The biggest safety threat facing airlines today may not be a terrorist with a gun, but the man with the portable computer in business class.In the past 15 years, 1 have reported well over 100 2 that could have been caused by electromagnetic interference.The 3 of this interference remains unconfirmed, 4 increasingly, experts are pointing the blame at portable electronic devices such as portable computers, radios and cassette players and mobile telephones.
RTCA, an organization which 5 the aviation industry, has recommended that 6 airlines ban such electronic devices from being used 7 “critical” stages of flight, 8 take-off and landing.Some experts have gone further, 9 for a total ban during all flights.Currently, rules on using these devices are 10 up to individual airlines.And although some airlines prohibit passengers from 11 such equipment during take-off and landing, most are reluctant to enforce a total ban.Many passengers want to work during flights.
The 12 is predicting how electromagnetic fields 13 affect an aircraft’s computers.Experts 14 that portable devices emit radiation, which affects those wavelengths which 15 use for navigation and communication.But, they have not been able to 16 these effects in a laboratory, they have no 17 of knowing whether the interference might be 18 or not.
The fact that aircraft may be vulnerable(易受攻击)to interference 19 the risk that terrorist may use radio system in order to 20 navigation equipment.