I fly frequently, and often find people next to me typing away on their Blackberry mid-flight. Now, since this transmits a signal (correct me if I'm wrong), I believe it's the same as using a cell phone in flight... Which can disturb the navigation equipment. I think all airlines should have to add the brand name "Blackberry" to the announcement about turning off all cell phones... This would at least educate people about the nature of the Blackberry. And then I might not drink as much wine when I fly.
I agree
No opinion
I disagree
Add your comment
Rubbish! I challenge you to find ANY credible evidence that these portable elctronic devices cause any interference with aircraft equipment.
Repeated studies do not find any probable connection between aircraft malfunction and the use of portable electronics. This House Subcommittee hearing sums up the situation well. Banning the devices has caused more cases of air-rage than using the devices may have (without definitive proof) caused navigation errors.
Please do not allow the FAA and airline propaganda to influence your personal fear of flying. If you would like help with your phobia please visit the Fear of Flying Clinic.
By the way. Blackberries have a "No Transmit" or "Airplane" mode for use offline during air travel.
I had always thought the ban had very little to do with interfering with an airplanes systems then it did with interfering with the cellular network. Which is why the FCC imposed the ban rather then the FAA.
On the ground your cell phone can only see a small handful of towers and the decision of which one to use is pretty straight forward. Now, up in the air you can see a great deal of towers with good line of sight. Which tower to use becomes a little harder to answer. While I don't know exactly how the cellular system handles it, I do know it doesn't do it very well.
I don't know about the detrimental effects of Blackberries on planes, but I really find it hard to believe that my lowly GameBoy Advance interferes with the navigational systems of commercial aircraft. If that's true, then we've got to take another look at how we build these things.
The last flight I traveled on (Delta) did include that announcement, but I have'nt heard it too many other times.
GPS used by aircraft operate between 1.2 - 1.6 GHz. The signal strength of GPS radio frequencies fall off by the square of the distance from the signal source. GPS satellite can be thousands of miles away. The signal reaching the aircraft is very small.Cell phones produce a relatively large signal and it is only at most a hundred feet from the aircrafts GPS antenna. The cell phone however is not the direct problem. The energy radiated by the cell phone permeates everything around it including small metal objects. Any object metal object that is a multiple of about 9.8 inches will produce secondary radio frequency emmissions in the GPS frequency range.
The GPS receiver will filter out much of this noise, but occassionally a certain set of circumstances become significant and the navigation system is thrown off. Even improperly sheilded laptop computers can cause this phenomena. That is why the FCC is so strict on manufacturers regarding shielding.
GPS systems are responsible for much increased safety in modern aviation, however, the systems only work in a specific environment in which the FCC attempts to regulate. This may be changing as technologies and regulations have been tightening up.
FCC Proposal to Allow Cell Phones on aircraft