Research Confirms Cellphones are a Threat to Aircraft

Continuing research by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has proved that mobile telephone transmissions made by airline passengers can interfere with aircraft equipment. The tests support the existing CAA ban on the use of mobile telephones on board aircraft when the engines have started. This has been in effect since the widespread introduction of mobile telephones and was supported by initial research performed in February 2000.

The latest study found that the use of mobile telephones can adversely affect navigation and communication functions, producing significant errors on instrument displays and background noise on audio outputs.

The research backs up reports from pilots, who have stated that interference from mobiles has caused:

• False notification of unsafe conditions, e.g. incorrect baggage compartment smoke alarm warnings
• Malfunction of aircraft systems
• Interrupted communications due to noise in the flight crew headphones
• Distraction of crews from their normal duties due to increased work levels and the possibility of having to invoke emergency drills

Dan Hawkes, the avionics specialist at the CAA who supervised the research, explained: "The tests demonstrate that mobile telephone use near an aircraft's flight deck or avionics equipment bay can adversely affect systems that are essential for safe flight.

"For safety reasons the current policy of prohibiting the use of mobile telephones by passengers while the aircraft's doors are closed for flight must continue."

The report also contains a number of follow-up recommendations:

• Continued restriction of mobile telephone use by passengers in aircraft
• Aircraft operators should alert their flight crews to the specific risks from mobile telephone use on the flight deck, and introduce procedures to ensure telephones are switched off. Similarly, the general aviation community should be alerted to these dangers in small aircraft
• Check-in staff should seek confirmation from passengers that mobile telephones in luggage have been switched off
• Reminder notices should be placed in airport departure lounges and at aircraft boarding points
• Research into mobile telephone interference risk should be continued to take account of continuing technological advancements

You can download the full report from the CAA web site - http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAPAP2003_03.PDF"

Posted to the site on 5th May 2003