CASA Media Release - Monday, 15 September 2003

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redrat

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CASA Media Release - Monday, 15 September 2003
New warning: Turn off mobiles in the air
A fresh warning has been issued to aircraft passengers to switch off mobile telephones and other electronic devices during flights.

This follows mounting evidence of interference to aircraft instruments and systems caused by electronic devices.

More than 100 air safety incidents related to interference from portable electronic devices have been reported in Australia in the last ten years.

A recent report from the crew operating a 737 aircraft out of Sydney linked an uncommanded pitch up and reduction in thrust to an active mobile telephone.

Other incidents linked to portable electronic devices include:

Interference to radio transmissions
Autopilot malfunctions, including uncommanded climb, oscillations and disengagement
False readings from flight management computers
GPS navigation system failures
False alerts from engine warning systems.
The dangers of using mobile telephones and other electronic devices in-flight are set out in an article in the latest edition of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Flight Safety Australia magazine.

The article says that while proving a link between electronic devices and in-flight incidents has been difficult in the past, evidence is increasing and is being supported by controlled testing.

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority has just carried out the most definitive study of electronic interference, finding a range of problems caused by mobile telephone transmissions.

In a controlled test environment mobile telephone radiation caused compass freeze, navigation instrument errors, communication interference and false warning reports.

The Flight Safety Australia article calls on aircraft cabin crew to take firm action where passengers use electronic devices when they are prohibited and to make a detailed report of all incidents.

Current CASA regulations give aircraft crew the power to prohibit the use of any device which can threaten the safety of an aircraft.

Under proposed new regulations the use of mobile telephones and other electronic transmitters will be prohibited at all times, while devices such as laptop computers, video cameras and electronic games will be prohibited during take-off and landings or at the direction of crew.

Media contact
Peter Gibson
Ph 0419 296 446
Ref: MR0346
 
I've got the most recent copy (September/Octover 2003, Volume 7, Number 4) at home - sent to my address still, a former tenant who hasn't changed the address details yet, so hot off the cover...try writing to CASA ARN, G P O Box 2005, Canberra ACT 2601. Think you have to be a pilot or similar thtough, the code on the addressee label would seem to indicate something like this...
 
They could start by enforcing standards in relation to mobile keypads. A number of times I have turned my (new) mobile off, put it in hand luggage and arrived at the destination with it having turned itself on. My old model was quite hard to turn on, so never had this problem.
 
dajop said:
They could start by enforcing standards in relation to mobile keypads. A number of times I have turned my (new) mobile off, put it in hand luggage and arrived at the destination with it having turned itself on. My old model was quite hard to turn on, so never had this problem.

I don't think the new models actually start transmitting until after you put in your pin number. I say this because you can use the alarm clock function and the phone manufacturers say the phone doesn't switch on when the alarm goes off (on :? ). Ihave a Sony Ericsson now and previously had a Nokia.
 
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Mobile Phones in Air

Many newer mobile 'phones/pdas have an "airline" setting.

This enables you to use the non RF functions of the devices while in the air (but not on ascent or descent).

Still, I guess you'll get some funny looks from fellow FT's. (I've been airborne when the alarm in someone's phone went off in the locker)
 
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