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Comments (7)
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Save/ShareHey Federal Aviation Administration, the rules governing electronic devices on airplanes are not based on science, writes Nick Bilton on the Disruptions blog at the New York Times. Tests show an ebook reader like Amazon's Kindle won't bring a plane down.
For the past month, Bilton has been interviewing experts at independent testing centers. These labs study electronics, to make sure they will never interfere with other gizmos.
For example, tests by EMT Labs found that the Kindle produces nearly no electrical interference. I
Bilton reports that: "The F.A.A. requires that planes must be able to withstand up to 100 volts per meter of electrical interference."
In comparison, EMT Labs found that the Amazon Kindle emits less than 0.00003 of a volt.
What if a airliner's cabin was filled with hundreds of such devices?
Still no problem, say the experts interviewed in the story. Having multiple electrical devices doesn't multiply the effect.
Maybe the F.A.A. will admit its rules need a fresh review for all major electronics. Banning phone calls during takeoff and landing makes sense. But passengers should be allowed to shift their devices into "airplane mode" to block radio signals and be allowed to continue playing them.
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Hell yeah I couldn't agree with you more! I've always thought that shutting off electronic devices was silly and completely unnecessary. Finally an article that proves it!
Posted By Laura K on December 29, 2011, 1:35 PM
Hell yeah I couldn't agree with you more! I've always thought that shutting off electronic devices was silly and completely unnecessary. Finally an article that proves it!
Posted By Laura K on December 29, 2011, 1:40 PM
Each electronic manufacturer will claim that their device does not emit interference. All types of precautions have been employed such as ferrite beads which are passive electric components used to suppress high frequency noise in electronic circuits. There was never a guarantee that these devices work 100% of the time as equipment will still spurt signals that collectively created a situation called harmonics. This occurred to me as a controller on the ground when transmissions overrode one another when certain frequencies were being keyed simultaneously. These types of spurious signals not only interfered with aircraft communications but also harmonically interfered with instrument landing system signals. Are you willing to take the chance that someone using their ipad or another device made in China (which we can all trust implicitly) for purposes other than just reading a book or playing a silly game won't cause interference with all of the electronic equipment on an aircraft that could result in a tragic occurrence? Do you want to be in the first airplane that disproves the article you read?
Posted By Tom Klocek on December 30, 2011, 8:53 AM
The "first" airplane that disproves the article? Seriously? Do you honestly think that every would-be terrorist hasn't already tried their absolute best to cause a disruption with multiple (and possibly modified) devices? Do you really think the flight attendants are checking to see if every passenger has their devices truly in the "off" position or in "airplane mode"?
A little common sense will tell you that these devices have been safe for perhaps many years.
Posted By Will on January 8, 2012, 2:37 PM
Takeoff and landing are the most dangerous parts of any flight. Just as texting and driving compromise attention and focus, so would cell phone usage impact any emergency situation.
Posted By Sue B on January 22, 2012, 7:42 AM
Safe or unsafe, why must people act as though it's some astronomical inconvenience to turn off a device for ten lousy minutes?
Posted By Mel on January 25, 2012, 3:31 PM
When now whenever a remark is added I get four messages with the same opinion and I originally mentioned I engaged the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox. Is there any way you are able to remove me from that program? Thanks!
Posted By Pascu Florin on May 6, 2012, 10:34 AM