[LINK] 5 Reasons Why E-Books Aren't There Yet

[Kim Holburn]

Wifi has a much lower output than cell phones and covers only a small range of frequencies.  Cell phones have the capability to reach a few kilometres, wifi just around the house.  It is astonishing and criminal that a display, for goodness sake, can be taken down by a wifi device.  A simple metallic shield on the cockpit wall would solve most of that and make the cockpit wall more secure.  (One of Bruce Schneier's basic recommendations after 9/11).  Hey even a damp sponge would stop wifi.  Bluetooth on the other hand, I could see why bluetooth might cause problems.  


On 2011/Jun/08, at 8:12 PM, Tom Koltai wrote:

> 
> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au 
>> [mailto:link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of Kim Holburn
>> Sent: Wednesday, 8 June 2011 6:48 PM
>> To: Link list
>> Subject: Re: [LINK] 5 Reasons Why E-Books Aren't There Yet
>> 
>> 
>> Most of the aeroplanes we fly in now were designed and built 
>> long after wireless phones and other devices were in common 
>> use.  There is no justification that personal wireless 
>> devices would interfere with anything in a modern aeroplane.  
>> Even less in a plane with a non-metal shell.  Australia is 
>> particularly anal about these silly rules.  
>> 
> 
> 
> Err, not quite:
> 
> http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/runway-girl/2011/03/breaking-boeing-co
> nfirms-wi-fi.html
> 
> Quote/
> Clearly BIG lessons are being learned about interference through the
> massive Gogo retrofits being accomplished. Bloody good to know, I'd say.
> 
> Honeywell Phase 3 Display Units (DUs) have shown themselves susceptible
> to "blanking" during airline electro magnetic interference (EMI)
> certification testing of wireless broadband systems (Wi-Fi) on various
> Boeing 737NG airplanes, prompting Boeing to cease linefit installs of
> in-flight connectivity systems across its portfolio, including widebody
> aircraft.
> 
> Multiple sources tell ATI and Flightgloal that the blanking occurred
> during EMI testing for Aircell's Gogo in-flight Internet supplemental
> type certificate on 737NG aircraft. Aircell has declined comment, saying
> "this topic is not Aircell specific and, as such, we do not have any
> comment on the matter".
> 
> Boeing says it has deferred the activation of wireless systems that
> interface with passenger devices that could potentially interfere with
> the DU 3 displays. "Boeing has not delivered any installations that
> would have this issue. Honeywell has assured us that they are working to
> address the problem and we are satisfied that they are taking the
> necessary steps to do so," says Bret Jensen with BCA Engineering
> Communications.
> 
> A source with knowledge of the situation tells ATI and Flightglobal that
> Boeing has "gone through and scrubbed the avionics numbers to make sure
> that there are no anomalies and that the avionics will not be affected
> by personal electronic devices (PEDs). It has been discovered that there
> is stuff out there that doesn't meet those requirements yet, and we may
> uncover more as we go down that path".
> 
> The source adds: "There are three specific part numbers associated with
> the [Honeywell] display that could be installed. Those are the ones
> [found to be] susceptible to transmissions."
> 
> Fallout from the event is already occurring. Multiple sources tell ATI
> and Flightglobal that one of the conditions for STC is that 737NG
> operators place placards in the flight deck saying that Wi-Fi devices
> are to be powered off.
> 
> Another condition, say sources, is that 737NG operators are not to have
> DU 3 displays installed with the presence of in-flight connectivity
> systems, be they Wi-Fi or cellular-based.
> 
> On a Boeing Business Jet fitted with in-flight connectivity, for
> instance, there is a note in the log book that says Phase 3 DUs are not
> to be installed, but that "version 4 is fine and version 2 is fine",
> says a source.
> 
> Panasonic partner AeroMobile's eXPhone in-flight mobile connectivity
> solution, which was made linefit offerable on certain Boeing types, is
> not being installed until the Honeywell issue has been addressed. As
> such, customers of eXPhone are not receiving aircraft with eXPhone as
> planned. Customers of eXPhone include Emirates, Turkish Airlines and V
> Australia.
> 
> "We're continuing to work closely with Boeing and our partners at
> Panasonic to bring eXPhone to full line-fit offerability across the
> entire Boeing fleet," says AeroMobile.
> 
> Boeing, meanwhile, says: "Current testing by Boeing and Honeywell has
> determined that blanking may occur when a DU is subjected to testing
> procedures specified by the FAA requirements (AC-20-164) during
> installations of Wi-Fi systems on the airplane. Based on testing that
> has been conducted, Boeing and Honeywell have concluded that actual EMI
> levels experienced during normal operation of typical passenger Wi-Fi
> systems would not cause any blanking of the Phase 3 DU. This issue does
> not exist with the Phase 1 or 2 DU's."
> 
> Honeywell says that, during recent ground testing "at elevated power
> levels", the company observed a momentary blanking on the 'flat panel'
> liquid crystal displays that it developed and pioneered for Boeing.
> 
> "The screens reappeared well within Boeing's specified recovery time
> frame. The screens have not blanked in flight and are not a safety of
> flight issue. Honeywell is working to ensure the problem is addressed
> and fixed and that our technology will continue to exceed
> specifications," says Honeywell.
> 
> The firm stresses that there have been "no blanking incidents of
> in-service aircraft with the Wi-Fi system installed".
> 
> A spokesman for the FAA says: "The FAA is aware of some issues involving
> interference between Honeywell flight displays and in-flight WiFi that
> surfaced during STC testing. The FAA is currently working with both
> manufacturers to examine the technical data and test results. After a
> thorough review, the FAA will consider if further safety action is
> necessary."
> 
> Sources say a Service Bulletin from Boeing is expected.
> /Quote
> 
> As of today - no furtherPR on the topic...
> 
> 
> 

-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
T: +61 2 61402408  M: +61 404072753
mailto:kim at holburn.net  aim://kimholburn
skype://kholburn - PGP Public Key on request