In the U.S., Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit the use of mobile in in-flight aircraft . Contrary to popular misconceptions, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not actually prohibit the use of personal electronic devices (including mobile phones) on airplanes. Paragraph (b) (5) of 14 CFR 91.21 submit it to the airline to determine whether the device may be used in flight, permitting the use of "Any other portable electronic device that the aircraft operator has specified will not cause interference with navigation or aircraft communication systems which will be used. "
In Europe, regulations and technology have enabled the introduction of limited use of passenger cell phones on several commercial flights, and elsewhere in the world many airlines are moving in the direction that enables the use of in-flight mobile phones. Many airlines still do not allow the use of mobile phones on airplanes. Those who often forbid the use of mobile phones during takeoff and landing.
Many passengers are pressuring airlines and their governments to allow and deregulate mobile use, while some airlines, under competitive pressure, are also encouraging deregulation or seeking new technologies that can solve current problems. On the other hand, authorized air carriers and safety boards reject any relaxation of the current safety rules unless and until it can be convincingly demonstrated that it will be safe to do so. There are technical and social factors that make the problem more complex than a simple discussion of safety versus danger.
Video Mobile phones on aircraft
Security debate
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) limits the use of mobile phones in aircraft to prevent disruption of cellular towers on land. As noted above, the FAA allows the use of wireless devices in flight but only after the airline determines that the device will not interfere with communication or aircraft navigation.
One report confirms the correlation between the use of mobile phones and other portable electronic devices in flight, and various problems with avionics. Another study concluded that some "portable electronic devices", including laptops, electronic toys, and laser pointers, used in cabin may exceed the level of emissions allowed by aircraft manufacturers for safety related to some avionics, while they are unsuccessful in duplicating any of the alleged errors caused by the use of PED under controlled laboratory conditions.
Since these regulations were originally enforced by various international aviation agencies, ultra-low power devices, such as picocells, have been developed. Reasons for this include increased security, reduced interference, reduced health risks and to enable the safe use of mobile phones in the aircraft. Many airlines have now added the equipment to their aircraft. More is expected to do so in the coming years.
Electromagnetic Disorder
Electromagnetic interference to the aircraft system is a common argument offered to prohibit mobile phones (and other passenger electronic devices) on planes. Theoretically, active radio transmitters such as cell phones, walkie-talkies, portable computers or gaming devices can disrupt the aircraft. Electronic devices that do not transmit also emit electromagnetic radiation, though usually at lower power levels, and theoretically can also affect the electronics of the aircraft. Collectively, these can all be referred to as portable electronic devices (PEDs).
A NASA publication details the latest fifty reports to the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) on "avionics problems that may be caused by the influence of passenger electronic devices." The nature of these reports varies widely. Some only describe passenger interactions with flight crews when asked to stop using electronic devices. The number of other reports for the crew reported an anomaly experienced at the same time a passenger was witnessed using a cell phone. Some reports suggest that disruptions to the aircraft system are observed to appear and disappear when certain suspect devices are turned on and off. One entry in ASRS, specified ACN: 440557, reported a clear link in which the passenger DVD player induced a 30-degree error in the heading view of the plane, each time the player was turned on. However, this report dates back to 1999 and involves the Boeing 727, a type of old aircraft that is no longer used by current airlines.
A 2003 study involved three months of testing with RF spectrum analyzes and other instruments over regular commercial flights, and one section read:
... our study found that these items could disrupt the normal operation of key cockpit instruments, especially those of the Global Positioning System (GPS), which is increasingly important for safe landing. Two different studies by NASA further support the idea that dangerous passenger electronic devices generate interference in a way that reduces safety margins for critical avionics systems.
There is no smoking gun for this story: there are no definite examples of known air accidents caused by the use of electronic devices by passengers. Nevertheless, although it is impossible to say that such use has caused air accidents in the past, the data also makes it impossible to set it aside completely. More importantly, the data support the conclusion that continuing to use portable RF-emitting devices such as mobile phones will, in all likelihood, someday lead to accidents by interfering with critical cockpit instruments such as GPS receivers. This is certain: there is a potential for a bigger problem than previously believed.
A 2000 study by the British Civil Aviation Authority found that cell phones, when used near the cockpit or other avionics equipment location, would exceed safety levels for older equipment (according to 1984 standards). Such equipment is still in use, even on new aircraft. Therefore, the report concludes, the current policy, which limits the use of mobile phones on all aircraft while the engine is running, should remain in effect.
Critics of the ban have doubts that small battery-powered devices will have significant influence on shielded electronic systems of commercial jet manufacturers. Safety researchers, Tekla S. Perry and Linda Geppert point out that other protections and protections are decreasing with age, cycle of use, and even some maintenance procedures, as well as protecting PEDs, including cell phones.
Some reports disputed both sides of the problem in the same article; on the one hand they highlight the lack of definitive proof of mobile phones that cause significant disruptions, while on the other they show that the caution in maintaining restrictions on using mobile phones and other PEDs in flight is a safer way to do.
Maps Mobile phones on aircraft
Debates over other issues
Social resistance to mobile phone use on flights
Many people may prefer a ban on using a mobile phone in flight because it prevents undue noise from phone chats. AT & amp; T suggests that mobile phone bans on flights should remain in effect to reduce disruption to other passengers caused by someone talking on a cell phone near them.
Competition for in-flight airline service
The ban skeptics state that airlines support the ban because they do not want passengers to have an alternative to in-flight phone services such as GTE Airfone. Andy Plews a spokesman for United Airlines UAL was quoted as saying "We do not believe it is a good security issue"... "We want people to use air phones."
Current status
In aviation technology
On 31 October 2013 the FAA issued a press release entitled "FAA to Allow Airline to Extend the Use of Personal Electronics" which announced that "airlines can safely expand passenger use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) during all flight phases." This new policy excludes the use of mobile phones in aviation, because, as the press release states, "the FAA did not consider changing the rules regarding the use of mobile phones for voice communications during the flight because this issue is under the jurisdiction of Federal Communications Commission (FCC)."
The FAA press release was quickly followed up by an FCC press release entitled "Chairman Wheeler Statement on In-Flight Mobile Services Proposal" in which FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler stated, "modern technology can deliver mobile services in the air safely and reliably, and the exact time to review obsolete rules and limit us. "This has led to media speculation that mobile phone use for voice communications in the aircraft will soon be allowed.
Some airlines are installing technology to allow mobile phones to connect to planes while flying. The system was tested on scheduled flights from 2006 and in 2008 several airlines began to allow the use of in-flight mobile phones.
Status of specific territories and individual airlines
- China
All Chinese airlines (with the exception of Hong Kong and Macau airlines, governed by different authorities) prohibit the use of mobile phones at every flight point, even if the phone is diverted to "flight mode".
- Emirates Airline
On March 20, 2008, Emirates flights began allowing voice calls on aircraft on several commercial airline flights.
- European Services
AeroMobile and OnAir allow the use of personal electronic devices on the flight. This service is most widely available in Europe and licensed to specialized airlines.
- Qantas
Since August 26, 2014 Qantas allows mobile phones (and other portable electronic devices weighing less than 1 kg) to be switched on during all flights, if the device is in flight mode while in the plane. Jetstar (owned by Qantas) adopted the same arrangement on August 30, 2014.
- Ryanair
On August 30, 2006 Irish airline Ryanair announced that it would introduce a facility to allow passengers to use their mobile phones in flight. This service started on February 19, 2009 with 20 of their Dublin-based aircraft.
- Turkish Airlines
The Turkish Airlines position states that "Mobile phones interfere with flight instruments and have a negative effect on flight safety."
- Mobile on corporate jet
Dassault Aviation implemented a new concept designated SafeCell on April 2, 2009 when Falcon 2000 started flying.
- United Kingdom
On October 18, 2007, the Communications Office issued a proposal for a technical and autoridational approach that would be adopted to allow this to European GSM users on the 1800 MHz band on registered aircraft in the UK. and on March 26, 2008 Ofcom approved the use of picnic support mobile phones on the plane in the UK. The airline must first complete the aircraft with picocells and apply for a license.
Rules and practices in the United States
To prevent disruption of the mobile phone network from the effects of mobile phones moving quickly at altitude (see Technical discussion, below), the FCC has prohibited the use of mobile phones in all aircraft in flight. The FCC does, however, allocate the spectrum in the 450 MHz and 800 MHz frequency bands for use by equipment designed and tested as "safe for air-to-ground services" and this system uses earth stations that are much more separate from standard cellular systems. In 450-MHz co-channel band assignments are at least 497 miles apart and in the 800-MHz band only certain sites are authorized by the FCC. The 450 MHz service is limited to "general aviation" users, usually corporate jets, while the 800 MHz spectrum can be used by aircraft as well as for general aviation. The 450-MHz spectrum is named AGRAS while the 800-MHz service name is being reviewed after the spectrum auction in 2006.
FAA in 14 C.F.R ç§ 91.21 prohibits the use of portable electronic devices, including cell phones, for all commercial flights and for private flights made under instrument flight regulations (IFR). It is possible that the airline (or, for privately operated aircraft, the pilot) may make exceptions to this rule if the operator considers the device safe. This effectively gives airlines, or private pilots, the final word on what devices can be safely used on an airplane as far as the FAA is concerned even though FCC restrictions are still in effect.
- Note that for aircraft operated by airlines, pilots are not considered "operators" and can not legally allow exceptions to airline restrictions even if pilots can specify additional restrictions .
On February 11, 2014, the House Committee on Transport and Infrastructure approved the Prohibition of In-Flight Sound Communications under the Mobile Wireless Device Act. The bill would ban airplane passengers from talking on mobile during flight. In September 2014, a bipartisan group of MPs opposed the FCC ended the ban on mobile phones aboard, citing safety as one of the main concerns.
Regulatory status in Europe
In September 2014, the European Aviation Safety Agency removed a ban on mobile use during the flight.
Regulatory status in India
On January 19, 2018, the Indian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRAI) allows the use of mobile phones and internet access via Wi-Fi on-board all flights operating in Indian airspace. However, passengers are only allowed to make cell phone calls when the plane is at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). TRAI states that the high restriction is to ensure "compatibility with terrestrial cellular networks".
Technology of the future
Several US airlines have announced plans to install new technology in aircraft that will allow mobile phones to be used on planes, pending approval by the FCC and FAA. This method is similar to that used in most cars on the German ICE train. The plane will carry a device known as a picocell. A picocell acts as a miniature base station (such as a cell tower) communicating with the mobile phone in the plane and delivering signals to either a satellite or terrestrial-based system. Pikocell will be designed and maintained for full compatibility with aircraft avionics. Communication between the picocell and the rest of the telephone network will be on a separate frequency that does not interfere with the mobile system or aviation of the aircraft, as well as the existing on-board proprietary telephony systems in many commercial aircraft. Since the picocell antenna inside the aircraft will be very close to the passenger and inside the airplane shell both the picocell output power and the mobile phone can be reduced to a very low level, which will reduce the risk of interference. Such systems have been tested on several flights in the United States under the waiver of the FCC.
ARINC and Telenor have established joint ventures to offer such services on commercial aircraft. Mobile phone calls are routed via satellite to the ground network and the on-board EMI filtering system prevents cell phones from attempting to contact land-based networks.
The system is relatively easy to apply to customers in most of the world where GSM phones that operate on one of two bands are the norm. The number of incompatible mobile phone systems in the United States and some other countries makes the situation more difficult - it is unclear whether the onboard reps will be compatible with all the different mobile phone protocols (TDMA, GSM, CDMA, iDen) and their respective providers.
Technical discussion
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) currently prohibits the use of any in-flight aircraft. The reason given is that cell phone systems rely on frequency reuse, allowing a dramatic increase in the number of subscribers that can be served in a geographic area on a limited number of radio spectrum, and operating the phones at altitude may violate fundamental assumptions that allow channels to be reused for work.
See also
- Landline air telephone service
- Airplane mode
References
Note
Further reading
- Study: Up to 15 Mobile Phones are Left During Each Flight
- Study: In-flight cell calls pose a risk to planes
- 'Hello? I'm on the plane ': Ryanair passengers will be able to use the phone on the plane - at a price
- 47 CFR Ã,§ 22.925: Prohibition of mobile phone operation in air
External links
- 14 CFR Ã,§ 91.21: FAA rules on portable electronic devices
- Circular Advisor 91.21-1A: Use of portable electronic devices
- Annoying Mobile Phones with Aircraft Instruments: BUSTED, episode summary MythBusters
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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