----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2003 9:57
AM
Subject: Re: [Az-Geocaching] GPS on
Airlines
That's interesting. The FAA.GOV website is down right now, I
couldn't find any official govt info. Here is a website regarding GPS on
airlines:
There is no real safety threat created by a GPS.
Laptop Computers generate far more RFI (radio frequency interference) than any
GPS could. What about terrorists? Again, the GPS is not banned, only its usage
during flight. Most airlines ban RFI generating electronics during takeoff and
landing due to the inherent potential of RFI interference during these
critical modes of flight. Cell phones are supposedly banned from use because
they 'light up' a significant number of cellular tower antennas (due to
line-of sight), but the real reason could be (speculated by some) that the
airlines would lose mucho dinero from the installed Air-Fones.
There has never been a documented case in which an aircraft
has lost it's NAV instruments (GPS, VOR, or ILS) due to a GPS (or in that
case, any other RFI generating device).
Remember, it's ultimately up to the pilot and crew. It NEVER
hurts to ask!!!
Bill
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2003 11:25
PM
Subject: [Az-Geocaching] GPS on
Airlines
I was on an American Airlines flight this week. I was half dozing
as the Flight Attendant went through the list of banned electronic devices
(radios, ceel phones, etc.), but my ears perked up when she ended the list
with GPS devices. I'm sure I'm never heard them specifically listed
before. I got out their magazine and looked up the list in the
information section. Sure enough, GPS devices were in the banned
list. I don't know if this is a new policy or not, but I've used mine
Garmin Etrex Vista on flights for the past couple years and was never
questioned. I was on three other flights after that one this week and
the attendants didn't not mention GPS devices.
Thanks,
Jerry