Fri, Oct 10, 2008
ATSB Says Onboard Electronics Have Caused Problems Before
Perhaps you suspect ulterior motives
when the airlines require you to shut down your computer and cell
phone during critical flight phases. Especially with recently
announced plans to offer in-flight cellphone and wireless internet
services, can these seemingly benign consumer devices really
interfere with navigation and control of an airliner?
The Australian Associated Press reports that possibility is now
being considered by investigators in the case of a Qantas mid-air
emergency off Western Australia on Tuesday.
As ANN reported, the A330 -- carrying 303
passengers and a crew of 10 -- descended 350 feet so suddenly that
passengers and crew were thrown about the cabin. 20 were injured,
10 seriously.
Immediately after the incident, speculation naturally turned to
turbulence... or the less-likely scenario involving a problem with
a flight computer. Now, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is
considering the possibility that electronic equipment used by
passengers may have interfered with navigation.
The ATSB says pilots received alarms about "some irregularity
with the aircraft's elevator control system", before a 300-foot
uncommanded ascent, followed by an abrupt nosedive.
The Courier Mail quotes an ATSB spokesman as saying, "Certainly
in our discussions with passengers that is exactly the sort of
question we will be asking - 'Were you using a computer?"
In July, ATSB officials say a passenger clicking on a wireless
mouse mid-flight threw a Qantas jet off-course.
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