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Phones cause mid-air chaos
14sep03
THE use of mobile phones and other electronic devices on planes had resulted in more than 100 so-called safety incidents in Australia during the past decade.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) wants laws to prohibit the use of mobile phones on planes at all times.
It also wants a ban on the use of laptop computers, video cameras, and electronic games during take-offs and landings.
Existing regulations empower crews to ban the use of any device that can threaten the safety of an aircraft.
According to CASA, crew on a recent 737 flight out of Sydney blamed an upward pitch and loss of thrust on an active mobile phone.
CASA said other incidents in Australia linked to portable electronic devices included:
INTERFERENCE with radio transmissions;
AUTO-PILOT malfunctions, including uncommanded climbs, oscillations, and disengagements;
FALSE readings from flight management computers;
GLOBAL positioning system failures, and;
FALSE alerts from engine warning systems.
A report in CASA's Flight Safety Australia magazine said that, although it used to be difficult to prove a link between electronic devices and in-flight incidents, evidence of a link was increasing, supported by controlled testing.
"The UK's Civil Aviation Authority has just carried out the most definitive study of electronic interference, finding a range of problems caused by mobile telephone transmissions," CASA said in a statement.
"In a controlled test environment, mobile telephone radiation caused compass freeze, navigation instrument errors, communication interference, and false warning reports."
The Flight Safety Australia report called on cabin crews to take firm action when passengers used electronic devices, and to make detailed reports of all incidents.
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