Confirmed: Wi-Fi can cause aircraft instrumentation to "blank"
31 replies, posted
[url]http://www.zdnet.com.au/wi-fi-proven-to-interfere-with-aircraft-339311113.htm[/url]
[quote]
[b]It's official: using Wi-Fi on a plane can interfere with a pilot's navigational equipment, according to a statement from airline equipment manufacturers Honeywell Avionics and Boeing today.[/b]
According to a report first published by US aviation site Flightglobal, Honeywell Avionics has confirmed that its Phase 3 Display Units used by pilots in Boeing 737 aircraft are susceptible to "blanking" in the presence of Wi-Fi equipment.
Boeing confirmed to ZDNet Australia this afternoon that the issue does exist, but said that it has not delivered any planes suffering the fault.
"Blanking of the Phase 3 Display Units (DUs) has been reported during airline EMI (electromagnetic interference) certification testing of wireless broadband systems (Wi-Fi) on various Next-Generation 737 aeroplanes," Boeing told ZDNet Australia in a statement.
"Boeing has deferred the activation of wireless systems that interface with passenger devices that could potentially interfere with the DU 3 displays," it added.
"Honeywell has assured us that they are working to address the problem and we are satisfied that they are taking the necessary steps to do so."
Screens that blanked during testing restored themselves within an acceptable time frame during testing, said Honeywell Avionics in a statement, and posed no risk to aircraft operations.
"The screens reappeared well within Boeing's specified recovery time frame. The screens have not blanked in flight and are not a safety of flight issue. Honeywell is working to ensure the problem is addressed and fixed and that our technology will continue to exceed specifications," Honeywell said.
While cabin crew do instruct passengers to power down Wi-Fi devices for the entirety of flights around the world, some US-based carriers install Wi-Fi equipment into their aircraft for passenger use.
ZDNet Australia contacted Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Qantas regarding the issue. Only Jetstar responded at the time of publication, saying that it didn't use the equipment susceptible to the fault.
[/quote]
Nice to know we're in safe hands when we fly.
Hasn't this been disproved several times...?
[editline]10th March 2011[/editline]
Australia just wants an excuse to ban something else.
If you read, it says it isn't a flight issue.
Isn't there an airline that allows you to phone with your cell phone or something?
I'm probably not understanding something here about the electrical design and voltage requirements of these panels. Why are they so vulnerable to wireless intereference?
[QUOTE=MIPS;28522105]I'm probably not understanding something here about the electrical design and voltage requirements of these panels. Why are they so vulnerable to wireless intereference?[/QUOTE]
This.
The electronics in a car doesn't fuck up if you're on the phone, neither does anything else, except planes.
[QUOTE=sp00ks;28522551]This.
The electronics in a car doesn't fuck up if you're on the phone, neither does anything else, except planes.[/QUOTE]
I suppose it would be more likely in the case of planes since they rely much more on wireless signals from command towers and such.
[QUOTE=sp00ks;28522551]This.
The electronics in a car doesn't fuck up if you're on the phone, neither does anything else, except planes.[/QUOTE]
It's just the fear mongering media. Dun worry
[QUOTE=MIPS;28522105]I'm probably not understanding something here about the electrical design and voltage requirements of these panels. Why are they so vulnerable to wireless intereference?[/QUOTE]
Since this occurred during a test they likely increased the power of a WiFi signal till it did cause an issue. Pretty much all electronic equipment has a threshold for how much EMI it can take before it begins to fail.
[QUOTE=Tangara;28521964]Nice to know we're in safe hands when we fly.[/QUOTE]
I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not?
If you are...
[editline]10th March 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=ChristopherB;28522625]Since this occurred during a test they likely increased the power of a WiFi signal till it did cause an issue. Pretty much all electronic equipment has a threshold for how much EMI it can take before it begins to fail.[/QUOTE]
This.
[editline]10th March 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=ken188;28522594]It's just the fear mongering media. Dun worry[/QUOTE]
No it's not. There was a point when the frequencies used by cellular devices (not cellular phones necessarily) did interfere with certain avionics.
according to [url]http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/03/10/354179/wi-fi-interference-with-honeywell-avionics-prompts-boeing.html[/url]
it's really just that one screen.
[QUOTE=DogGunn;28522987]I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not?
If you are...
[editline]10th March 2011[/editline]
This.
[editline]10th March 2011[/editline]
No it's not. There was a point when the frequencies used by cellular devices (not cellular phones necessarily) did interfere with certain avionics.[/QUOTE]
Was. There's no reason to try to get people worked up over a problem that's been fixed.
In other news:
Australia bans Airplanes.
hi boeing, I came up with this amazing solution: shield your wires and equipment better
They did this in a big ass hangar with wifi equipment in the cockpit i bet.
ITT: We all are educated on how planes work. How phones and Wi-Fi work and we have all conducted several experiments to determine that this is either a) true or b) false.
This probably won't be a problem in the future, the A380's cockpit and nose are surrounded by a Faraday cage for this very reason. I suspect this will become the norm in the future.
Doesn't matter, most if not all aircraft have analog alternatives to every single instrument.
[QUOTE=Virtanen;28524354]Doesn't matter, most if not all aircraft have analog alternatives to every single instrument.[/QUOTE]
That probably won't stay for long.
Given the fact that a large percentage of plane crashes stem from humans being unable (Either through training, intellect or electronic interference) to correct the automated systems, I don't think that they'll do away with safe-guards so quickly.
Because most if not 75% of the planes in use today were built are over 25 years old when cellphones were hardly known about.
[QUOTE=CjienX;28521969]Australia just wants an excuse to ban something else.[/QUOTE]
This.
[QUOTE=CjienX;28521969]Hasn't this been disproved several times...?
[editline]10th March 2011[/editline]
Australia just wants an excuse to ban something else.[/QUOTE]
[editline]10th March 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=GameCube;28527375]This.[/QUOTE]
According to a report [B]first published by US aviation site Flightglobal[/B], Honeywell Avionics has confirmed that its Phase 3 Display Units used by pilots in Boeing 737 aircraft are susceptible to "blanking" in the presence of Wi-Fi equipment.
Wireless signals can interfere with aviation equipment.
If you're a cheap bastard and didn't shield your wires [B]like you're fucking supposed to.[/B]
[QUOTE=sp00ks;28522551]This.
The electronics in a car doesn't fuck up if you're on the phone, neither does anything else, except planes.[/QUOTE]
Your car isn't constantly communicating wirelessly with distant towers
[QUOTE=tomatmann;28523999]In other news:
Australia bans Airplanes.[/QUOTE]
Next up:
Australia bans air.
[QUOTE=David29;28528849]Next up:
Australia bans air.[/QUOTE]
Next up:
joke stops being funny
[QUOTE=Zeke129;28528700]Your car isn't constantly communicating wirelessly with distant towers[/QUOTE]
Well, not usually anyway.
[editline]10th March 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=David29;28528849]Next up:
Australia bans air.[/QUOTE]
Don't give them any ideas.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;28528863]Next up:
joke stops being funny[/QUOTE]
Humour now banned in Australia.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;28528863]Next up:
joke stops being funny[/QUOTE]
That was the previous step.
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