Using Nuvi on Jet at 35,000 feet

[protias]

I wonder why some airlines don't allowthe use of the GPS?

I would imagine it's roughly the same reason they don't let you use cell phones--concerns about interference with the aircraft's navigation systems.

(People complaining that the airlines just want us using those stupid Airfones they spent/wasted millions of dollars on need not reply.)

Except both are registered frequencies with IEEE. I don't see how they would interfere with each other. Not to mention, how much wireless is going around the aircraft, I don't see how a cell phone inside is going to affect anything.

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[Capid1]

I had the privilege of sitting next to a pilot who was flying stand by when I was flying back from Alabama. I asked him about cell phones and such and he stated this biggest is was the interference with comm. If anyone has an At&T phone you know exactly what I'm talking about. It was mostly annoying to the pilot but the 1st class passengers with cell phones were closer and almost block out comm with the interference.

[NickT916]

i wanna go try too!! isnt it a federal crime? you might crash a plane!!! terrorist with a gps!!!

[STiMULi]

Maybe they figure that if you're going 530 mph, you probably shouldn't be inputting directions, assuming you were driving.

First direction:

Get on the ground

[bkrell]

I pulled out my GPS on a trip to Ohio once. It was fun to watch it tell me I was on various different roads ever second or two. But yeah it does make a difference by carrier and by pilot. I have had the flight attendant ask the pilot a couple of times if it was okay and every time I've been told no. IMHO, it makes even less sense than the cell phone ban, which is not even supposedly due to interference with the plane's systems.

[bart99gt]

I pulled out my GPS on a trip to Ohio once. It was fun to watch it tell me I was on various different roads ever second or two. But yeah it does make a difference by carrier and by pilot. I have had the flight attendant ask the pilot a couple of times if it was okay and every time I've been told no. IMHO, it makes even less sense than the cell phone ban, which is not even supposedly due to interference with the plane's systems.

9 times out of 10 the response of a flight attendant is pure BS, unless they're just enforcing a company policy.

I'd like to see their response with my Garmin 195, which is an aviation specific GPS.

[OpenRoad]

It's so that when passengers detect that the pilots have overshot their destination, they won't get caught sleeping in the cockpit.

[Green Voodoo]

I wonder why some airlines don't allowthe use of the GPS?

I would imagine it's roughly the same reason they don't let you use cell phones--concerns about interference with the aircraft's navigation systems.

(People complaining that the airlines just want us using those stupid Airfones they spent/wasted millions of dollars on need not reply.)

I believe the interference could be from TRANSMITTERS which cell phones are. GPS devices are receivers and should not interfere with the avionics. I do know that they may have an IF section, but so do IPODS, Computers, and other handheld devices. I am sure the possible interderence is very small or nil, but if you want the legalities on which airlines let you use your GPS here is a LINK: Airlines which APPROVE/DISPROVE GPS use in Flight


IS IT SAFE? Here is a discussion on that as well: http://gpsinformation.net/airgps/gpsrfi.htm



The BOTTOM LINE
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.

[jayson]

Always have wanted to do this, but then the "rules" get the best of me. I wish more airlines would build GPS into screens on the seatbacks.

[OpenRoad]

I wonder why some airlines don't allowthe use of the GPS?

I would imagine it's roughly the same reason they don't let you use cell phones--concerns about interference with the aircraft's navigation systems.

(People complaining that the airlines just want us using those stupid Airfones they spent/wasted millions of dollars on need not reply.)

I believe the interference could be from TRANSMITTERS which cell phones are. GPS devices are receivers and should not interfere with the avionics. I do know that they may have an IF section, but so do IPODS, Computers, and other handheld devices. I am sure the possible interderence is very small or nil, but if you want the legalities on which airlines let you use your GPS here is a LINK: Airlines which APPROVE/DISPROVE GPS use in Flight


IS IT SAFE? Here is a discussion on that as well: GPSRFI



The BOTTOM LINE
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.

I'm a pilot and fly planes with lots of new avionics, GPS, etc. I also use my cell phone and portable GPS in the cockpit. There is no interference.