Travel Technology - GPS on American Airlines

I apologize if this topic has been discussed on this forum before. I am new here.

American Airlines prohibits the use of GPS receivers aboard aircraft. I believe that some other airlines allow them.

Does anyone know of any good technical reasons why they should be prohibited. It seems to me that it is virtually impossible for a handheld GPS to interfere with aircraft navigation equipment. A GPS receiver generates about as much radiation as a quartz wristwatch, and the RF it generates is not in the same frequency range as the satellites that the pilot's GPS is using.

If any passengers aboard the 9/11 aircraft had GPS receivers, they might have realized what was happening.

Why does American (and some other airlines) prohibit GPS?

From their perspective, there's little to gain by saying yes. Only a few passengers are likely to have one and really want to use it, so they don't risk annoying many by banning them. Given that, there's not much to encourage them to allow them if there's even a microscopic risk of a problem.

After 9/11, I am surprised that all carriers do not prohibit GPS receivers on board. After all, other than idle curiosity, why do passengers neeed to know exactly where their airplane is? And obviously, there can be dangers allowing a device that can track from present position to another given position.

Not being overly paranoid here, but if the TSA finds a problem with my nail clipper, I am surprised that the potential for misuse of GPS hasn't occurred to them.

Unless something has changed in the last couple of years, United allows GPS unless the captain specifically overrides what is in the Flight Operations Manual. When I used to have a handheld GPS, I had the section number of the FOM written on a piece of tape on the back of my GPS and when questioned by an FA I would ask him/her to check with the captain and take a look at section so-and-so of the FOM.

Was never denied after politely doing that.

After 9/11, I am surprised that all carriers do not prohibit GPS receivers on board. After all, other than idle curiosity, why do passengers neeed to know exactly where their airplane is? And obviously, there can be dangers allowing a device that can track from present position to another given position.

Not being overly paranoid here, but if the TSA finds a problem with my nail clipper, I am surprised that the potential for misuse of GPS hasn't occurred to them.

This has been beaten to death over the years in this forum, the DL forum, travelbuzz, you name it. The fact is there is no legit reason to ban GPS (indeed, DL allows them).

Keep in mind that if you are on a plane that is flying 30,000 and you have access to an airphone to tell someone where you are at, you've already moved hundreds of feet before you even finish telling them your latitude and longittude.

There is no scientific proof that a danger exists. I'll agree, your not being overly paranoid, but to suggest that there is potential for misuse of a GPS is definitely showing some type of paranoia.

I've used my GPS to calculate routes, arrival times, make comparisons to how many times I've flown over the same waypoint, etc. etc. It also gives you a keen understanding of the vast highways in the sky. I have to admit I have 4 GPS devices. A Garmin hand-held, one for my laptop, and 1 in each of my two Lexus automobile navigation systems.

When I used to have a handheld GPS, I had the section number of the FOM written on a piece of tape on the back of my GPS and when questioned by an FA I would ask him/her to check with the captain and take a look at section so-and-so of the FOM.

I did the same thing on DL!!!

Afteralll, JetBlue and DL (Former Song Jets) and im sure others, already have a mapping system built into their IFEs anyways...

Afteralll, JetBlue and DL (Former Song Jets) and im sure others, already have a mapping system built into their IFEs anyways...

And none of them are remotely close to the sophistication of many handheld devices today. They're great to say "Oh, so that's where I am, how high I am, how fast I'm gong, where I'm going, and where I've been!" But that's about it. More than enough for most people, true. But not for those of us who carry a GPS.

Recommendations for a GPS that works in both the US and europe though?

Recommendations for a GPS that works in both the US and europe though?

I absolutely love my most recent handheld... the Garmin Map60cs. Garmin has added a new model to eventually replace the Map60cs which includes a secure digital card. It is called the gpsmap60csx. When I travel to Europe, I just load my European maps on mine.

Does anyone know if CO allows you to use a GPS?

Does anyone know if CO allows you to use a GPS?
From www.gpsinformation.net

The Airlines which OFFICIALLY APPROVE the use of GPS receivers during CRUISE
This actually means pilot discretion in all cases.

Aer Lingus (Irish, as of April 2005)
Air Canada
Air New Zealand
Air Malaysia
Air Tanzania
Alitalia (Italy)
Braathens (owned by SAS) Norway
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
CAAC (China Airlines, Mainland China)
Continental Airlines (as of April 2005, changed AGAIN! These folks change twice a year.)
CrossAir
Delta Airlines
EasyJet (Europe)
Egypt Air
FinnAir (as of May 2003)
First Choice Airlines (UK) (If No, ask staff to check flight manual)
Frontier Airlines(as of December 2004)
Icelandair
Jet Airways (India)
KLM (Flight operations book under rule 120.8.5)
LOT Polish Airlines
Maersk Air (Denmark)
MidWest Express (USA)
Nationwide Airlines (South Africa)
NorthWest Airlines (Flight operations book under rule 120.8.5)
Qantas
Precision Air (Tanzania)
Reno Airlines
Ryanair (Irish)
Singapore Air Lines
SAS (flip-flopped again as of 2/2/04)
SN Brussels Airlines (as of 11/25/03 per <KTeirbroodt@brusselsairlines.com>
South African Airways
Southwest Airlines
Sun Country (Regional USA)
Swiss (Was Swissair and CrossAir)
Tunis Air
United Air Lines (may ask if your GPS is FCC Class B approved. All handhelds are. Show them in the manual.)
US Airways (was US Air)
Vanguard Airlines
Virgin Airlines
WestJet Airlines (Canada)

Airlines which OFFICIALLY DO NOT APPROVE the use of GPS receivers at ANY time during flight.
(*) Individual Pilots may allow GPS use. (It never hurts to ask the pilot on any flight. Oftentimes, cabin attendants say NO automatically. If the cabin attendant says "no" respectfully ask them to make your request to the pilot.)
Alaska Airlines (as of 04/01, Yep, they changed AGAIN)
Air Tran
America West Airlines
American Airlines (as of 21 July 2000)
Britannia Airlines (as of May 2003)
El Al Airlines (Israel)
Hawaiian Airlines(*)
Horizon Airlines(*)
Iberia Airlines(*)
JetBlue Airways (USA, as of January 2004)(*)
Lufthansa Airlines
Mexicana airlines
Midway Express
Monarch Airlines
Spirit Airlines
Transavia (Dutch)
Varig Airlines

Is it Safe to use a handheld GPS Receiver on a Commercial Aircraft?
A definitive look at the question including the Government Rules and Regulations on the Subject
This is a question that generates a lot of comment and confusion on the newsgroup, but few people have the necessary experience to give an answer based on reasoned engineering experience. Here are my answers and comments.

1) GPS Receivers are known to radiate RF energy from the oscillators and computer logic circuits inside the GPS. Won't this possibly interfere with the navigation equipment on airplanes?

Answer:
Every electronic device with a computer or oscillator inside radiates *some* radio frequency energy. The key word is *some*. A cellular telephone, ham radio transmitter, business band radio transmitter, CB radio or similar transmitting device is DESIGNED to radiate significant amounts of RF energy. They *DO* have the potential to interfere with various Avionics equipment and SHOULD NEVER be used on board an aircraft during flight. Many airlines prohibit their use at all times while on board a commercial airliner.

With other electronic devices, such as laptop computers, electronic games, AM and FM Radio receivers, and the like, the answers are not so black and white. There are documented cases of AM/FM radios causing interference with Avionic systems and as a result, AM/FM radio receivers are generally prohibited. Most electronic games are cheaply built and do not have the same FCC mandated requirements for shielding as do other electronic systems such as computers and GPS receivers.. Even though these game devices are low power, they have been accused of interference with Avionics during the terminal navigation phase and so are prohibited except during cruise (typically above 10,000 feet). Laptop computers are now in widespread use by passengers in airplanes. While these devices are relatively high overall power consumption (in the 10 watt range) they are generally well designed, with adequate shielding. As a result, laptop computers are allowed to be used during the cruise portions of virtually all passenger airline flights.

Well then, What about GPS Receivers?

GPS receivers are very low power devices. The typical TOTAL energy used is less than a one watt rate. If all of this power were converted to RF, then there WOULD be a problem. However, the fact is that a) only a very tiny part of this energy is capable of being converted to power that *might* generate RFI and b) the designers of GPS receivers are required to consider RFI during the design so that the finished product passes FCC Part 15 Class B (residential) EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) tests. (Note: Contrary to some people's intuition, Class B (residential) EMI testing is considerably more stringent than Class A (Industrial/Commercial) EMI tests. This is because in residential situations, a neighbor may be just 10 feet away whereas in industrial environments, neighbors are usually further away.) c) By design, (or happy accident), the "spurs" generated by a GPS generally fall outside the communications frequencies used by Aircraft and so have not been a problem even though a few "spurs" exist. (If no one is listening on a frequency where a potential RFI signal exists, then there is no interference.)

What is the TRACK RECORD of GPS receivers in so far as EMI is concerned? Garmin and Magellan tell us that there has never been a REPORT of any problem caused to any avionics system as a result of the use of a GPS on an aircraft. No pilot or engineer on the GPS newsgroup has ever reported a GPS receiver causing interference to an avionics system on an aircraft. About 80% of the airlines in our survey permit the use of handheld GPS receivers by passengers. I believe it is safe to say, "If EMI from a handheld GPS were a problem *somebody* would have noticed it by now". My conclusion therefore is that the use of a low power GPS receiver on an aircraft is substantially less likely than a laptop computer to generate significant amounts of EMI and since laptop computers are judged "safe" then GPS receivers are "safer".

2) But SOME airlines do not permit the use of GPS receivers. Why is that if they are "safe"?

Answer:
Some safety officials are more cautious than others. Some are less technically competent than others. If there is a "potential hazard", no matter how insignificant, it is always easier to say "no" if you have no basis for a decision. In the case at hand, to say, "yes, it is safe to use a GPS on board an aircraft" requires a substantial amount of technical knowledge and expertise in a complex field. To say "no" you cannot use a GPS on board an aircraft requires no such skills and is "safe" in many contexts.. (Note: One aviation industry EMI expert who reviewed this material suggests that my reasoning above is overly harsh. He states that *some* safety experts are fearful that some FUTURE Avionics equipment may incur harmful interference from a GPS and once the GPS "barn door" is open, it will be difficult to close it.)

3) If a GPS is safe, why can't I use it on an airplane anyway, even if the pilot says NO?

Answer:
This would be a) unwise, b) illegal and c) dangerous. Never presume that you have more authority than the Captain of a ship! He is responsible for the lives of his passengers and likely has knowledge and experience about his aircraft and/or equipment and/or this particular flight that no one else has.. The use of a GPS by a passenger is NOT worth a confrontation and a possible visitation from the police or FBI when you land..

4) I have used my GPS during takeoff and landing and nothing happened. Why can't I keep doing it?

Answer:
Takeoff and landings are the most dangerous parts of a flight. Even though the likelihood of an EMI problem from a GPS receiver is low, there is no reason to take a chance on interference with a critical system during a critical moment during takeoff and landings. The life you save could be mine (and yours).

5) You are WRONG! I put my GPS a foot or two from my scanner and I can hear "spurs" at several frequencies. Therefore, the GPS CAN cause EMI problems.

Answer:
Yes, you can hear a "spur" at some discrete points with a wideband scanner. However, these "spurs" are very low power and the typical scanner receiver is not well shielded. The energy thus radiated can only be DETECTED a few feet away and a) such signals will not normally cause problems with communications receivers since the signal energy dissipates as the SQUARE of the distance between the radiator and the receiver. Probably the main reason why these "potential" RFI signals have not been a problem is that these "spurs" have not been found to fall on frequencies used for aircraft navigation and communications. Such "spurs" have the "potential" to cause problems, but due to the small signal levels and the frequency of the GPS receiver spurs, they have SO FAR not been a source of interference to Avionics systems. (Again: If they HAD been a problem, someone would have noticed.)

The BOTTOM LINE (According to Joe)

The interference potential of handheld GPS receivers is minimal. However, no passenger should EVER operate a GPS receiver on board an aircraft except in strict accord with the directives of the flight crew.


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Now as to FAA rules and regulations:

14 CFR Part 91.21 Portable electronic devices.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may
operate, nor may any operator or pilot in command of an aircraft allow the
operation of, any portable electronic device on any of the following U.S.-
registered civil aircraft:
(1) Aircraft operated by a holder of an air carrier operating certificate
or an operating certificate; or
(2) Any other aircraft while it is operated under IFR.
(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to--
(1) Portable voice recorders;
(2) Hearing aids;
(3) Heart pacemakers;
(4) Electric shavers; or
(5) Any other portable electronic device that the operator of the aircraft
has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or
communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used.
(c) In the case of an aircraft operated by a holder of an air carrier
operating certificate or an operating certificate, the determination required
by paragraph (b)(5) of this section shall be made by that operator of the
aircraft on which the particular device is to be used. In the case of other
aircraft, the determination may be made by the pilot in command or other
operator of the aircraft.

And then the FAA Advisory Circular on the subject:

http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/acs/91-21_1.txt

These regulations place the entire burden of ensuring no adverse interference on the Pilot in Command of the aircraft. I am sure you can understand that some pilots are more cautious than others.