4 ms·

Are Cellphones a Flight Danger? They Are on These Boeing Jets

6 points by cmurf 7y ago

btown 7y ago
The FAA safety bulletin: http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgad.nsf/0/c2bcf2b2a4ea336886257d64006136e5/$FILE/2014-20-06.pdf http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgad.nsf/... > The cause of the unsafe condition stated in the Discussion section of this AD [airworthiness directive] is a known susceptibility of the [Honeywell] Phase 3 DUs [display units] to RF transmissions inside and outside of the airplane. This susceptibility has been verified to exist in a range of RF spectrum (mobile satellite communications, cell phones, air surveillance and weather radar, and other systems), and is not limited to WiFi transmissions. > The phase 3 DUs provide primary flight information including airspeed, altitude, pitch and roll attitude, heading, and navigation information to the flightcrew. The NPRM proposed to require replacing the existing phase 3 DUs with new phase 3A DUs and installing new DU database software. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of flightcritical information displayed to the flightcrew during a critical phase of flight, such as an approach or takeoff, which could result in loss of airplane control at an altitude insufficient for recovery, or controlled flight into terrain. And in response to a list of various airlines saying they were unable to replicate the issue, the FAA wrote: > We do not agree with the commenters' requests. We do not agree to share the underlying data in the AD. An AD is not an appropriate vehicle for sharing proprietary data. The susceptibility of phase 3 DUs to RF transmissions was initially identified during a WiFi STC installation by an operator and a WiFi vendor and reported to the FAA. As a result of this discovery, we performed a risk assessment for in-service airplanes equipped with phase 3 DUs using our established COS process, which determined that an AD action was warranted for this issue. In 6 addition, Boeing did an independent safety review and also determined that the DU blanking was a safety issue using its own risk assessment process. This is pretty ridiculous - and scary - stuff. It's 2019 and Airplane Mode still might be necessary.

6 points by cmurf 7y ago

The FAA safety bulletin: http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgad.nsf/0/c2bcf2b2a4ea336886257d64006136e5/$FILE/2014-20-06.pdf http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgad.nsf/... > The cause of the unsafe condition stated in the Discussion section of this AD [airworthiness directive] is a known susceptibility of the [Honeywell] Phase 3 DUs [display units] to RF transmissions inside and outside of the airplane. This susceptibility has been verified to exist in a range of RF spectrum (mobile satellite communications, cell phones, air surveillance and weather radar, and other systems), and is not limited to WiFi transmissions. > The phase 3 DUs provide primary flight information including airspeed, altitude, pitch and roll attitude, heading, and navigation information to the flightcrew. The NPRM proposed to require replacing the existing phase 3 DUs with new phase 3A DUs and installing new DU database software. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of flightcritical information displayed to the flightcrew during a critical phase of flight, such as an approach or takeoff, which could result in loss of airplane control at an altitude insufficient for recovery, or controlled flight into terrain. And in response to a list of various airlines saying they were unable to replicate the issue, the FAA wrote: > We do not agree with the commenters' requests. We do not agree to share the underlying data in the AD. An AD is not an appropriate vehicle for sharing proprietary data. The susceptibility of phase 3 DUs to RF transmissions was initially identified during a WiFi STC installation by an operator and a WiFi vendor and reported to the FAA. As a result of this discovery, we performed a risk assessment for in-service airplanes equipped with phase 3 DUs using our established COS process, which determined that an AD action was warranted for this issue. In 6 addition, Boeing did an independent safety review and also determined that the DU blanking was a safety issue using its own risk assessment process. This is pretty ridiculous - and scary - stuff. It's 2019 and Airplane Mode still might be necessary.