Can a hand held GPS system be turned on in flight?

September 3, 2009 by admin · 5 Comments
Filed under: Aircraft 
gps
Richard B asked:


What does the FAA say about hand help GPS’s being turned on in flight?

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Comments

5 Responses to “Can a hand held GPS system be turned on in flight?”
  1. " ? " says:
    September 3, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    It will work I have done it Got mine in by keeping it in my carry on

  2. Jimmbbo says:
    September 3, 2009 at 7:36 pm

    A handheld GPS is a receiver. The FAA prohibits transmitters and receivers being activated in flight because of unknown EMF/signal characteristic. This includes cellphones, AM and FM radio receivers, and GPS receivers.

    This is done because each piece of electronic equipment must undergo FAA certification for installation in an airplane. The FAA has no control over the design, specification or manufacturing tolerances of consumer transmit/receive electronics, so it is safer to ban their use.

    EDIT – pilots are NOT authorized to approve the use of GPS on an airliner, since they do not have the technical expertise, material or time to confirm a unit complies with all of the technical requirements.

    Referring to 91.21 requires the air carrier to pre-approve such items. AFAIK, there is no such approved list on any airliner.

    “(5) Any other portable electronic device that the operator of the aircraft has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used.

    “(c) In the case of an aircraft operated by a holder of an air carrier operating certificate or an operating certificate, the determination required by paragraph (b)(5) of this section shall be made by that operator of the aircraft on which the particular device is to be used. In the case of other aircraft, the determination may be made by the pilot in command or other operator of the aircraft.”

  3. Tracy L says:
    September 4, 2009 at 9:39 am

    Here are the FAA regs.

    Now that you know that, you know that under “Part A” they are prohibited (since they aren’t listed in part b.) Basically everything is prohibited. –Note: even IPod’s, DVD’s, or laptops aren’t allowed if you really want to be technical about the regs.

    However, under part B paragraph 5 they CAN be allowed -
    “(5) Any other portable electronic device that the operator of the aircraft has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used.
    (c) In the case of an aircraft operated by a holder of an air carrier operating certificate or an operating certificate, the determination required by paragraph (b)(5) of this section shall be made by that operator of the aircraft on which the particular device is to be used. In the case of other
    aircraft, the determination may be made by the pilot in command or other operator of the aircraft.”

    So there are some airlines that do prohibit them! Those airlines are within the guidelines. There is a published list of Airlines that DO allow the use of GPS in route.

    This list also lists those who do not permit them. Many US airlines are on the non-approving list! They have legal departments that have fear and dread of small devices! I have never ever seen a portable GPS that bothers an aircraft system (even in light aircraft which don’t have the shielding of the commercial aircraft) but the possibility does exist that they “might”. Nearly all flights are using GPS on the flight deck these days and those don’t bother the other avionics (but then the airline checked those.)

    At any rate, the answer all depends on WHICH AIRLINE and that airlines policies of use.

    If you fly your own plane then you as the pilot/operator have the authority to decide! I have used several different units on light planes and light jets and have never found one that created an issue.

    Hope that helps.

  4. stacheair says:
    September 4, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    To answer your question correctly you can use a GPS, but only if the air carrier or pilot in command allows it. You should refer to Title49 U.S. Code Part 91, Section § 91.21 Portable electronic devices available at

    In general, you may not use any electronic device on any aircraft that is being operated under instrument flight rules (IFR), or on any commercial flight. However, the following are permitted:
    ·Portable voice recorders
    ·Hearing aids
    ·Heart pacemakers
    ·Electronic shavers

    Radios and other portable electronic devices, such as computers and headphones (regular or noise cancelling), are permitted if the operator of the aircraft determines they will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system.

    The pilot-in-command has final authority on electronic devices operated onboard any aircraft at any time.

    Resource: Advisory Circular 91.21-1A, Use of Portable Electronic Devices Aboard an Aircraft.

    Section 91.21 (formerly 91.19) was initially established in May 1961 to prohibit the operation of portable frequency-modulated radio receivers aboard U.S. air carrier and U.S.-registered aircraft when the very high frequency omnidirectional range was being used for navigation purposes. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) subsequently determined that other PED’s could be potentially hazardous to aircraft communication and navigation equipment, if operated aboard aircraft. Amendment 91-35 amended the scope of former section 91.19 to prohibit the use of additional PED’s aboard certain U.S. civil aircraft.

    Earlier studies conducted by RTCA, Inc. (RTCA), Special Committee 156, Document No. RTCA/DO-199, Volumes 1 and 2, entitle “Potential Interference to Aircraft Electronic Equipment from Devices Carried Aboard,” have contributed greatly to an understanding of the operational effects of PED’s aboard aircraft.

    The determination of the effect of a particular device on the navigation and communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used or operated must, in case of an aircraft operated by the holder of an air carrier certificate or other operating certificate, be made by that operator (i.e., certificate holder). In all other cases, a determination must be made and it may be made by the operator and/or the pilot-in-command (PIC). In some cases, the determination may be based on operational tests conducted by the operator without sophisticated testing equipment. When safely at cruise altitude, the pilot could allow the devices to be operated. If interference is experienced, the types of devices causing interference could be isolated, along with the applicable conditions recorded. The device responsible for the interference should then be turned off.

    Prohibiting the operation of any PED’s aboard aircraft, unless otherwise authorized, which are classified as intentional radiators or transmitters. These devices include, but are not limited to:
    (i) Citizens band radios.
    (ii) Cellular telephones.
    (iii) Remote control devices.

    There are certain devices, which by their nature and design, transmit intentionally. These include cellular telephones, citizens band radios, remote control devices, etc. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) typically licenses these devices as land mobile devices. The FCC currently prohibits the use and operation of cellular telephones while airborne. Its primary concern is that a cellular telephone, while used airborne, would have a much greater transmitting range than a land mobile unit. This could result in serious interference to transmissions at other cell locations since the system uses the same frequency several times within a market. Since a cellular mobile telephone unit is capable of operating on all assignable cellular frequencies, serious interference may also occur to cellular systems in adjacent markets. The FAA supports this airborne restriction for reasons of potential interference to critical aircraft systems. Currently, the FAA does not prohibit use of cellular telephones in aircraft while on the ground if the operator has determined that they will not interfere with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which they are to be used.

  5. Techwing says:
    September 5, 2009 at 3:29 am

    What the FAA regulations actually say is that an airline operator may not permit the use of electronic devices in the cabin unless it has determined that they will not interfere with aircraft systems. Most airlines don’t want to spend the time and money to make that determination for every device a passenger might use, so they simply prohibit the use of electronic devices generally.

    A GPS receiver counts as an electronic device. Nevertheless, a GPS will not interfere with aircraft systems and can be turned on in flight, as long as the cabin crew does not say otherwise. Contrary to popular opinion, GPS units do not transmit anything, they are just receivers, so they are quite safe.

    Superstitious or ill-informed crews and airlines sometimes prohibit the use of GPS in flight. More enlightened airlines realize that it is harmless and do not object.

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