tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749070.post4989792945510870763..comments2023-12-04T11:08:02.132+00:00Comments on The tech in me: "Flight mode" is not good enough to avoid iPhone users getting arrestedAntónio Lopeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17559703680615047170noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749070.post-19929390497687605302010-06-16T14:03:54.831+01:002010-06-16T14:03:54.831+01:00Misconceptions...
Yes, I was an Electromagnetic C...Misconceptions...<br /><br />Yes, I was an Electromagnetic Compliance Engineer for many years. My job was to ensure and test that electronic devices that we developed without transmitting or being vunerable to electromagnetic interference to FCC and CE standard. The devices were safety-critical live saving devices. We even made the shielding products and the test chambers both in the EU and the USA. Many of our products were used in both military and civil aircraft.<br /><br />Not all electronic equipment is a risk to aircraft systems. Aircraft systems are well-shielded. How else would we have a glass cockpit?<br /><br />Transmitting devices on the whole I agree should be avoided, but some high voltage electronics like inverters for laptop screens can generate quite a signal!<br /><br />GPS is a receiving technology, the GPS antennas are outside the aircraft. GPS interference would not affect the plane. More sensitive Nav systems may be affected, but not GPS.<br /><br />BMI allowed BlackBerrys in flight mode but not iPhones. There needs to be more clarity, or a detector in the passenger cabin to tell flight attendants if there are transmitting devices?<br /><br />The point is, most small electrical devices, including phones in flight mode are perfectly safe, as long as there are NO wireless functions in operation. The only time this may be a very slight risk is if the crew have these devices on their laps in the cockpit as distance plays a very important part of the equation. The effect is evident if you place your cellphone next to the speaker wires of your home PC and listen to the noise! But even when transmitting, the effect rapidly falls off with distance, and bear in mind aircraft have massively more sophisticated shielding.<br /><br />Some modern aircraft shielding will even protect against EMP from a nuclear blast, so little Johnnie's Nintendo will have little effect. <br /><br />We need to dispel the rumour and myth, educate cabin crews, and produce industry wide stadards to remove the grey areas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749070.post-56708952961555583692008-11-10T18:21:00.000+00:002008-11-10T18:21:00.000+00:00Thanks for the clarification, Paul. I was not awar...Thanks for the clarification, Paul. I was not aware of those restrictions.António Lopeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17559703680615047170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749070.post-29010986852239395412008-11-10T17:53:00.000+00:002008-11-10T17:53:00.000+00:00There are missconceptions all over the place with ...There are missconceptions all over the place with this.<BR/><BR/>1) The airlines say something like "Due to FAA regulations...". That is incorrect. Every Pilot should know that the use of electronic devices in airplanes are controlled by FCC regulations. It's on their written test. It really torques my off when they say that incorrectly, because if they get that wrong, then what else don't they do right?<BR/><BR/>2) All electronic consumer devices can wreck havok with cockpit instrumentation-- including those that have no transmission features at all. This is real. This isn't a problem while underway, because autopilot is fully GPS-ed, but it is definitely an issue during takeoff and landing, because pilots cannot use autopilot for takeoff and landing (that only works in sci-fi). <BR/><BR/>It is entirely appropriate for airline to apprehend any passenger that refuses to turn off an electronics device during takeoff or landing. The amount of interference that is acceptable by the FCC for consumer electronics is a much higher level than what effects cockpit instruments. Flight mode does-not and is-not meant to fix this.<BR/><BR/>One device might not be enough interference, but every phone, every radio, every iPod, and every computer in first-class might be. My ex-wife who was a pilot, actually read an NTSB crash report to me where the primary factor in the crash was due to people not turning off their electronic devices. Pilots know this, because they can see the affect when they turn on their own electronic devices.<BR/><BR/>3) Here is what flight mode does fix. When you are in an airplane your mobile phone will connect to multiple cell towers, in multiple places. This is due to the angle, basically you are almost just-as-close to many cell towers at the same time. This eats up bandwidth. By turning-off transmit-recieve capabilities on your phone you are preventing this. <BR/><BR/>Flight-mode accomplishes this and nothing more. This feature is a desire of the mobile carriers, not the airlines.<BR/><BR/>As far as interference is concerned, mobile phones don't interfere with GPS at-all. As such they are perfectly safe to use during flight, yes, it is even safe to make a call. They are not safe however during takeoff and landing, regardless of whether flight mode exists on your model, or is in use.<BR/><BR/>-- You convinced her, but you were not entirely correct. Unfortunately Flight Attendants don't have to take the Pilot's written test, and hence don't know why the rules are the way they are, which made her convince-able. Also, she probably never had a pilot show her what happens when you take an innapropriate electronics device in a cockpit. I do know people that have seen this first hand. Back in your seat? I assume that it is usually safe, but do you I want to be wrong in that assumption? No.<BR/><BR/>The FAA never made a regulation about electronics of any type, because that is the job of the FCC. They even point that out as part of pilot training. That said, you shouldn't be using your phone for any purpose during takeoff or landing. The pilot will let you know when he is no longer needing the non-GPS instruments: that's when they say that part about "You may now use approved communications devices." THAT is when you can turn on your iPhone in flight mode.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749070.post-25460503027259146372007-10-17T15:25:00.000+01:002007-10-17T15:25:00.000+01:00Pois, parece que as regras são só para algunsPois, parece que as regras são só para algunsAntónio Lopeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17559703680615047170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749070.post-15486670816134782942007-10-17T15:23:00.000+01:002007-10-17T15:23:00.000+01:00Já contei esta estória algumas vezes. Há uns anos ...Já contei esta estória algumas vezes. <BR/><BR/>Há uns anos quando trabalhava em manutenção de aeronaves tive que encomendar um motor de arranque para um ligeiro de acrobacia. Liguei para um dos proprietários (comandante de aeronaves de carreira) e digo-lhe quais as condições em que posso adquirir os ditos. <BR/><BR/>após dois dedos de conversa ele diz-me ó carlos espera aí um pouco que tenho o delfim a ligar-me para o outro telemóvel e estou a aterrar em lisboa...<BR/><BR/>não entendo para que servirá desligar o equipamento electrónico na cabine dos passageiros quando por vezes isso não é feito lá à frente...Carlos Afonsohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15343209205248515223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749070.post-76484023081524453122007-10-15T14:04:00.000+01:002007-10-15T14:04:00.000+01:00Também eu gostaria de saber!Também eu gostaria de saber!António Lopeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17559703680615047170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749070.post-49711346298074738782007-10-15T12:49:00.000+01:002007-10-15T12:49:00.000+01:00Tanta merda por causa do flight mode, qualquer com...Tanta merda por causa do flight mode, qualquer companhia de aviação chega ao ridiculo de exigir que se desligue até os mp3 ou ipods, porque pode interferir com algo que ninguem sabe o quê! <BR/>Alguem provou que as comunicações de telemóvel, já não digo os mp3, podem provocar algum mal? Gostava de saber...RedTuxerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04929050907713856949noreply@blogger.com