GPS on a plane

invisable · 28th October 2006, 11:20 AM

i was just wondering if you would legally be able to use a GPS on a plane, and if so would it work?(i was told that a GPS won't work at an airport, i have no idea if this is true)

Jaws_au · 28th October 2006, 11:38 AM

Of course GPS works at an airport... probably every aircraft you see there has a GPS reciever

That said, I think you'll find that using a GPS airborne is prohibited by most carriers... technically operating a piece of equipment at the exact same frequency as a system on the aircraft is a bad idea... in the case of GPS the risk is very low, but I doubt you'd be able to explain that to someone who caught you trying.

Hypothetically speaking of course, if you happen to leave your GPS on in your carry on bag... I doubt anyone would notice.

invisable · 28th October 2006, 11:46 AM

i knew planes used it to navigate but the guy i was speaking to must have been talking shit, if it worked and i was allowed i was hoping to use a GPS receiver and some aussie maps on my laptop to find out where i was and how far i was to my destination, and a suppose as a speedo as well

Ah well

GreasyBear · 28th October 2006, 11:52 AM

Don't they usually put this kind of info on the viewing screen in the plane anyway?

Jaws_au · 28th October 2006, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreasyBear

Don't they usually put this kind of info on the viewing screen in the plane anyway?

Not if it's domestic, depending on the plane you're in... you might see it flash up occasionally on the in-cabin screens.

For the OP, that plan would work fine if you were in a private plane

But the airlines just aren't willing to take the risk I guess... which is fair enough I suppose, they don't want to have to make sure your particular GPS isn't some super-dodgy thing that blankets out the actual aircraft reciever.

Not that loss of GPS is a safety critical event anyway... alas, I don't make the regulations however

JaC · 28th October 2006, 2:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaws_au

Of course GPS works at an airport... probably every aircraft you see there has a GPS reciever

That said, I think you'll find that using a GPS airborne is prohibited by most carriers... technically operating a piece of equipment at the exact same frequency as a system on the aircraft is a bad idea... in the case of GPS the risk is very low, but I doubt you'd be able to explain that to someone who caught you trying.

Hypothetically speaking of course, if you happen to leave your GPS on in your carry on bag... I doubt anyone would notice.

GPS doesn't transmit, its a passive system from the user's point of view. You just recieve a bunch of signals an calculate where you are. There's no transmission to interfere with the aircrafts systems, however...

Quote:

Originally Posted by invisable

i knew planes used it to navigate but the guy i was speaking to must have been talking shit, if it worked and i was allowed i was hoping to use a GPS receiver and some aussie maps on my laptop to find out where i was and how far i was to my destination, and a suppose as a speedo as well

Ah well

It won't work on an aircraft. You're inside a big aluminium tube, the signal is already weak enough, and there's no way it will get through the fuselage.

You'd need to have an externally mounted antenna, and I don't think that too many airlines are going to allow that.

Oh, and obligatory snakes on a plane reference. how could i forget?

nux · 28th October 2006, 6:46 PM

Yes, it does work on commercial planes. They don't like you doing it however, we got told to turn it off by the cabin crew

We had to jam it up against the window and we couldn't get a full fix, but enough to get speed and other bits of info.

invisable · 28th October 2006, 11:01 PM

so is GPS on a plane illegal?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaC

Oh, and obligatory snakes on a plane reference. how could i forget?

i want to use my mother f***ing GPS on a mother f***ing plane

nux · 29th October 2006, 12:09 AM

It is not illegal in Australia as far as I'm aware. However, most airlines will probably have a policy or condition that forbids it, and if they see you using it you will probably be told to turn it off or have it taken from you.

Zoiks · 29th October 2006, 12:31 AM

since it is a passive device, wouldnt it be under similar rules as music players and such? Ie. turn off during take off and landing but fine otherwise.

dohzer · 29th October 2006, 1:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by invisable

i was just wondering if you would legally be able to use a GPS on a plane, and if so would it work?(i was told that a GPS won't work at an airport, i have no idea if this is true)

So... why do you need the bomb to go of in a specific place?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaC

GPS doesn't transmit, its a passive system from the user's point of view. You just recieve a bunch of signals an calculate where you are. There's no transmission to interfere with the aircrafts systems, however...

At least there's no intentional transmissions!

Xxian.com · 29th October 2006, 1:21 AM

it actually is illegal to use a gps on a plane, even though it does not transmit, it is also illegal to use a scanner on a plane.

Stupid really considering you can have both running from your laptop and they would never know.

nux · 29th October 2006, 1:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xxian.com

it actually is illegal to use a gps on a plane, even though it does not transmit, it is also illegal to use a scanner on a plane.

Illegal in Australian law?

Xxian.com · 29th October 2006, 1:33 AM

from Qantas website:

Quote:

Electronic Equipment

All electronic devices, including PDAs, laptop computers, handheld games and toys must be switched off during take-off and landing.

Portable electronic equipment such as laptop computers (including WiFi and Bluetooth enabled devices), PDAs (without mobile phones), personal music (for example, iPods) and electronic game devices may be used when the aircraft seat belt sign is extinguished after take-off and until the top of descent.

Radio transmission using personal communication devices (including walkie-talkies, two-way pagers, or global positioning systems) is prohibited at all stages of flight, as it may interfere with the aircraft's communication and navigation systems.

nux · 29th October 2006, 1:36 AM

Yeah thought they would have a clause like that. It doesn't make it illegal in Australia however, just again Qantas (and probably all other commercial airlines) policies.

28th October 2006, 11:20 AM	#1
invisable Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Noosaville, QLD Posts: 228	GPS on a plane i was just wondering if you would legally be able to use a GPS on a plane, and if so would it work?(i was told that a GPS won't work at an airport, i have no idea if this is true) __________________ a company that will go to the ends of the earth for its employees will find that it can hire them for 10% of the cost of australians if you want to get to the top, prepare to kiss alot of the bottom never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups

28th October 2006, 11:46 AM	#3
invisable Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Noosaville, QLD Posts: 228	i knew planes used it to navigate but the guy i was speaking to must have been talking shit, if it worked and i was allowed i was hoping to use a GPS receiver and some aussie maps on my laptop to find out where i was and how far i was to my destination, and a suppose as a speedo as well Ah well __________________ a company that will go to the ends of the earth for its employees will find that it can hire them for 10% of the cost of australians if you want to get to the top, prepare to kiss alot of the bottom never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups

28th October 2006, 11:52 AM	#4
GreasyBear Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sydbourne Posts: 3,150	Don't they usually put this kind of info on the viewing screen in the plane anyway? __________________ www.kenlolwell.com

29th October 2006, 12:31 AM	#10
Zoiks Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Ashgrove, QLD Posts: 3,038	since it is a passive device, wouldnt it be under similar rules as music players and such? Ie. turn off during take off and landing but fine otherwise. __________________ "Climate Scientists are a really funny bunch, they are the only Scientists that wake up every morning and hope that they're wrong." - Lesley Hughes, Climate Scientist Who would be the best person to listen to on the topic of climate science?

28th October 2006, 11:38 AM	#2
Jaws_au Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 1,868	Of course GPS works at an airport... probably every aircraft you see there has a GPS reciever That said, I think you'll find that using a GPS airborne is prohibited by most carriers... technically operating a piece of equipment at the exact same frequency as a system on the aircraft is a bad idea... in the case of GPS the risk is very low, but I doubt you'd be able to explain that to someone who caught you trying. Hypothetically speaking of course, if you happen to leave your GPS on in your carry on bag... I doubt anyone would notice.

28th October 2006, 6:46 PM	#7
nux Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 16,790	Yes, it does work on commercial planes. They don't like you doing it however, we got told to turn it off by the cabin crew We had to jam it up against the window and we couldn't get a full fix, but enough to get speed and other bits of info.

29th October 2006, 12:09 AM	#9
nux Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 16,790	It is not illegal in Australia as far as I'm aware. However, most airlines will probably have a policy or condition that forbids it, and if they see you using it you will probably be told to turn it off or have it taken from you.

29th October 2006, 1:21 AM	#12
Xxian.com Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 115	it actually is illegal to use a gps on a plane, even though it does not transmit, it is also illegal to use a scanner on a plane. Stupid really considering you can have both running from your laptop and they would never know.

29th October 2006, 1:36 AM	#15
nux Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 16,790	Yeah thought they would have a clause like that. It doesn't make it illegal in Australia however, just again Qantas (and probably all other commercial airlines) policies.