electronic devices on aircraft
electronic devices on aircraft
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 756
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hmmm.... I am trying to find it in my EPs manual (I am amazed I have even found THAT!).......
CAO 20.11.14
requires that pax are preflight pre flight on (among other things I couldn't be bothered typing) "the restriction on the use of portable electronic equipment..."
CAO 20.11.14
requires that pax are preflight pre flight on (among other things I couldn't be bothered typing) "the restriction on the use of portable electronic equipment..."
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Oztralia, near MEL
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think it's more acuate to say, that any electrical or magnetic device CAN affect other electrical or magnetic devices. The degree of effect will depend on a huge range of variables so there is no definitive answer. Having said that the GSM type digital phones are notorious for interferring with just about anything. This is due to a very basic flaw in the technology. Other types of mobile phones currently on the market (CDMA) should not cause undue problems. Laptop PC's are probably the next most likely source, but these are an order of magnatude lower in radiation than a GSM phone.
Moderator
There has been a number of quite interesting articles in Avionics Magazine on this topic ... being a tin, nuts and bolts man none of it makes all that much sense to me .. but the general gist is that the problem is very much greater than what we might notionally presume. I have a couple of relevant articles scanned if you don't have access to archive copies of the rag...
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 811
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The electronic interference from tansmitting devices (such as phones) can reflect off metal in the aircraft structure. If the position of the phone is such that the radiation is reflected (and even concentrated) in the direction of something important, systems can be interfered with. Most susceptable are the Nav systems, but other avionics can be affected as well. Some aircraft are more prone than others (such as the Classic compared to the -400). There are other factors that you can read about if you find the right stuff.
On a similar note, posted here a fair while ago was a story that is relevant to this topic regarding mobiles on GA aircraft... A lot of pilots carry them, and even use them in flight, and although the consequences of interference on instruments are relatively negligible, it can interfere with the VHF. Everyone has heard the noise over the car speakers when the phone changes base stations or gets a message... same thing can, does, and will happen to your headset. It's not something you need in CTA, or calling inbound to a GAAP etc!
Lancer
On a similar note, posted here a fair while ago was a story that is relevant to this topic regarding mobiles on GA aircraft... A lot of pilots carry them, and even use them in flight, and although the consequences of interference on instruments are relatively negligible, it can interfere with the VHF. Everyone has heard the noise over the car speakers when the phone changes base stations or gets a message... same thing can, does, and will happen to your headset. It's not something you need in CTA, or calling inbound to a GAAP etc!
Lancer
Many many threads of technologies and personal expereinces of such events in the tech log forum of PPRune. Use the menu down the bottom... and do a search.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is truth in all that has been said so far by other posters.. Another angle to look at is the effects on Telstra's mobile network.
Remembering the phone sysem is a line of sight system, the last thing the provider of a mobile system wants is huge amounts of mobile calls being made from many buzzing aircraft confusing the heck out of the line of sight system. The system is designed for land use.
Could you imagine the amount of aircraft particularly on the eastern seabord buzzing up and down the coastline, pax talking on their phones and the handheld device used on the a/c looking for the nearest mobile tower to attach their calls to? The system would jam and more importantly Telstra would miss out on much money the revenue stream would almost be non existent.
Just think...all those free calls.!
Apart from GSM interference on electrical equipment,especially NAV equipment, the radiation from multiple user's in a confined enclosed,not to mention metal enclosure would fry the brains out of most with many complaints of headache and other symptoms associated with concentrared radiation exposure.
The CDMA system would not cause as many interference problems,but would upset the revenue stream.
It's no secret the old anologue system was by far the best system, with the CDMA the best of both worlds.
That's my 2 bobs worth!
Remembering the phone sysem is a line of sight system, the last thing the provider of a mobile system wants is huge amounts of mobile calls being made from many buzzing aircraft confusing the heck out of the line of sight system. The system is designed for land use.
Could you imagine the amount of aircraft particularly on the eastern seabord buzzing up and down the coastline, pax talking on their phones and the handheld device used on the a/c looking for the nearest mobile tower to attach their calls to? The system would jam and more importantly Telstra would miss out on much money the revenue stream would almost be non existent.
Just think...all those free calls.!
Apart from GSM interference on electrical equipment,especially NAV equipment, the radiation from multiple user's in a confined enclosed,not to mention metal enclosure would fry the brains out of most with many complaints of headache and other symptoms associated with concentrared radiation exposure.
The CDMA system would not cause as many interference problems,but would upset the revenue stream.
It's no secret the old anologue system was by far the best system, with the CDMA the best of both worlds.
That's my 2 bobs worth!
Everytime I have been a jumpseat pax and heard that familar crackle of a phone through the headset, its always been one of the crew that has forgotten to turn theirs off.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Australia
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The worst offender for interference are diskman/portable CD players, they spin or operate at 28 Hz, 28 + 28 + 28 +28 = 112 MHz so the device can possibly create a quarter wave antenna and mess with the VOR, localizer, ILS and DME.
not sure what range mobile phone work on but I often pick up a click and whistle through the headsets/intercom 1/2 a second before one rings.
not sure what range mobile phone work on but I often pick up a click and whistle through the headsets/intercom 1/2 a second before one rings.
