Aircraft Hazards by using Portable Electronic Devices (PED)

In the future, passengers on airplanes should have the permission to work onboard with PEDs of any kind. However, this is only acceptable if the airplanes are protected in a sufficient way so that all interferences of PEDs with aircraft systems are excluded. Investigations on radiated fields of carry-on electronics stopped around 1996, though the evolution of new technologies is rapid and the number and types of PEDs is increasing daily. Within the frame of the European research program EM-HAZ the emissions of the most recent PEDs on the market (laptops, notebooks, audio devices like CD players, MiniDisc recorders, and Walkmen, digital video cameras, digital photo cameras, mobile phones, electronic organizers) have been investigated. The measurement results were compared to all previously available test results and a new worst case envelope with respect to radiated emissions is proposed. If the PEDs are allowed to be operated onboard of an aircraft, sensible electronic equipment functions of the aircraft (especially the COM and NAV receivers) have to be immunized against those internal electromagnetic fields. The paper will present the measurement results and the novel consequences for protection levels.