petersaville.net

According to The Register Dot Com it appears that “something I bought at radio shack could still flummox this thing?” Toby Ziegler NBC’s The West Wing. It appears mobile phones could indead flummox the operating components of aircraft

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found the effects of mobile transmissions of devices such as Global Positioning System receivers were worse than previously thought, after monitoring transmissions on a number of short-haul US flights. They tracked radio emissions via a broadband antenna attached to a compact portable spectrum analyzer held in a carry-on bag (which we trust didn't itself generate emissions).

The researchers found that on average one to four cell phone calls were made during commercial flights in the north-east US. Some of these calls are made during critical flight stages such as the climb after take-off, or on final approach, potentially placing an aircraft in danger.

The study focused mainly on in-flight mobile use but it also unearthed evidence that the use of devices such as laptops and DVD players, especially during critical flight stages, were also a potential hazard.

The study comes as the US Federal Communications Commission is considering lifting the ban on the use of mobile phones during flights.

# posted by Peter Saville - IT Consultant @ 12:06 AM