NATIONS UNIES

Opration des Nations Unies en Cte dIvoire

UNITED NATIONS
United Nations Operation in Cte dIvoire

ONUCI

AVIATION SAFETY BULLETIN

Use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) on aircraft
General The ever-increasing popularity of portable electronic devices (cellular phones, laptop computers, video games, DVD players, etc.) and the frequent introduction of new devices cause concern among aviation professionals when those devices are brought aboard aircraft. In an attempt to keep themselves occupied while on the plane, and probably to stop themselves from worrying about plane crashes, many passengers bring portable electronic devices with them on the plane. Although some may worry about their cell phones emitting signals, not many think about other devices, such as iPods, and what role they could play in a plane crash. Safety Concerns It is common for the majority of passengers on an airplane to carry one or more PED, such as iPads, Blackberries, laptops, Kindels, etc. Simply by being on, these PEDs emit electromagnetic energy, but usually at power levels too weak to cause EMI. Certain PEDs, however, have the potential to cause electro-magnetic interference (EMI) with aircraft electronic systems. If strong enough, EMI can cause cockpit instruments to display incorrect readings and other anomalies. Although PEDs are known to be capable of causing EMI, the effects depend on a number of variables and often cannot be duplicated. Concerns over EMI remain greatest for PEDs that can transmit high-power signals, such as cellphones. Pilots have reported numerous events in which a PED was suspected as the source of interference, and some have claimed that problems stopped when a crew member asked passengers to turn off their PEDs. Unfortunately, efforts to prove that a PED caused interference often are inconclusive. 1

Airline Policies (Including ONUCI) Various national and international regulations require airlines to determine whether or not PEDs brought aboard their airplanes could cause interference problems and control PED use accordingly. Each has adopted its own policy, but in meeting this responsibility airlines typically follow some institutional recommendations. In general, devices having little potential to cause EMI and those having a capability to transmit at low power (eg, laptops) must be turned completely off during flight below 10,000 feet as that regime includes takeoff, approach and landing where EMI could cause the most significant problems. Policies and regulations require that high-power transmitters (eg, cell phones) be turned completely off during flight.

Advice to passengers With ever increasing number of options in the use of portable electronic devices come issues such as when a passenger can use these devices, and perhaps more importantly, when a passenger should show good judgment by not using these devices. Airline policies, and especially the flight attendants on your flight, usually are quite clear about when portable electronic devices can and cannot be used on an aircraft, what is not quite as clear is what should and should not be done with these devices. This issue is important because the behavior of a passenger with a portable electronic device may be annoying or upsetting to other passengers. As the ongoing debate over the use of cell phones in flight has shown, there are very strong opinions as to what kinds of activities and behaviors will be tolerated by airline as well as other passengers. Due to the unpredictable nature of EMI and its potential to affect flight safety, measures to control it necessarily are conservative. In general the following suggested guidelines reflect current practices of many airlines:

1. When can a Passenger use a Personal Electronic Device The under-listed provide general guidelines about how portable electronic devices can be used inside of an aircraft/airliner: Devices that can be operated at all times on an aircraft o implanted medical devices such as pacemakers, o electronic nerve stimulators, o hearing aids, o digital watches Devices that can operated before pushback/taxi and after landing o Cell phones, o pagers, and o devices that can send or receive email or text messages. Devices that can operated during cruise Typically, the following can be used once the aircraft reaches 10,000 feet (about five minutes after takeoff) until the approach phase about 15 minutes before landing: o laptop computers, o hand-held computers, o devices that can compose or read email and text messages without transmitting or receiving, cell phones in "game" or "airplane" mode, o digital cameras, o DVD or CD players, o GPS receivers, o hand-held games, o calculators, o PDAs, o medical devices such as pacemakers, electronic nerve stimulators, hearing aids, o digital watches. Devices that may not be operated at any time o AM or FM radios, o televisions, o scanners, o two-way radios, o remote controlled devices, o wireless mouse, o other transmitters (with the exceptions noted above)

2. Things You Should Not Do with Your Personal Electronic Device. There are many behaviors and activities that are inappropriate in the cabin of an aircraft. The following is just a partial list of inappropriate behaviors and activities that involve portable electronic devices: Using devices that make noise. When playing music, use headphones or earphones. For other devices like computers or video games, turn off the audio. If that is not possible, consider not using the device. Displaying inappropriate moving or still images Inappropriate images generally include sexually oriented material, material depicting extreme acts of violence, or other images that could be upsetting to other passengers. Talking loudly on the phone Photographing people without their permission Photographing unaccompanied children It is customary to get a parent or guardian's permission before photographing a child, but that is not possible with a child traveling alone. Furthermore, to other passengers and to the crew, a person taking pictures of an unaccompanied child would be view at the very least with some suspicion.

Remember that all safety recommendations are based on actual or potential risks. Thank you for your cooperation.

Better Be Safe Than Sorry!

ONUCI Aviation Safety Ext 5822, 6660, 05990387
September 2011