My dad is a commercial pilot and he sez that a lot of pilots have GPS units and they mess around with them all the time. That is, when they're not busy drinking coffee and reading the paper. Apparently the reception is fine up front.
i could have swarn that it was a federal law that you gouldnt bring anyhting that recives/transmitts radio signals...(yes iknow gps recivers only recive)
chris
Use of GPS receivers in aircraft are at the descretion of the crew. Luftansa allows the use of WiFi in their aircraft and provide active web browsing via a sat link.
The FAA document (which I've read) was essentially a guideline for airlines to follow if they chose to, as there was no data on just how low power stuff like this (WiFi, GPS, BT, etc) might interfere with onboard nav systems.
The request to not use anything for takeoff and landing is a safety one only, so that in the case of an emergency, you can hear announcements.
As for cell phones, there are two issues:
The first is they transmit with 'high' power (.6 watts) inside the cabin, which can interfere with nav systems.
The second is that when you're 35000 feet in the air, cell technology screws up because the phone hits hundreds of cell sites simultaneously which causes problems with the sites trying to do sensing and handoffs. Cellular technology was designed for ground use, line of sight only.
On a more sombre note, GPS use may no longer be allowed as they can be used by terrorists to locate when the aircraft is approaching a 'target'.
The first is they transmit with 'high' power (.6 watts) inside the cabin, which can interfere with nav systems.
According to research done by myself and others; there's absolutly no evidence whatsoever supporting the theory of cell transmissions interferring with onboard nav systems. Proven or not; I kinda feel the regulations are in place..."just in case"
I just got back from Florida and wanted to try that sooooo bad but it was just after the terrorism scare (one day after) and I didn't want to get yelled at by the flight attendents!!!
I would like to try using mine on my next flight but I agree with the concern about airline safety I would hesitate to try it. Not trying it would be a concern for safety but I think people are watching everyone else's movements on planes now days. So anything looking out of the norm would draw attention.
The real issue for the FAA is that the use of WiFi/BT/Whatever, is untested in the aircraft environment. Because it's untested, they assume the worst case--not a bad idea, actually. Since the airlines have put those fantastically expensive phones on the backs of the seats, and since the cell network wasn't really designed to handle cell from high-speed high flying aircraft, nobody but the passengers have any interest in testing and adjusting the cell network. And passengers have no clout at all. We're cattle. Moo.
The real issue for the FAA is that the use of WiFi/BT/Whatever, is untested in the aircraft environment. Because it's untested, they assume the worst case--not a bad idea, actually. Since the airlines have put those fantastically expensive phones on the backs of the seats, and since the cell network wasn't really designed to handle cell from high-speed high flying aircraft, nobody but the passengers have any interest in testing and adjusting the cell network. And passengers have no clout at all. We're cattle. Moo.
That's odd, I thought we were sheep...baaah, humbug!
For everyone information I used it openly and wasn't asked to shut it off. I know about the rules after the last scare but nothing was ever mentioned about GPS usage. It got X-rayed and was not questionned.
Thanks Jake for the information about plane and GPS :approve:
__________________
If you get dead silence after breaking the speed of sound, would you be in the darkness after passing the speed of light?
No more than your PDA or laptop, and well below interferance levels. That's why it is FCC certified. :)
not so sure about that, jake. I will try to have it scanned when I get a chance at work. The FCC cert doesn't mean much. Radar detectors in cars are capable of knocking satellite networks off the air from half a mile away. and they are FCC certified. I work for a company that troubleshoots these issues. I was up at ESPN and they were getting their Ku network interfered with by a guy who would pull up at his building everday and leave the radar detector turned on and go to work.. gas stations that have a Ku band point of sale network have this problem too. Even though VA isn't allowed to have them we found tons of them when we did a study there.
According to research done by myself and others; there's absolutly no evidence whatsoever supporting the theory of cell transmissions interferring with onboard nav systems. Proven or not; I kinda feel the regulations are in place..."just in case"
I used to be an avid business traveler and posed this exact question to a flight attendent. She said "a few" cell phones would have no impact at all, but it would be too hard to decide which passengers get to make their calls first and for how long.
__________________
An (X) indicates a Wi-Fi post from my Axim X51.
Live every day like it is your last....because some day it will be.
If you find yourself falling off a cliff, you might as well try and fly!
Follow Us
RSS Feed
Follow on Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
Addicted Member
