Handheld GPS units and Airlines?

[w_howey]

Here's the perspective of a person who travels with a GPS unit.....

Differing airlines have differing rules. Delta specifically mentions GPS units being okay, in their literature. But I have had aircraft crew tell me to turn it off.

US Airways doesn't mention in it theirs, but the most I have had any air crew say to me was ask if it was a cell phone.

A United crew once asked if it was a transmitter, when I responded "No, GPS only recieves." They got the glassy eyed 'I don't care' look to them.

 

[DrMoab]

A United crew once asked if it was a transmitter, when I responded "No, GPS only recieves." They got the glassy eyed 'I don't care' look to them.

Interesting, I am flying United.

Guess I will see if they need another classy eyed stare.

 

[kubtastic]

Ron:

Here is info on the cell info.
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-501431.html
http://www.aeromobile.net/

The info on RNAV I got a year ago from a NW pilot who was taking a jump seat flight back home, he was sitting next to me, so I felt free to chat with him. I asked him specificaly about GPS navigation and he said they used RNAV. RNAV, he explaned to me, couples direct to the auto-pilot and most landings were actually "hands off" with the pilot supervising. He also explaned that though GPS was showing up in newer planes, many of the older planes had RNAV systems that worked just great.

You can also look it up on the web.

As far as my personal experience, it is just that. I have no need to research what I have experienced.

I don't think you have much to be scared of Ron

Ron

How can you tell if there is a Pilot in a room?
Ask...

I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.... and today I overheard a controller tell the guy on final to keep his speed up because #2 was showing 170 kts--Anyway....

I can tell you that RNAV is too general a term to be throwing around in comparison to ground-based NAVAIDS, whatever frequency they are, or GPS. I mean, I've seen a system that shoots a GPS approach with autopilot on that uses multiple DME stations and INS that is !shock! initialized and then backed up with GPS. Kind of full circle. RNAV is so you can file to a point in space instead of filing on jet routes. All aforementioned systems allow that to happen.

GPS receivers in the jet? Turn those babies off. Antenna + power and you got yourself an argument with a flight attendent who sadly might not be able to reason with you because of the lack of understanding on either side. In some planes it is totally legal to have a GPS up and running. Even hooked up to a laptop and use a map display and do whizbang-wtf. Go for it if that's you.
Plus, what's the whole point? Isn't it obvious when you'll land? it says so on the ticket ..."Are we there yet?"

 

[Stumpalump]

Interesting, I am flying United.

United broadcast the pilots radio frequency thru the head sets at your seats if you want to listen in on whats going on between planes and controll tower.

 

[RedHeep]

Plus, what's the whole point? Isn't it obvious when you'll land? it says so on the ticket ..."Are we there yet?"

When I did it (military plane), I just wanted the next person who got in the jeep to see my gps and wonder how the hell I got the jeep to go 300 miles an hour

 

[w_howey]

United broadcast the pilots radio frequency thru the head sets at your seats if you want to listen in on whats going on between planes and controll tower.

Its called 'Channel 9'. Its only on their 'mainline'(meaning jets bigger than 70 seats), and only if the flight deck crew turns it on.

 

[sjkimmel99]

At the end of October the Southwest attendant pointed to the back of the in-flight mag where it says "no gps" when she told me to stop using my laptop connected antenna.
I like to look out the window if I can and sometimes see interesting ground features. The gps track gives me an idea of where to find it on Google Earth, etc..

 

[Captain Ron]

...
I like to look out the window if I can and sometimes see interesting ground features. The gps track gives me an idea of where to find it on Google Earth, etc..

http://flightaware.com/

All Part 141 carriers file and fly IFR.

--ron