I think the real reason airlines allow no GPS devices is because they are afraid that the passengers will panic if we see the plane making large drops in altitude!
Actually quite a few airlines have no problem with a GPS device. I've often used my Garmin with an external antenna held next to the window.
Southwest Airlines let me use my Garmin GPS, and then I get on an American Airlines flight, and the stewardess asked me to turn it off. I said, "oh, sorry, I was allowed to use it on a Southwest flight, but I guess you guys don't let is?" meanwhile she's LEFT to ask the captain, and then comes back (after I've put it away) "yes, the captain said that you are not to use that."
Dude, she went and TOLD on me!
Perhaps, but I'm not a big fan of it. 2.4GHz devices can certainly cause interference -- my cordless phone and the WiFi network at home sometimes get in each others' way. Certainly more so than a cellular phone, which emits much lower-power signals. I agree with you attendants are clueless about it -- and it's not clear how to clue them in.
Your cordless phone and wireless network probably interfere because they're both on the 2.4GHz frequency, correct?
I think radio waves on different frequency, especially on digital equipment as mentioned before, shouldn't interfere with each other.
I thought one of the whole points of regulated radio spectrum licensing was to eliminate interference between military, government, and consumer radio devices.
Hmm... it seems that a lot more people are peeved about this than I thought would be.
I took the time to get a few links for contacting the airlines so we can tell them how we feel. If we're really annoyed at this, we should start letting our voice be heard.
Your cordless phone and wireless network probably interfere because they're both on the 2.4GHz frequency, correct?
I think radio waves on different frequency, especially on digital equipment as mentioned before, shouldn't interfere with each other.
Correct; I think the thinking is that old analog equipment is more susceptible to errors. But now we go out of my area, and I'll defer to others' experience on this issue.
The only reason cigarettes were banned on the flights is because of fear mongering again.
Don't forget - it also saves the airline quite a bit of cash. That's because they don't have to filter the air so effectively and can recirculate it many, many more times. Of course, both these practices make transmission of infective agents more likely. So one contributing factor to SARS is the fact that they';ve banned smoking on planes :devilboy:
Actually, normal air filtering won't stop virus or bacteria, so it is in fact increased air circulation that spreads disease (think 'Outbreak' :wink: )
I said it last time this subject was brought up and I will say it again. Most of the complaints here pertain to luxuries. Forget the argument for a second that the FAA\Airline Ind is overreacting. Do you NEED to play your CD player on takeoff and landings? Do you NEED WIFI on the plane. Do you NEED your dang cell phone. Etc etc etc. I think people have gotten way too spoiled on what they can and can’t do on an airplane. For a second keep in mind that this isn’t your property. The only thing provided with that $300+ plane ticket is transporting your butt from A to B and that’s it. Everything else is a perk. The airlines can ban all electronic devices if they want. It’s their right. No one has some inherent right to play quake wirelessly on a plane, or make calls.
Also while its not a popular opinion I still stand by my view “better safe then sorry” Until some serious testing is done on the effects of transmission signals in the ranges that WIFI, cell phones, and Bluetooth all use I agree with the FAA, the airline industries or whoever is making these rules that caution is warranted. The loss of life (Which before anything dealing with $$$ is the most important.) aside can you imagine the multi billion dollar lawsuit from the passengers families if it was found that a WIFI device brought down a plane when it was trying to land. IMHO, of course, I consider it prudent caution.
People here are spouting off info as if they work in the airline industry. (Heck it’s a pretty good bet some here do.) You know something about wireless. That’s great, but is also only half of the equation. Unless you KNOW with a 100% certainty how the internal components of that 747 react with the afore mentioned devices I would suggest that you can’t speak intelligently on the subject. Can anyone here tell me what components of the plane are shielded? Are there any? Which ones aren’t? Which specific components in the plane are susceptible to interference? What kind of interference are they susceptible to? To what extent? And what would the consequences be of interferences with those components?
The SmartPhone PPC Phone Edition thing is another matter. A steward or stewardess shouldn’t need to keep on top of the latest technologies. For god sake their primary purpose is to shell out the drinks, peanuts, pillows, and do their little speech at the beginning of the flight. I can fully understand their overreaction. Think about it a second. This board comprises, for the most part, techno geeks. We know how to turn on and off the various components on our systems blindfolded. What about the average user? They walk onto a plane and start dinking with their SmartPhone or Pocket PC: PE do you think they know what they are doing? You can’t tell from just looking at the device if it’s transmitting a signal or not so they do a blanket cover for all devices. It’s the whole one person spoils it for everyone type thing.
I think people bring up totally legit and valid point here but for a second try to see it from the airlines standpoint.
*X-Files music plays in the background*
They aren’t sitting in a back room trying to think up ways to keep you from enjoying your trip. They are doing what they think is best for your safety even if you don’t see it as such. And as a final personal note I’d rather have an industry be overly sensitive to a _potential_ safety issue then ignoring it altogether until it bit someone in the butt. Just wish more industries were like that. :?
*shrugs* Just trying to play devils advocate. :devilboy:
Most of the complaints here pertain to luxuries. ... The only thing provided with that $300+ plane ticket is transporting your butt from A to B and that’s it. Everything else is a perk. The airlines can ban all electronic devices if they want. It’s their right. No one has some inherent right to play quake wirelessly on a plane, or make calls.
Couple things about this:
Flying itself is a luxury and not a right. Witness those people banned from flights not because they've been found guilty of terrorism but because they're on a federal no fly list. (Innocent until proven guilty doesn't seem to apply to flying.)
The airlines certainly have the right to do what they want, and we have the right not to buy tickets from airlines who do things we don't like. However, I think it's a shame that airlines don't see us as customers who they'd like to please. They figure they don't have to please us and perhaps that's part of why the airline industry is in such bad shape.
I guess I can understand your better safe than sorry perspective. I just think if cell phones were really that dangerous they'd have been screening luggage for them and making absolutely certain that none were left on accidentally. Since they don't do that, common sense tells me that a cell phone left on is not going to cause an airplane to crash.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may
operate, nor may any operator or pilot in command of an aircraft allow the
operation of, any portable electronic device on any U.S.-registered civil
aircraft operating under this part.
(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to--
(1) Portable voice recorders;
(2) Hearing aids;
(3) Heart pacemakers;
(4) Electric shavers; or
(5) Any other portable electronic device that the part 119 certificate
holder has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or
communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used.
(c) The determination required by paragraph (b)(5) of this section shall be
made by that part 119 certificate holder operating the particular device to
be used.
Here is the FAA regulation:
(5) Any other portable electronic device that the part 119 certificate
holder has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or
communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used.
Now at least I know what the N119 on my iPAQ and other electronic devices is for.
Re: Most of the airlines rules are BS
(Bluetooth enabled cell phone and PPC).
Linear Mode
