Hidden danger lurks in high-flying games

By SCOTT MacLEOD

Air safety experts say electronic game Machines, electric shavers and laptop computers can be almost as dangerous as cellphones when used on aircraft.

Reports emerged yesterday of two incidents in which cellphones upset the electronics in New Zealand aircraft, causing them to veer in unexpected directions.

But the Civil Aviation Authority said hand-held game machines and other electric devices could also send out electric pulses strong enough to upset avionics.

CAA spokesman Martyn Gosling said that four or five years ago, an aircraft made a sudden climb and left turn. The cause was later found to be a Gameboy machine.

A story in CAA News said passengers were increasingly using small electronic devices, such as shavers, games and computers, that produce alternating currents strong enough to interfere with aircraft systems.

Mr Gosling said cellphones were the biggest problem, because they sent out strong pulses that could switch off autopilots or command them to make unexpected manoeuvres.

He said that usually there were few safety risks, but "if you were on approach to Wellington Airport ... "

One of the two cellphone incidents cited was on Christmas Eve, when an aircraft was 6km from Wellington Airport and 500m high on its landing run.

The aircraft suddenly turned right and climbed. The crew was forced to take manual control of it.

The second was in 1995, when a cellphone in a cockpit flight bag rang while the aircraft was cruising on autopilot.

The aircraft rolled 30 degrees to one side.

Mr Gosling said that if a cellphone was held against a radio for long enough, a pulse that cellphones emit to announce their presence could upset avionics.

Aircraft avionic upsets were rare, but enough of a worry to be an issue.

"We're just reminding people that cabin crews tell you to turn off your cellphones for a reason," said Mr Gosling.

CAA News said cellphone usage had never been found to have caused a crash.

But it had caused other problems overseas, such as false cockpit warnings and a jumbo jet losing contact with ground control.

In July 1999, a British court jailed a passenger for a year for endangering an aircraft after he refused to turn off his cellphone.

Some New Zealand passengers have been fined for using cellphones in aircraft.

The fines range up to $1250 for a person and $7500 for a company.

Last year, a domestic flight was delayed for 20 minutes while a stewardess searched lockers for a ringing cellphone no one would admit to owning.

In another incident, an aircraft's takeoff was delayed so ground crew could search luggage for a cellphone that a passenger remembered leaving switched on.