Wireless Communications on Commercial Aircraft

1
Wireless Communications on Commercial Aircraft

• Joe Belton
• 04/03/07
• HTM 304
• Dr. Fang

2
The Aircraft Industry as a Leaderin the
Technological Frontier

• Many cutting edge commercially available
  technologies were first developed in the aircraft
  industry
• Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Advanced Video On Demand (AVOD)
• Tire Pressure Indication System (TPIS)
• Onboard Diagnostic Equipment
• Composite Materials
• Anti-Lock Breaks

3
Why the Delay in AllowingOnboard Wireless
Devices?

• Safety concerns
• Interference with onboard communication and
  navigation equipment
• Disruption of ground-based cell phone network
• Social concerns
• Neighboring passenger disruption
• Offensive or obscene material
• Business concerns
• Mandate single standard
• Allow multiple standards
• Costs to airlines and service providers

4
Regulatory Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• In-flight cell phone use is banned on
  US-registered aircraft, or any aircraft in US
  airspace! Similar restrictions exist throughout
  the world!

5
Regulatory Agencies, cont.

• However, the FAA and other overseas agencies
  allow in-flight use of laptops, MP3 players,
  handheld video game consoles, and even cell
  phones with inactive wireless capabilities, over
  10,000 feet!
• Whats the difference?

6
Competing Cell Phone Technologies

• Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), used in
  Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
  networks to be replaced by 3rd Generation
  Partnership Project (3GPP)
• Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) to be
  replaced by 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2
  (3GPP2), aka CDMA2000

7
Potential Cell Phone Concerns

• Signals are stronger than emissions from other
  portable devices (TDMA worse than CDMA)
• Signals can be received at great distances, far
  from the user
• Unintentional signals (aka spurious emissions)
  can be emitted

8
Potential Cell Phone Dangers

• Stray signals can travel through aircraft windows
  and contact outside antennas
• Radiated energy from stray signals can be
  received by aircraft wiring and interrupt or
  confuse onboard systems
• Radiated energy from stray signals can directly
  enter onboard computers or other systems

9
The Truth Is

• There is no genuine proof that cell phone
  emissions make an airplane unsafe to fly by
  interfering with the onboard systems!
• Some industry experts believe that at least a few
  passengers do not turn off their cell phones
  during every flight!
• No in-flight interference has ever been
  replicated in a controlled environment!
• No in-flight cell phone use has ever led to an
  aircraft accident!

10
Industry Groups

• Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA)
• Private, non-profit group
• Advises the FAA and FCC on technical matters
• Recently finished an intensive four-year study on
  potential interference from in-air use of cell
  phones, Wi-Fi transmitters in laptops, and other
  electronic devices

11
RTCA Study Conclusions

• Does not advocate in-flight cell phone use at
  this time
• Does instruct airlines how to test for
  interference (each airline and aircraft type must
  be certified separately)
• Authorization of in-flight cell phone use may
  occur later this year
• Eventual authorization of other devices may be a
  reality next year

12
Future In-flight Technologies

• Internet connectivity
• Instant messaging
• Wireless email
• In the near future your aircraft cabin may have
  as many Wi-Fi hotspots as your local Starbucks!

13
Sources

• Will Cell Phones Soar?, Kathryn Balint, The San
  Diego Union-Tribune, 01/19/07, page C1
• Research In-Flight Cell Calls Possible,
  Kathryn Balint, San Diego Union-Tribune,
  03/24/07, page C1
• WiFi in the Sky Airlines Prepare Cabin
  Hotspots, Scott McCartney, The Wall Street
  Journal, 04/03/07
• The Boeing Company website, www.boeing.com
• Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia,
  www.wikipedia.com
• Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics
  website, www.rtca.org