[gps-talkusers] Re: wireless on airplanes

  • From: "Cheng Hock Kua" <adaptive@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 19:16:43 +0800

Hi,

I once boarded United airlines from Tokyo to Singapore, wearing the magelan 310 on my shoulders strapped to the BN32 classic. The steward immediately identified the 310 and was surprised that a blind person was having the 310, and offered me the freedom to use it while on flight even before being asked. He said that it is a "class 2" equipment that is allowed onboard.

On another United airlines International flight, I asked the steward to check with the pilot and I got him to write down the name of the gps device for the pilot. When he came back, the advice was that the pilot will check on this after levelling out and the answer finally came back with the pilot's name-card with his personal handwriting that the Magelan 310 was allowed according to the flight manual that he had. However, his verbal advice was that each individual pilot's own assessment for future flights will be independent of his opinion, but he would be happy to be used as any reference. Since I stopped using the 310, i have now misplaced his name card.

On another International flight of the same airlines, the pilot refused to grant permission.

though SQ offers wireless on their Boeing 744 aircrafts, Singapore Airlines will not allowed any gps if asked as I learnt this from a personal friend who works as a Singapore Airlines pilot. "Better to be safe than sorry" is their attitude.

While on air wisconsin, the steward threatened to confiscate my 310 previously and warns that no gps of any sorts will be allowed. Probably the 310 looked like a cell phone.

Cheers
Cheng Hock

----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael May" <mikemay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 2:41 AM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] wireless on airplanes


Peggy,

There is some ambiguity with regard to GPS and the regulations on air flights. The Bluetooth receiver both receives and transmits a weak signal 30 feet. This is why you have to ask for permission on most airlines. I am sure southwest wouldn't allow this unless they felt it was 100% safe to have a GPS receiver.

I hear more of the airlines saying things like make sure all WiFi devices are turned off. Most people don't even realize their built in WiFi on their laptops is transmitting while in flight and WiFi transmits a lot further than Bluetooth. Some airlines like Singapore Air actually provide WiFi in flight.

Besides WiFi, just think of the one or two people who neglect to turn their cell phones off in flight. I have heard phones ring a couple times in flight, usually in people's bags overhead. I believe the navigation equipment has to be impervious to stray signals. They certainly cannot ensure 100% compliance of all devices turned off all the time.

Mike


At 06:19 PM 5/9/2006, you wrote:
Andy,
A pilot once explained to me that the main concern is the fact that the antennas used by the equipment are just beneath the skin of the aircraft in various spots. He also told me that the likelyhood of any actual interference from consumer radio receivers is tiny, but strictly speaking is a valid concern. A related concern is that cables that carry radio signals and data run just above and below the passenger cabin, essentially in the same RF field as the cabin itself. The cables are insulated, but leakage is, at least, theoretically possible. This pilot also admitted that even with significant interference, there would be relatively little problem during level flight. Take off and landing would be the time that a pilot might have to rely heavily on avionics as opposed to simply flying the plane straight.

Peter
----- Original Message ----- From: "Baracco, Andrew W" <Andrew.Baracco@xxxxxx>
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 11:44 AM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: still working on airplanes?


Hi Peggy,

Actually, receivers do send a weak reference signal as part of the
process of ocking onto the proper frequency.  This is a very weak
signal, and I wouldn't think it would interfere with anything, but I was
told by someone who knows a lot about avionics, that, believe it or not,
the radio navagation systems on airplanes are not shielded from
extraneous RF signals.  That really surprised me when I heard it, and I
wonder if it is still true after 9/11.

Andy


-----Original Message-----
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Peggy Kern
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 7:26 PM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: still working on airplanes?

You know, this talk of the GPS on airplanes reminds me of my last trip
to Portland on Southwest.  I had no intentions of using the GPS on the
plane, preferring to keep the battery ready for use on the ground.  But
during the flight attendants' information about what could and couldn't
be used in flight, they said anything "that sends or receives a signal"
couldn't be used during a flight.  Obviously, a receiver doesn't send,
but it does receive.  I was wondering if the regulations have changed
and people are just going by what they used to be, or if perhaps our
flight attendant misinformed us.  Just curious.

Peggy
http://kernsac.livejournal.com/
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Simmons" <carlsimmons@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 8:18 AM
Subject: [gps-talkusers] Re: still working on airplanes?


I just completed a business trip to Chicago to San Francisco last
Friday. 
I
had a window seat, using the Holux I acquired satellites as soon as we


were
allowed to turn on the equipment and maintained 5 to 9 satellites
until 
we
had to turn off the equipment prior to landing.  I had no problems
with 
any
functions.

Carl Simmons
carlsimmons@xxxxxxxxxxx

_____

From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 4:22 AM
To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gps-talkusers] still working on airplanes?

Hi, Despite more sensitive receivers I have had less success in
getting 
the
GPS to work on airplanes lately.  Has anyone else noticed this?
Dave

taxation WITH representation isn't so hot, either!








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