aviation mythbuster
PPRuNe Enigma
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What about the thousands of people useing cell phones in modern cars that have way more electronic equipment than a lot of aircraft?
As Whirls has already pointed out, we've all heard the "bup-bup-bup" sound through the radio or computer speakers caused by the mobile phone. Imagine having that going through your ears while you're trying to receive your departure clearance. "Say again ? "
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Originally Posted by B Sousa
"while doing his A check his fone rang while he was bent over an engine, suddenly the igniters went off, even with the aircraft battery switched OFF."
That one really sounds like a Myth.........
That one really sounds like a Myth.........
BTW, its still illegal to have them switched on onboard an aircraft in the UK anyway.
Regards,
BC.
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Hello again ppruners, once again I find myself the horses mouth re: the mobile phone setting off the igniters.
This is not a crewroom myth "It was me!"
Aircraft concerned was actually an AS355F1, and happened exactly as Bladecrack described. Made me jump to be sure and was repeatable i.e got someone to ring the phone while I stood on the skid step alongside the engine bay - sure enough each time it went off, so did the igniters.
Our company policy has not been shaped by that incident, but by a report (I will find it and post it)
I try never to anger the Gods of aviation by doing anything that MIGHT just be a problem - so it's phones off in my helicopter.
This is not a crewroom myth "It was me!"
Aircraft concerned was actually an AS355F1, and happened exactly as Bladecrack described. Made me jump to be sure and was repeatable i.e got someone to ring the phone while I stood on the skid step alongside the engine bay - sure enough each time it went off, so did the igniters.
Our company policy has not been shaped by that incident, but by a report (I will find it and post it)
I try never to anger the Gods of aviation by doing anything that MIGHT just be a problem - so it's phones off in my helicopter.
PPRuNe Enigma
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[rant = on] What I'm still struggling to understand is how anyone can be so addicted to their phone that they can't manage without it for an hour or two ?
What the f*ck is going to happen that can't wait until you're back on the ground ?
All mobile phones have voicemail anyway so switch the bloody thing off, enjoy the flight and pick up any messages when you get back. [rant = off]
What the f*ck is going to happen that can't wait until you're back on the ground ?
All mobile phones have voicemail anyway so switch the bloody thing off, enjoy the flight and pick up any messages when you get back. [rant = off]
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Grainger Rant
Couldn't agree with you more. How ever did anybody ever survive before mobile phones were invented.
Switch the bloody things off before you start the engines and concentrate on the flight instead..........................
Switch the bloody things off before you start the engines and concentrate on the flight instead..........................
Hovering AND talking
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Originally Posted by SASless
Errrrrr....Whirls....are you really switched off while flying?
Cheers
Whirls
Thumb up bum, brain in neutral!
An oft missed, but important, issue is: what type of mobile phone? We all know how irritating a GSM phone can be with the interference it creates on other electrical equipment, but what about CDMA? Little or no interference caused by CDMA handsets, and generically lumped in with GSM as a Bad Thing to have on aircraft, but is it?
We have CDMA car kits in all our helicopters, as do many other operators in Victoria, fed in through the ICS as another radio. Our Department of Sustainability and Environment, who control the fire fighting helicopters here, require CDMA phones to be installed along with HF, trunking radios, et al. Along with superior range and data handling, CDMA (to the best of my knowledge) has no problem interfacing with aircraft, and causes no interference. Maybe the different types of phone systems should be a consideration, and only GSM banned?
We have CDMA car kits in all our helicopters, as do many other operators in Victoria, fed in through the ICS as another radio. Our Department of Sustainability and Environment, who control the fire fighting helicopters here, require CDMA phones to be installed along with HF, trunking radios, et al. Along with superior range and data handling, CDMA (to the best of my knowledge) has no problem interfacing with aircraft, and causes no interference. Maybe the different types of phone systems should be a consideration, and only GSM banned?
Avoid imitations
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John,
I can imagine what an average passenger would say if asked if his phone was GSM or CDMA. He would probably say "I think it's a Nokia, mate!"
A live phone in the baggage bay of our heli puts on the "Aft Bag Smoke" warning caption. It's no myth.
As there is no fire extinguisher system fitted in there, the drill is to land asap, not nice if IMC. We always get pax to turn phones off and explain why.
I can imagine what an average passenger would say if asked if his phone was GSM or CDMA. He would probably say "I think it's a Nokia, mate!"
A live phone in the baggage bay of our heli puts on the "Aft Bag Smoke" warning caption. It's no myth.
As there is no fire extinguisher system fitted in there, the drill is to land asap, not nice if IMC. We always get pax to turn phones off and explain why.
Thread Starter
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Originally Posted by ec135driver
Hello again ppruners, once again I find myself the horses mouth re: the mobile phone setting off the igniters.
This is not a crewroom myth "It was me!"
Aircraft concerned was actually an AS355F1, and happened exactly as Bladecrack described. Made me jump to be sure and was repeatable i.e got someone to ring the phone while I stood on the skid step alongside the engine bay - sure enough each time it went off, so did the igniters.
Our company policy has not been shaped by that incident, but by a report (I will find it and post it)
I try never to anger the Gods of aviation by doing anything that MIGHT just be a problem - so it's phones off in my helicopter.
This is not a crewroom myth "It was me!"
Aircraft concerned was actually an AS355F1, and happened exactly as Bladecrack described. Made me jump to be sure and was repeatable i.e got someone to ring the phone while I stood on the skid step alongside the engine bay - sure enough each time it went off, so did the igniters.
Our company policy has not been shaped by that incident, but by a report (I will find it and post it)
I try never to anger the Gods of aviation by doing anything that MIGHT just be a problem - so it's phones off in my helicopter.
i believe this "turn off your equipment containing radio transmitters" is a fashion issue that started a long time ago. the rumour makes you believe that the aircraft will fall from the sky if you text somebody from 30k feet. just as passengers believe the sky is filled with holes which makes the aircraft bounce and turning some stomachs up and down. i guess the most dangerous situation is that the captain insists on answering a phone call when being on short final during bad weather...
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Just out of interest i have flown a HEMS a/c with a fitted mobile phone for the rear seat medic to make and receive calls, all approved by the feds and caused no problems at all. The aircraft in question was a BO 105 so no glass cockpit ot anything fancy.
Gatvol
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Based on the Pilots statement it did happen. To me that means I would have the factory boys all over that aircraft until my cell phone didnt fire off the engine.....Something not right.
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ahp,
The evidence has been presented here that cellphones have caused interference with aircraft electrical equipment, including the post from 419 about the CAA investigation, aircraft igniters and there have been several reports of baggage compartment fire warnings being brought on by them.
So here's a scenario: you're flying VFR in your S76 on an offshore flight, you're 60 miles from the rig and 60 miles from land when suddenly, horror of horrors, the AFT BAG SMOK[COLOR="Black"] warning comes up on the IIDS. Our company emergency checklist says that if the fire is not confirmed we are to land as soon as possible.
We get the passengers to hand over their mobile phones, make sure they're switched off, and they get them back when they arrive at their destination. Why take the chance? As has been said by many posters, are we so pathetic in our desire to stay connected at all times that we can't turn our phones off for a couple of hours? Soon we won't need brains - we'll just hook up our mobiles to what remains of our fried brain cells and someone else will do the thinking for us..............but what about when the network goes down?
The evidence has been presented here that cellphones have caused interference with aircraft electrical equipment, including the post from 419 about the CAA investigation, aircraft igniters and there have been several reports of baggage compartment fire warnings being brought on by them.
So here's a scenario: you're flying VFR in your S76 on an offshore flight, you're 60 miles from the rig and 60 miles from land when suddenly, horror of horrors, the AFT BAG SMOK[COLOR="Black"] warning comes up on the IIDS. Our company emergency checklist says that if the fire is not confirmed we are to land as soon as possible.
We get the passengers to hand over their mobile phones, make sure they're switched off, and they get them back when they arrive at their destination. Why take the chance? As has been said by many posters, are we so pathetic in our desire to stay connected at all times that we can't turn our phones off for a couple of hours? Soon we won't need brains - we'll just hook up our mobiles to what remains of our fried brain cells and someone else will do the thinking for us..............but what about when the network goes down?
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Where the hell does all the faith come from?
I am a mechanic & a pilot, and see some things as a mechanic that really makes you wonder some times about how things, there is always a theory about it but when you see something that just shouldnt happen but does .... and does repeatedly & you start to question how much we really know bout simple things like electrickery & magnetism.
Its funny all of a sudden folks are kings of maintenance & know that their ride is electrically impervious to receiving signals from a powerful little radio reciever & transmitter( thats all a cell phone is, though it doesnt really run on numbers, more like radio frequencies ... the phone numbers are just for us silly humans instead of us having to remember these bigger frequency numbers. A cell is not a house phone)
I degress.......
Imagine that, an electrical system is perfect( ho hum righto then ) and cannot be affected by a powerful litte radio tranmitter reciever.
It can give us cancer but not affect a delicate system of electronics.
So what we need is a test pilot that is prepared to fly about whilst a cell phone is placed in his A/C in various locations & whilst he performs his daily duties... unless that is sitting on his butt, the cell(s) transmit & recieve all day.
I bet that may take a few pilots back a step & think it.
Although can you imagine what his stories of affermation would be like if it did bring his ride to an early ending.... " no really my helo did just stop & as the cell rang .....no really then the gyro's went all funny and...... No really"
even if it may not happen, who is seriously going to risk that ?? !!
HF
I am a mechanic & a pilot, and see some things as a mechanic that really makes you wonder some times about how things, there is always a theory about it but when you see something that just shouldnt happen but does .... and does repeatedly & you start to question how much we really know bout simple things like electrickery & magnetism.
Its funny all of a sudden folks are kings of maintenance & know that their ride is electrically impervious to receiving signals from a powerful little radio reciever & transmitter( thats all a cell phone is, though it doesnt really run on numbers, more like radio frequencies ... the phone numbers are just for us silly humans instead of us having to remember these bigger frequency numbers. A cell is not a house phone)
I degress.......
Imagine that, an electrical system is perfect( ho hum righto then ) and cannot be affected by a powerful litte radio tranmitter reciever.
It can give us cancer but not affect a delicate system of electronics.
So what we need is a test pilot that is prepared to fly about whilst a cell phone is placed in his A/C in various locations & whilst he performs his daily duties... unless that is sitting on his butt, the cell(s) transmit & recieve all day.
I bet that may take a few pilots back a step & think it.
Although can you imagine what his stories of affermation would be like if it did bring his ride to an early ending.... " no really my helo did just stop & as the cell rang .....no really then the gyro's went all funny and...... No really"
even if it may not happen, who is seriously going to risk that ?? !!
HF
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phones and iPods
iPods are great aren't they? Well not if you are using one and have your mobile phone near you.
Try this on for size. Pick a nice loud AC/DC track (or similar) on your iPod, and then place the mobile phone near it. Get someone to ring you or move suffuciently for the phone to search out another cell. When the volume jumps to full on your iPod, it doesn't half make you jump.
I tried this a few times just to see if that was the cause and yes, I can assure all, the phone interferes with the iPod!
So they must interfere with other stuff.
Try this on for size. Pick a nice loud AC/DC track (or similar) on your iPod, and then place the mobile phone near it. Get someone to ring you or move suffuciently for the phone to search out another cell. When the volume jumps to full on your iPod, it doesn't half make you jump.
I tried this a few times just to see if that was the cause and yes, I can assure all, the phone interferes with the iPod!
So they must interfere with other stuff.
KMS,
don't you find that that listening to the ipod distracts you from the RT?
don't you find that that listening to the ipod distracts you from the RT?
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I was recently refuelling my car when my cell phone rang and the car blew up!
When I worked offshore, I accidently dropped my bic lighter and the rig blew up!
The other day when I was flying my Mini 500, the phone rang and the engine quit!
etc, etc.....
When I worked offshore, I accidently dropped my bic lighter and the rig blew up!
The other day when I was flying my Mini 500, the phone rang and the engine quit!
etc, etc.....