GPS & Planes

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garyfzs

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Hi All
Does anyone know if it is ok to use a gps while on a plane
 
GPS + Planes

GPS units are receivers only so there shouldn't really be any problem.

Any electrical device brought on board, even if not purposefully designed as a transmitter, could remotely actuate a part of the aircrafts fly by wire systems or navigation/comms equipment through being inadequate shielded in its quality of design or manufacture . So the CAA reserves the right to issue prohibitions in the future on any of the following (but hav'n't yet on any except mobile telephones which are obviously classed as transmitters).

Electronic Calculators Radio Receivers
Hearing Aids Electronic Computers
Colostomy Rings Electronic Games TV Receivers
Electronic Watches Tape Recorders Photographic Equipment
Tape Players Electronic Clocks Video Equipment Cardiac Pacemakers!


There is a bit of a recent flight deck moan going on about the Omega Navigation system (a commercial aviation clever GPS) which is getting a lot more anomalies than expected - possibly being thrown up by onboard passenger electronic equipment).

The CAA and FAA are watching the situation.

The other worry- officially unvoiced as yet - is that passengers on aircraft caught fiddling with a GPS may be logging the position of the aircraft for some nefarious purpose. This worry seems reasonable.....

So watch out in the news in the near future for some poor inadequately certain of his position nerd being inadvertantly slotted by an oversure of himself sky marshal.
 

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Re: GPS + Planes

boundless said:
The other worry- officially unvoiced as yet - is that passengers on aircraft caught fiddling with a GPS may be logging the position of the aircraft for some nefarious purpose. This worry seems reasonable.....

So watch out in the news in the near future for some poor inadequately certain of his position nerd being inadvertantly slotted by an oversure of himself sky marshal. [/B]

Don't need to be onboard.... log on to the Acars data will do the trick, enough data there...
 
In pre 9/11 days, I tried to use the GPS to keep me entertained but the reception was rubish probably due to the isolation of the plane body...and all the elctronic equipment on board maybe introducing interferences...
 
I used my 60cs on a recent flight to Italy. It kept the kids entertained and was a usefull educational opportunity to identify the countries and Cities we were flying over.

Interestingly it also appeared to show somethings that looked like other aircraft in the air is this possible ?
 
ktm520 said:
I used my 60cs on a recent flight to Italy. It kept the kids entertained and was a usefull educational opportunity to identify the countries and Cities we were flying over.

Interestingly it also appeared to show somethings that looked like other aircraft in the air is this possible ?

NO
 
Re: GPS + Planes

boundless said:

There is a bit of a recent flight deck moan going on about the Omega Navigation system (a commercial aviation clever GPS) which is getting a lot more anomalies than expected - possibly being thrown up by onboard passenger electronic equipment).

The CAA and FAA are watching the situation.


If that's the Omega system I'm thinking of then no wonder there are anomalies. I think it was switched off in 1997 :confused:
 
Use a GPSR in a plane? No, never, very dangerous, that will cause the plane to crash right away.

Seriously - I cannot see any technical reason for not using a GPSR in an aircraft. I suppose that if you put the GPSR right beside, for example, the aircraft's own GPS antenna, it might cause problems - normally GPS antennas on aircraft need to be 3 feet apart - but it would be pretty difficult to get that close to the antenna on any large passenger aircraft.

Many cabin crew are not familiar with what GPSR's are, so, they lump them into the general category of "if it's not on the permitted list, then don't use it". My experience as a passenger has been that if the cabin crew know what a GPSR is, they generally let you use it. If they don't know what it is, they generally request that you not use it.

It's difficult to get reliable signal reception in an aircraft unless you put the antenna right up to the window. It's best to hold the antenna at the very bottom of the window. Swivel-type antennas, such as the SP III or 176/276/296, work best. Hold them at the bottom of the window, point them out at about a 45 degree angle off vertical.

PanEuropean
(still too busy to get to all the other messages but hopefully will be back soon).

PS: Here's a real smile for all of you - it proves that it is a very small world after all: The photo was taken in Canada this summer when I was training some new pilots. The regular pilot of the plane in the picture is none other than Twotter, the person who made the post just above this one!
 

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