Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc:12123 rec.aviation:5697
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!amdcad!ames!elroy!jplpub1!jbrown
From: jbrown@jplpub1.jpl.nasa.gov (Jordan Brown)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,rec.aviation
Subject: Re: Laptops and Airport Security
Message-ID: <5481@elroy.Jpl.Nasa.Gov>
Date: 19 Feb 88 03:24:14 GMT
References: <1988Feb1.235615.2612@nonvon.uucp> <374@splut.UUCP>
Sender: news@elroy.Jpl.Nasa.Gov
Reply-To: jbrown@jplpub1.UUCP (Jordan Brown)
Organization: Me?  Organized?
Lines: 18
Keywords: Laptop, X-rays, in flight use

In article <374@splut.UUCP> jay@splut.UUCP (Jay Maynard) writes:
>On a related topic: Once you get your (battery-powered) laptop on the plane
>in the passenger compartment, can you use it in flight? I remember that
>there was a section in the FARs that said that passengers were prohibited
>from using any electronic devices; the rationale was that the magnetic field
>generated would throw off the instrumentation.

The FARs say, essentially, that it's up to the Pilot In Command and the
operator (the airline) whether or not you can use "electronic devices".
This is true both for air carriers and for GA type airplanes.  I believe
that it's a coin flip out there whether some particular airline allows
them; ask first.  (my FARs are downstairs, so no chapter-and-verse, sorry.)

Magnetics aren't terribly important.  However, your computer (and most
complex electronics) is a pretty good radio transmitter, on quite a few
bands.  The theory is that this could screw up some of the more sensitive
navigation systems.  Apparently it doesn't seem to be a problem in real
life, or the FAA would flat out disallow them.