Subject: [NEXTEL-1] Tests Show Cell Phones Can Affect Aircraft Systems

From: Marcel <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 02 May 2003 16:32:20 -0400

Tests Show Cell Phones Can Affect Aircraft Systems

A recent study from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority supports pilot complaints
that wireless phones interfere with aircraft systems and cause distractions in
the cockpit. Since 1996, 35 wireless phone related incidents have occurred,
including false warning in the cockpit, interrupted radio communication, and
safety system malfunctions. Airlines are being urged to enforce safety
measures which include ensuring flight crews turn off mobiles on the flight
deck, check-in staff asking passengers to confirm mobiles in hold luggage are
off, and reminder notices in airport departure lounges and boarding gates.

=============================================================================

Study: Cell phones put planes at risk

By Will Sturgeon
Special to CNET News.com
May 2, 2003, 12:16 PM PT

The U.K.'s air safety regulator has released research about cell phone use on planes,
warning of the serious effects that it can have on a plane's navigational equipment.

The Civil Aviation Authority research found that standard cell phone use can cause a
compass
to freeze or to overshoot its actual magnetic bearing. Also, flight deck and navigation
equipment indicators can be rendered unstable and inaccurate, and transmissions can
interfere
with critical audio outputs.

Cell phone use has long been banned on airplanes, along with use of many other electrical
devices. But passengers have often accused airlines of being over-officious in their
enforcement
of the ban, even suggesting that it is unnecessary. Many airlines have had experience of
passengers who are willing to break the ban in order to make a call. This latest research
may
frighten passengers into compliance with the rules.

In the United States, the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) bans
the use of cell phones on airplanes
because of worries that calls could
interfere with a plane's navigation
system.

A number of anonymous posters on
the Professional Pilots' Rumour
Network--a popular online
community for airline pilots and
crew--expressed mixed feeling over
the findings.

One poster said: "Occasionally
during the taxi out, we overhear the
characteristic rapid chirping of a
mobile phone through our headsets.
More often than not, it turns out to
be a crew phone, we switch it off, then continue with no ill effects.

"Sometimes, however, it becomes necessary to hold clear of the runway and make (an
announcement) reminding (passengers) to switch their phones off. At the very least,
something
back in the cabin is emitting enough of a signal to be picked up by the cockpit intercom.
I think
that once in a while I have observed deviations in some of the aircraft (navigation) kit
while the
interference is going on."

Another poster on the site expressed concerns over the issue, suggesting that it is almost

impossible to ensure all cell phones are switched off.

"If (the findings are) true, then we can never eliminate the possibility of an active
phone on
board by simply issuing instructions that all mobiles must be switched off. We either need
a
foolproof system of scanning for active phones (tricky because they can be 'quiet' for
minutes
at a time) or we need to 'harden' aircraft systems so this ceases to be a threat."

Silicon.com's Will Sturgeon reported from London.

http://news.com.com/2100-1039_3-999541.html

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