Will Wi-Fi Travel the Friendly Skies?

Wi-Fi in the sky may be on the way, but don't look for it anytime soon.

Using the wireless functions common on a variety of devices--such as notebooks, PDAs, and mobile phones--is banned on airplanes due to concerns that they emit radio waves that could interfere with the plane's communication and navigation systems. But that ban could be overturned.

An advisory committee to the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to present its recommendations on the use of wireless devices on airplanes before next summer. The report from the RTCA (formerly the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics) could open the door to in-flight use of wireless devices. The committee is composed of accident investigators and representatives from electronics and aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and avionics manufacturers.

Track Record

The last time the RTCA issued a report on the use of wireless devices, the FAA listened. In 1996, the advisory group told the FAA that it couldn't rule out the possibility of interference caused by the use of wireless electronics.

"Historically, the FAA has considered the reports of special committees [like the RTCA] to determine its regulatory guidance," says Bill Winfrey, an advanced technologies specialist with Delta Airlines, who chairs a committee studying the wireless issue.

However, the FAA considers many factors when making its decision, a spokesperson says. The RTCA is "just one factor that we would consider looking at future changes to any regulation. We will take other information and data into account as well," says Alison Duquette, an FAA spokesperson.

Issues to Consider

Currently, the FAA evaluates the in-flight use of wireless devices on a case-by-case basis, with individual airlines responsible for testing. Some airlines now allow passengers to use mobile phones once the plane has touched down. But to implement any such policy, airlines must conduct internal tests and obtain FAA approval. So far, no airlines have approved the use of wireless devices while airborne, generally because they cannot afford the expensive safety tests.

Other issues the RTCA will consider include whether wireless devices should have a standard indicator to show when their radio component is on or off. Such an indicator would allow flight attendants to easily monitor whether devices are operating in a safe mode. For example, many mobile phones now can be used for functions other than making calls, as they incorporate PDA and camera features. The question is how to identify the phone's usage mode to make it clear that it is not being used to make calls.

With the wide array of wireless gadgets now available, the RTCA must also address whether to adopt a blanket policy for all such devices or issue distinct regulations for the various categories.

RTCA representatives remain mum about their findings to date. The FAA won't say if and when it will implement any RTCA-recommended policies.

Coming Soon?

Whatever happens, don't expect any changes overnight. Winfrey cautions consumers not to expect any movement in the next six months. An RTCA member who asked not to be identified says changes could take even longer. Any policy amendments would likely occur between mid-2006 and 2007, he says.

As an agency responsible for public safety, the FAA tends to err on the side of safety; it can take its time in enacting new policies. That means the slightest suggestion of potential interference by any wireless gadget will stall the advent of airborne Wi-Fi.

So far, within the wireless RTCA committee, "there is concern based upon the evidence at hand so far that there is real potential [for wireless devices] to interfere with navigation and communications equipment," Winfrey says.

But it's still a question whether wireless devices do in fact pose a safety risk on board.

To date, no studies conclusively show that wireless devices interfere with an aircraft's navigation and communication equipment, according to Hank Grant, who directs the Center for the Study of Wireless Electromagnetic Compatibility at the University of Oklahoma.

"For the set of [mobile] phones we studied, there were no spurious emissions of sufficient magnitude to interfere with the navigation equipment," Grant says.

However, many variables should be considered before anyone can make definitive statements about the effects of wireless devices on aviation systems, cautions Jeff Schiffer, director of wireless research at Intel and an RTCA member.

Industry Responds

The FAA's pace notwithstanding, wireless device makers are examining the standards issue on their own.

"Everyone expects to take electronics aboard on airplanes," says Doug Johnson of the Consumer Electronics Association. "We're trying to examine how the use of devices will be managed and new guidance on this is expected."

In parallel with the FAA's efforts, the CEA hosted a November meeting to investigate the possible need for industry standards to allow the use of wireless portable electronics on aircrafts. One suggestion is a common "flight mode" designation on all portable electronic devices, to show whether a device's transmitter is activated.

A CEA working group project will continue the industry discussion. The group expects to issue its own recommendations in 2004.

Complicating the Process

Any efforts to set standards will be confounded by the volume of wireless device vendors, many of them overseas. Add to the mix the pace of technology, which makes the policy making process a moving target.

Since flight attendants cannot be expected to identify the underlying technologies in each PDA or cell phone implementation, experts expect a single recommendation to cover all devices.

"The goal and the desire of consumers is for manufacturers to design a system where all these devices are compatible with a common flight-mode indicator," says Joe Morrissey, a staff scientist at Motorola. "There must be a consistent feature easily viewed by airline personnel in a busy cabin."

The feature must also be practical to implement across current devices and those not already on the market. It may not be easy to implement a single standard feature across all personal electronics devices, given the diversity of functions and convergence features, Morrissey says.

Even if the FAA lets passengers use their mobile phones in the air, the Federal Communication Commission would also have to lift its ban--which is now being reconsidered. That ban was established in 1991, due to concerns that cell phones would interfere with terrestrial communication.

But the rule may be outdated: Twenty years ago, big cell phones drew a lot of power, which posed potential interference with the cellular towers. Today's mobile phones are much smaller and pose a less significant threat of interference.

Meanwhile, air passengers flying on European carriers are already using wireless devices on their flights. An Intel study headed by RTCA member Schiffer was cited in a decision by the Joint Aviation Authorities, the European equivalent of the FAA, to allow use of Bluetooth-class devices during noncritical flight times by some European airlines.

"In the end, it's up to the airlines and their ability to respond to what their customers want," Schiffer says.