Mythbusters Episode and FMS

No, all their tests were done with localizers, no VORs at all. Probably
no back up of that.
However, the show failed to mention that its the FCC rule that states,
no cell phones on in planes ever. The FAA rules are less strict.

-Robert


On Jan 25, 8:15 am, "Marco Leon" wrote:
Saw a repeat episode of Mythbusters for the first time last night about
the use of cell phones on an airplane and interference with cockpit
instruments. I know that this was mentioned in a November 2006 thread
briefly but the short of it was that they concluded cell phones really
CAN interfere with the VOR signals.

One of the tests however, was on a Hawker jet with a glass cockpit
(Honeywell I believe) with a FMS. They could not get any frequencies or
amplitude of cellphone signals to budge the instruments like they were
able to on a 1970's era NAV system. From what I understand, the FMS
relies on a number of different inputs to drive its nav systems. If
that's the case, wouldn't it switch to another source if one seemed
unreliable? If it does, I imagine it would be a fundamental flaw in
their experiment. The FBO manager and avionics guy being interviewed
however, gave the nod to the robust wire shielding.

Marco

On Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:06:37 -0800, in
.com, Robert M. Gary
wrote:
However, the show failed to mention that its the FCC rule that states,
no cell phones on in planes ever. The FAA rules are less strict.

Correct... And since they're in CA, they could have flown far enough
offshore to be out of the jurisdiction of the FCC... They would also have
been far enough out that the cell phone signal would not have interfered
with any of the cell phone towers (assuming that is even still an issue
with the digital phones of today)...

On Jan 25, 1:59 pm, Grumman-581
wrote:
On Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:06:37 -0800, in
.com, Robert M. Gary
wrote:

However, the show failed to mention that its the FCC rule that states,
no cell phones on in planes ever. The FAA rules are less strict.Correct... And since they're in CA, they could have flown far enough
offshore to be out of the jurisdiction of the FCC... They would also have
been far enough out that the cell phone signal would not have interfered
with any of the cell phone towers (assuming that is even still an issue
with the digital phones of today)...

It would have been more interesting if they talked about the FCC's
reasons for their ban and if current technology could still cause
problems with towers.

-Robert