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U.S. orders airlines to replace cockpit displays on 1,300 Boeing airplanes
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is requiring airlines to replace cockpit displays on more than 1,300 Boeing Co airplanes to avoid interference from Wi-Fi and cellular devices. Airlines will need to replace certain cockpit display units made by Honeywell International Inc used on Boeing's 737 and 777 jets within five years, according to an FAA document. (finance.yahoo.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
"The displays are also susceptible to transmissions from mobile phones, weather radar and mobile satellite communications, the FAA said." I'm sorry, these are not new technologies. Honeywell should never have been caught with their pants down like this. Before they ever entered production the designs should have been tested for interference from the RF spectrum and corrective measures taken at that time. Honeywell, and to a lesser extent Boeing, should be bearing the brunt of the cost of this refit.
I agree this should be treated the same way automobile recalls are treated - the manufacturer bears the cost of the recall.
Ouch! This will be an expensive fix. John says "$10,000" a piece and the article says $14 Million in total. That probably doesn't come close to the loss of aircraft out of service.
I'm rather surprised this has not come up before. The real question is... how did Honeywell not test for RFI during design??? These things should withstand about everything short of EMI from a nuclear explosion.
I briefly read through this:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2014-23231.pdf
The cost still isn't cheap unless they can work this into normal downtime for inspections. If I understood it correctly, they are allowing sixty months for compliance.
I'm rather surprised this has not come up before. The real question is... how did Honeywell not test for RFI during design??? These things should withstand about everything short of EMI from a nuclear explosion.
I briefly read through this:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2014-23231.pdf
The cost still isn't cheap unless they can work this into normal downtime for inspections. If I understood it correctly, they are allowing sixty months for compliance.
Hummm...... maybe this is why there was the rule about turning off all electronic devices and such? Just saying...
I guess the FAA finally decided that just having a "no wifi" placard in the flight deck didn't quite go far enough to addressing this problem.
Call me old fashioned if you like -- don't call me late for supper, though -- but how on earth did civilization (and airline passengers) ever manage to get by WITHOUT Wi-Fi for most of history?
If Wi-Fi interferes with cockpit displays there should be no reason to make the airlines/manufacturers have to replace them with Wi-Fi-proof ones-- and pass the cost along to you-know-who.
The solution is obvious and simple:
THE USE OF WI-FI AND ASSOCIATED ELECTRONIC DEVICES IS NOT ALLOWED IN THIS AIRCRAFT AT ANY TIME
Passengers can get along without Wi-Fi for the duration of their flights -- just as smokers somehow manage to get along with out cigarette, cigars, and pipes.
If Wi-Fi interferes with cockpit displays there should be no reason to make the airlines/manufacturers have to replace them with Wi-Fi-proof ones-- and pass the cost along to you-know-who.
The solution is obvious and simple:
THE USE OF WI-FI AND ASSOCIATED ELECTRONIC DEVICES IS NOT ALLOWED IN THIS AIRCRAFT AT ANY TIME
Passengers can get along without Wi-Fi for the duration of their flights -- just as smokers somehow manage to get along with out cigarette, cigars, and pipes.