Handheld GPS safety onboard
 

A guy i spoke to recently has a garmin III Pilot Handheld GPS that he takes and uses onboard when he's a passenger.we were debating whether this is allowed by airlines and if indeed it is safe as far as the aircraft's avionics,nav and radio equipment is concerned.it certainly doesn't interfere up front with anything up to a Kingair-sized a/c.

i'd be very interested to find out if the use of such an instrument in the cabin is permitted or not,and if not,why not?

It certainly sounds like a nifty bit of fun to track your flight as you fly from your seat,but is it safe,and if not,then why?:confused:

Use of GPS on Aeroplane
 

I have a Pilot III and it works perfectly OK in the Cherokee ... and sometimes even manages to successfully cross check my navigation by conventional means and confirm that I am where I think I am.

I took it to Tenerife with me at Christmas .. as I was flying a 172 whilst out there.

When I got on the BMI A-321 at Heathrow, I asked the head girl if she'd have a word with the skipper and ask if I could use the GPS during the trip. She didn't get back to me, but in the pre-take off announcement was "please do not use electronic equipment on board until after the seat belt signs are extinguished".

Duly I took it that as I hadn't bben told I couldn't use the contraption, then it must be OK. I turned it on at about 7-8,000 ft when the signs went out and it eventually locked on, albeit a little slower than usual, and decided where we were etc. It needed holding pretty close to the window to get coverage and kick start it occasionally but generally worked fine and said what I expected (and kept to about 470 kts and 35,000 feet). Nobody said a word about it, all trip, when I had it on my seatback table except when I was prompted to switch it off when the seat belt signs came on at about 8,000 in the descent.

I know there has been much debate about whether this contraption might interfere with Airbus electronics (I can vouch that a cellphone DOES interfere with the transponder in a Warrior) but I am on the side of "it's an aeronautical piece of kit and it shouldn't."

I always thought most handheld GPS receivers were just that - recievers. I don't see how they could interfere with anything on board an aircraft, it's more likey to be the aircraft interfering with the GPS!

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I had mine hooked up to my laptop that was running mapping software that runs the autopilot on my boat. You can drag the little boat icon to where you want to go and the autopilot will drive the boat there and not run aground.

It did not like being at 35,000 and going 500+ MPH. The boat kept flashing red and if I had the volume up it would have been screaming the warning tone. :E :}

Hi Guys,

All electronic devices be it a GPS or a mobile phone transmit energy once switched on. The difference the amount of energy that the device emits. A battery-powered handheld GPS will give out very little energy and is likely to affect nothing, while something like a Laptop emits a lot more energy (try using a portable music radio right next to the computer).

Mobile phones when switched on periodically transmit a signal for a few seconds, the reasons for which I have no idea, but this can affect other electrical systems and must be switched off on board.

If the GPS is designed for aviation use in the cockpit, then using it in the pax cabin should be fine too. Though I woulden't say to go against anything the cabin crew tell you. Best do what RUDAS did and check with FD first.

This is the situation as far as I understand it.

Cheers, Tri :ok:

thats very intersting.i also dont see how a device designed for aviation use could negatively affect an aircraft,but since the III Pilot is designed for the general aviation market,i thought it might be incompatible with the modern fly by wire systems in aircraft such as an a340?

It is very interesting to note that one prominent operator of Embraer Brasilias has the III Pilot as a standard piece of equipment in the cockpit for reference,so judging by this ,it must be safe?

anyone else know if any airlines use it? obviously,if its widely used by airlines/commuter carriers then my question as to whether it is safe will have been answered.:confused: :ok:

Airline use of Pilot III
 

Have heard it said that some airline pilots take their own personal GPS's so in something like a steam driven 737-200 it can be quicker to get pointed in the right diection in a "resume your own navigation" situation if you are going to an intersection rather than a VOR.

They probably do what I do in the Cherokee and fix it on the coaming with a bit of velcro. Look out for 727's, 737s, F-27s etc with a 4 inch strip of velcro on the glareshield. that'll tell you whether it's truth or myth.

TMF:ok:

Maybe I get flamed for that, but just a quick thought: Such a handheld GPS in a flightbag might come VERY useful as a backup in an electrical emergency, loss of all generators, or whatever you call the situation where you are left with just the standby instruments, a single VOR/ILS, 30 minutes of battery power and pants full of fear. What do you think?

SmolaTheMedevacGuy said.....

"Maybe I get flamed for that, but just a quick thought: Such a handheld GPS in a flightbag might come VERY useful as a backup in an electrical emergency, loss of all generators, or whatever you call the situation where you are left with just the standby instruments, a single VOR/ILS, 30 minutes of battery power and pants full of fear. What do you think?"

Aviate 1138 says.....
Try the Garmin 196 and you won't be disappointed! Jeppesen Base, WAAS enabled. Moving Map. Providing you keep it on, it logs your flight from T/O to T/Dn. Around £600. Works up to 999 kts. 4 AA batteries last around 16 hours.

<http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap196/hi.html>

Aviate 1138