Re:Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why
by eps on Monday November 28, 2011 @04:39AM
(#3285253)
Why not put the passenger cabin in a Faraday cage? Shouldn't be that hard or costly to do, compared.
Re:Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why
by JoeAltmaier on Monday November 28, 2011 @09:29AM
(#3285961)
The fuselage IS a Faraday cage. Only the division between passenger/pilot probably needs attention. A good idea.
But some of the electronics are not in the cockpit.
If you broadcast on the radio frequency the pilot is speaking on, you can jam their transmission.
If you broadcast on, say, the instrument landing frequency (ILS) frequency, the ILS needle the pilot is looking at will stay centered, no matter how much he deviates from the approach path.
The pilot would undoubtedly realize something was amiss, switch comm frequencies, use GPS etc. But it could cause some distraction and wreak some havoc.
Back in the 90s, there were cheap CD players and whatnot that would generate all kinds of crazy RF.
The FAA said, this is all unapproved electronics, we can't test it, it has to go off during takeoff and landing, unless the pilot OKs it. Of course, the corporate pilot will OK it for his CEO/passenger.