I can't see how any A330 operator could be hoping that it is passenger electronics. The most reasonable response to such a finding would be grounding the aircraft or the specific electronics (to clarify, avionics, not the passengers' electronics) in question until the problem is fixed.
Originally Posted by
YVR Cockroach
If this is true, say bye bye to being able to carry any -- not just wireless -- electronics onboard.
If it was then the aircraft model in question needs to be grounded until the EMI vulnerability is fixed. Continuing to operate a passenger aircraft that could crash because of devices that most people carry on them would be gross negligence (IMO).
If you go through every passenger's carry on and checked baggage, and completely search their person, then perhaps operating such an aircraft could be excused.
Originally Posted by
BearX220
A pilot told me a story several years ago of an alleged incident aboard an El Al 747 crossing the Atlantic eastbound. The autopilot kept hiccuping, for want of a better word -- little jolts and engine surges. The first officer went downstairs to have a look out the windows, and discovered a passenger taking pictures with a digital camera. Whenever the shutter button was pressed: hiccup.
So I don't think it's unreasonable to say stray RF or other wireless signals can affect aircraft guidance systems.
If it's reasonable then any airline that continues to operate such aircraft is being unreasonable. Did the pilot in question make sure that aircraft failure was fixed, or that no digital cameras would ever be on that aircraft (or others of the same type) again? If not, I would question how much that pilot actually thought the camera was the cause.