Are GPS systems allowed on in carryons?

[Loafman]

Cell phones and GPS do nothing as far as interference. They should be allowed on all flights. I always leave mine on in flight...all 4000 hrs or so...and have yet to see anything happen.


Phones were banned after phone companies could not bill people when making calls from above the surface... in short the phones picked up more than one antena at once which meant they could not tell where the phone was making the call from. Thence they didn't know whether to charge local charges, long distance charges or even roaming charges. So the phone ban was put in place after much force by the phone companies, it had nothng to do with the airlines and interference.


GPS, well there is no logical reason for banning that one. If it is going to interfere with any systems, it would not only be caused by secondary receivers in the rear, but also by the main receiver atop the a/c.


To answer your question, yes you may carry it in your carry on luggage. I always carry my electronics suite with me because i do not want those "security" people touching my stuff.

Every AT&T cellphone I've ever been around has interfered with every intercom / comm radio I've been using at the time. Made no difference what type comm system, but the common thread was whatever technology AT&T used. (TDMA?) Most CDMA phones simply don't work over about 1500' AGL. Their towers propagate the signal in a horizontal plane so that no energy is wasted sending signals off into space.

As for GPS interference, some handheld devices are not sheilded very well and the oscillators operate on a harmonic of VHF DME frequencies. I've seen this only a few times in my old Twin Commander with Collins microline equipment. I used to use my Garmin 295 in the ATR cockpit with the antenna in the unheated side window. In the CRJ 700, it's completely useless because it can't acquire a signal through the heated windows.

 

[HerrJeremy]

Hugh, I dont see how having a girl friend online is "nutty". I've known her a long time and if she wasnt in texas we would have met a long time ago. Thanks to the internet, webcams, and phones, we've developed a serious relationship. It happens all the time, so I fail to see the humor or nutiness in it.

Good luck, man.
Met my woman the same way, and have been married for four years. Wish I was a pilot back then though....drove 4 days from SEA to ROA many, many times...

As for the GPS, I wanted to use it once on an American flight, but the FA said nothing that pulls an outside signal is allowed; although the Captain did tell me the flight plan.
I didnt know that was just AA, or I would have tried on Delta recently...

 

[DenverDude2002]

Thanks for the encouragement HerrJeremy. We both realize this is a rare and special thing thats happened between us, so hopefully it all goes well . So far it has.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Do let us know how it works out.

 

[logolight]

Captains and FO's like myself always forget to turn off our cell phones before take off and never once has it interfered with NAV/COMMS.
The reason for prohibiting cell phones and GPS devices on the gound is because it creates a distraction during the critical phases of flight and also creates extra flying debris if an incident occurs. In flight, cell phones are usually worthless because they don't recieve signals at altitude. As for GPS, it's probably for security reasons.

 

[English]

My cellphone receives signals in flight. I've received text messages up to 31,000 feet before, after having discovered I accidently left the thing on after takeoff. So, cell phones are not worthless in flight.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Captains and FO's like myself always forget to turn off our cell phones before take off and never once has it interfered with NAV/COMMS.

There's some solid reasoning! "It's never happened to me, therefore it never will."

The reason for prohibiting cell phones and GPS devices on the gound is because it creates a distraction during the critical phases of flight and also creates extra flying debris if an incident occurs. [/B]

your source?

 

[ShawnC]

The reason for prohibiting cell phones and GPS devices on the gound is because it creates a distraction during the critical phases of flight and also creates extra flying debris if an incident occurs. In flight, cell phones are usually worthless because they don't recieve signals at altitude. As for GPS, it's probably for security reasons.

Actually I believe the FCC, not the FAA bans the use of cell phones for none IFR aircraft. And the FCC's reasoning is because of the older phones will tower hop causing the transmission to be received by more towers than it was meant to causing interference (similar thing supposedly happens to VOR's at the upper altitudes).

 

[VettePilot]

Initial contact happens via the internet all the time. It's a little unusual to cultivate that into a "serious" relationship without actually meeting in person, though. All too often, these sort of meetings have a way of disappointing. Unfortunately, people are sometimes quite deceptive when they have the protection of not being there in person. I hope this doesn't happen to you and that your "girlfriend" turns out to be in person, what you imagine her to be based on the information she has supplied you thus far.

Sorry to digress here too, but I met my future wife on an aviation board (not this one, but she posts here). Our first meeting was wonderful beyond my wildest expectations, as has been each meeting since. I'll be leaving SC at the end of this week to be with her full time. A wonderful, beautiful woman, and a superb pilot too!
Good luck,
Mark

 

[DenverDude2002]

Trip was GREAT

Hey everyone,
Figured I would post a post trip report. I got back yesterday at noon from metting my now official GF in Corpus Christi Texas:

First of all a huge thanks to all you guys at American Airlines. I was able to see 3 cockpits and sit in 2. The pilots we're so cool, my thanks to all you guys for allowing student pilots like me to still imagine and refire us up for future flying!

The trip was great, it was my best vacation ever. I met Kimmy, the girl I had met for the first time online. She was great. I spent all but 15 minutes with her from thurs-monday. We had a deeper connection than either of us imagined. I've never felt so bad getting on a plane. It was the worst emotional pain I've ever felt. I miss her a lot. It wont be forever though, and we have a very good future outlook together . Thanks to all the support and encouragement from this board. The photo in my avatar is of us right before I went through security at KCRP heading home.



Sidenotes:


Security was nice for once, actualy felt like pre 9/11 for a change. First time I didnt set of the d**m metal detector since 3/01

I hate the TrAAin. could be be any crappier?

Our ERJ was 2200lbs overweight leaving dfw so they kicked 11 people off. Isnt this unusual for an ERJ-145LR?

The CRJ-700 seems pretty nice.

DFW sucked as always.

 

[likeitis]

Actually cell phones were banned on airplanes in flight not because of the FAA but because of the FCC. If you could remember back to the 80's and early 90's you will remember the old analog phones. Well the billing was more dependent on your physical location. The FCC and cell phone companies ended having people who were in airplanes making phones calls that would skip towers. Some people would be charge long distance while other who should be charged for long distance were not. Well you can see the problem with the only industry that has worse customer service than airlines.

Secondly, I know Midwest Airlines will allow GPS to be used inflight between the 10's.

 

[prpjt]

For the Non Believers

Tell ya what. In some planes cell phones do mess with the electronics. I have asked passengers to take their phones out of their purses and answer them, then turn them off. How in the world did I know their phone was ringing from behind a closed cockpit door? Because it caused distortion on both left side EFIS displays. This has happened in two different airframes.

Electrons can do weird things. I would guess that the more "electric" your plane is, the higher the probability of trouble with interference. Be safe.

 

[Ace757]

I was on a Delta flight about 3 weeks ago with a Garmin handheld, and the when I was holding it up to the window the FA asked if it was a GPS, and I said yes, and she said it was ok to use. I used it from pushback till we blocked in. everything worked great. I only lost the signal once or twice, but got it back within a few min. I was on a 767.

 

[TDTURBO]

I use my Garmin 295 on all flights, if the FA tells me to shut it off I do but never understood why. It's an aviation GPS for gods sake! I think it's out of ignorance, I don't ask anymore, I just keep it on under a book next to the window. I really don't care what the airline policy is, I'll use it anyway.

 

[LAXSaabdude]

Re: Trip was GREAT

I hate the TrAAin. could be be any crappier?

DFW sucked as always.

Thread creep alert!

What is the deal with the people that sit on the luggage rack on the TrAAin?

For those of you who have never had the pleAAsure of riding it....

The two sliding doors are located on the side-center of the car. Right across from the doors is a carpeted luggage rack, with a red placard that says "LUGGAGE RACK" right on it. You are supposed to walk in, drop your bag, and walk to one end of the train or the other and sit on the PADDED SEATS.

What happens, is the first 3 or 4 people get on the TrAAin, sit on the luggage rack, put their bags at their feet in front of them, effectively blocking the entrance for all further passengers.

AGGGGGGHHHHH!


LAXSaabdude.