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

[Ivan Trundle]

With reference to debate on wifi in planes...

According to Honeywell, the maker of the Phase 3 display units which were affected by EMI during certification testing on the Nextgen 737, the problem is not only temporary, but also the system is not being used on commercial flights, and is unlikely to be until a solution is found:

"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."

However, talking to air traffic controllers and others working in the industry, they have lost count of the times that GSM phones have interfered with flight deck comms systems. Some devices are more EMI-leaky than others, and some flight deck circuits are better shielded than others.

They also suggest that just because a wireless device is a long way from the pointy end (i.e. in cattle class, or whatever), doesn't mean that it has no influence on the masses of wiring and other avionics scattered through the plane - localiser antennas, relay boxes, etc are placed in lots of unusual places.

iT