January 2011
America
- Electronic devices can endanger aircraft
- 12 January 2011
- By Various
- THE use of electronic devices such as mobile phones, tables and iPods in mid-air may create a "perfect storm" of conditions that can have disastrous consequences, aviation experts have warned.
An investigation by the New York Times has shown that this happens as most personal electronic devices emit electromagnetic waves which can interfere with a plane’s electronics.
Although it has remained difficult to prove, the report stated that safety experts suspect that electronic interference has played a role in some airline accidents and have warned passengers not to be complacent.
Older planes may be particularly vulnerable to interference as they may not have the best protection against the latest generation of devices while an aircraft's altitude could also be a contributory factor.
Problems may also be caused by odd incidents such as a cellphone that’s been dropped and abused, or a battery that puts out more power than it’s supposed to, and avionics that are more susceptible to interference because gaskets have failed.
Although there have been no recent studies of how often passengers use their gadgets during flights, a study conducted seven years ago that monitored the signals emitted from phones mid-flight found that they were frequently being left on. Even the flight crew were often guilty of disobeying the rules. However, many people simply aren’t aware of the potential dangers of using electronic devices mid-flight.
A 2003 plane crash in Christchurch, New Zealand, has been highlighted as an example where a mobile phone is believed to have interfered with the plane’s navigational equipment.
Eight people were killed when the plane flew into the ground short of the runway.
The pilot had called home some time before the crash, remaining connected for the last few minutes of the flight. A final report into the incident by the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission found that “the pilot’s own mobile phone may have caused erroneous indications” on the navigational aid.
In 2007, another pilot recounted an instance when the navigational equipment on his Boeing 737 failed after takeoff. The problem resolved itself after a passenger was told to turn off a hand-held GPS device.
In July last year the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) ruled that mobiles do not disrupt aircraft navigational equipment if airlines install special technology, paving the way for travelers to be able to make calls and send text messages mid-flight. Emirates and Virgin Blue's V Australia will allow in-flight calls but Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin's domestic airlines will not lift the ban.
