum.
“We found that the risk posed by these portable devices is higher than previously believed,” said Bill Strauss, who recently completed his Ph.D. in EPP at 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.” Strauss is an expert in aircraft electromagnetic compatibility at the Naval Air Warfare Center in Patuxent River, Md.
With support from the Federal Aviation Administration, three major airlines and the Transportation Security Agency, EPP researchers crisscrossed the northeast United States on commercial flights, monitoring radio emissions from passenger use of cell phones and other electronic devices. They tracked these radio emissions via a broadband antenna attached to a compact portable spectrum analyzer that fit into an innocuous carry-on bag.
“A laptop computer controlled the system and logged the data,” said Granger Morgan, head of the EPP Department. “While we looked primarily at wireless phones, we also discovered that emissions from other portable electronic devices were problematic.”
The researchers found that on average one to four cell phone calls are typically made from every commercial flight in the northeast United States. Some of these calls are made during critical flight stages such as climb-out, or on final approach. This could cause accidents, the investigators report.
Both Strauss and Morgan, along with Carnegie Mellon researchers Jay Apt and Dan Stancil, recommend that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the FAA begin to coordinate electronic emission standards. At the moment, there is no formal coordination between the two federal agencies. The researchers also recommend routine monitoring of on-board radio emissions by flight data recorders and deploying specially designed tools for flight crews to monitor passenger use of electronic devices during final approach.
While the FCC recently suggested that it might be appropriate to allow passengers to use cell phones and other electronic devices on airplanes, Morgan disagrees.
“We feel that passenger use of portable electronic devices on aircraft should continue to be limited for the safety of all concerned,” Morgan said
Old thread on PPRUNE:
http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-221320.h...
No call needs to be made for a phone to transmit I am led to believe, it checks with the cell quite often. Many news or sports programs have the usual sound come over the microphone indicating a phone is turned on nearby despite the calls for all mobiles to be turned off (there is always one....). If this can induce into an audio cable, what are the risks with a signalling cable? (serious question)
Some of the old analogue phones would play havoc with kit and some of the early 3G phones when near important gear (nothing to do with planes or flying). So what are the prcautions or inherent designs in planes that mitigate this?
Personally, for a piece of mind until it is shown not to be threat, all off I think.
Or am I paranoid? It is after all only a thin metal tube suurounded by flamible fuel.
Some of the old analogue phones would play havoc with kit and some of the early 3G phones when near important gear (nothing to do with planes or flying). So what are the prcautions or inherent designs in planes that mitigate this?
Personally, for a piece of mind until it is shown not to be threat, all off I think.
Or am I paranoid? It is after all only a thin metal tube suurounded by flamible fuel.
Whilst not being able to use them on take off/landing bit is a bit annoying, even if in flight mode, I really do hope that the flight mode rule isn't relaxed for the journey. Flights can be bad enough without listening to some dick shouting down his/her phone at someone else 'cos of the background noise and signal variation.
This subject was done to death a year or two ago. It split into two camps:
1) It might cause an accident so we had better not use them
2) It has never caused an accident so we can use them
I think the public's love of, indeed now dependence on, mobile phones will eventually overcome the fear.
1) It might cause an accident so we had better not use them
2) It has never caused an accident so we can use them
I think the public's love of, indeed now dependence on, mobile phones will eventually overcome the fear.
jmorgan said:
To be honest, unless someone could prove beyond doubt that there is no chance of an accident, I would rather it all turned off on take off until we know better.
You cannot ever prove anything is safe. Cars are very dangerous but we use them because we deem the risk acceptable.Tonsko said:
Whilst not being able to use them on take off/landing bit is a bit annoying, even if in flight mode, I really do hope that the flight mode rule isn't relaxed for the journey. Flights can be bad enough without listening to some dick shouting down his/her phone at someone else 'cos of the background noise and signal variation.
Have you tried getting a phone signal at 30.000ft over the Atlantic? Give at a go next time your flying 
ecsrobin said:
Have you tried getting a phone signal at 30.000ft over the Atlantic? Give at a go next time your flying
Heh. Clearly - but internal flights and (if they get the go ahead) cells will be on planes. I just think it will add up to misery for those not finding it imperative that they must phone somebody to discuss something or other.Tonsko said:
ecsrobin said:
Have you tried getting a phone signal at 30.000ft over the Atlantic? Give at a go next time your flying
Heh. Clearly - but internal flights and (if they get the go ahead) cells will be on planes. I just think it will add up to misery for those not finding it imperative that they must phone somebody to discuss something or other.Mutley said:
I accidently left my phone on one a trip from Chicago to Toronto, and I'm not aware of a problem, but as much as I like my phone/device it is nice to spend the 8>9 hours to Minneapolis in a device free zone. I really don't want to have to listen to someone trying to call home when in flight. Short or Long haul, I like the relative peace the trip brings.
Exactly this.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff