As a Captain for a large US carrier, I offer you these tips on flying with your GPS, in the hopes that the next time you take off, it will be a smooth flight. It is not uncommon to see several posts in the Groundspeak forums regarding travel on airlines with your GPS receiver. Questions can range from "How do I get past security?" to "How do I hook up my GPS with my external antenna to my laptop and PDA while still having room for my Coke?"

Some people travel everyday and have become accustomed to the quirks of post-9/11 travel and are very familiar with security and airline policy, especially if they fly the same airline a majority of the time. For the rest of us, it is more trial and error then anything.

As a Captain for a large US carrier, I offer you these tips on flying with your GPS, in the hopes that the next time you take off, it will be a smooth flight.

Security
The first step to flying with your GPS is getting through security. Luckily, this is a fairly easy process. While security has increased tenfold since 9/11, and many items that were previously allowed through security in the past are now banned, Portable Electronic Devices, or PED's have not been largely affected.

At most, you can expect security personnel to take a closer look at your GPS. You may even be required to turn the unit on to demonstrate that it does, in fact, operate. The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) website maintains a list of prohibited items and at the time of this writing, no PED's were included on this list.

It is important to note that the TSA prescribes the minimum security levels. Each airport can then require additional security measures as long as they meet the minimums set by the TSA. If you want to be absolutely sure you will be allowed to take your GPS receiver as a carry-on item or in your checked luggage, you can call your local airport's information number as well as your airline for additional information.

Da Plane - Da Plane
A handheld GPS receiver is considered to be a Portable Electronic Device. The FAA has rules restricting the use of PEDs on commercial airlines. Those rules, at 14 CFR 91.21, 121.306 and 135.144, prohibit the operation of a PED on an aircraft unless the airline has determined that the device will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft.

The rule includes exceptions for portable voice recorders, hearing aids, heart pacemakers, and electric shavers; these are permissible. The following are some examples of cases where PEDs have been reported or are suspected to have caused interference with aircraft:

While the FAA regulations do not specifically prohibit the use of GPS receivers, they do fall into the category where each airline is responsible for having their own policy regarding their use.
• · In October of 1998, a Boeing 757, flying from Seattle to Covington/Cincinnati, experienced loss of all three of its autopilot systems. Flight attendants checked for a passenger using a portable electronic device and discovered a man wearing headphones, which were part of a hearing aid. The passenger was allowed to continue using the device, but was moved forward several rows. The autopilot system then regained full operational capabilities and was later checked by maintenance, with no problems being found.
• In January of 1997, a regional jet was flying from Salt Lake City to Eugene. The flight crew received three separate warning messages stating that there were disagreements between the captain's and the first officer's instruments. The three warnings were for discrepancies in heading, airspeed, and altitude indicators. After flight attendants checked the cabin for passengers using portable electronic devices and had the devices turned off, all problems ceased.
• In February 1994, a turboprop aircraft flying government officials from Lake Havasu, AZ to Yuma, AZ experienced trouble with its navigational radios. Ground control showed that the airplane was off course and gave corrections. However, the plane's navigation system had been checked earlier in the month and was said to have zero error. After the flight, the pilot learned that at least one passenger was using a cellular phone while the plane was in the air.

While the FAA regulations do not specifically prohibit the use of GPS receivers, they do fall into the category where each airline is responsible for having their own policy regarding their use. This policy can usually be found on the airline's website, or can be obtained by calling the airline information number directly. Most of the large US carriers have similar policies that generally allow the use of GPS receivers in cruise flight. However, in many cases the policy does not allow the use of any external cables or wires, as is the case with an external antenna. If there is ever a question, ask before you do it. The old saying "It is easier to ask for forgiveness then permission" does not apply to airline travel in the 21st century. My recommendation is to be as low key as possible. You are much less likely to be asked to put away your GPS receiver if you are just holding a handheld unit near a window. If you have your external antenna attached and are trying to "mount" it near the window, you will draw unnecessary attention to yourself and will run the risk of being asked to turn off your GPSr. The same is true of connecting your GPS receiver to a laptop or PDA. Airlines prohibit connecting external devices, such as printers, to laptops, so it would only make sense that GPS receivers would also be included.

Finally, it is important to note that the FAA gives the Pilot-In-Command or Captain of the flight complete and final authority in the operation of that flight. If you are asked to turn off your PED, regardless of the airline's policy, do it immediately and without discussion. This will not only keep the flight attendant from "accidentally" spilling hot coffee on you, but will keep you out of trouble also.

It is a federal offense to disobey crewmembers' instructions. Local law enforcement and the FBI have met many people upon landing because they failed to follow a crewmember's instruction. Last year in England, a passenger who refused to switch off his cell phone on an international flight was jailed for a year. Don't let this be you!

In summary, don't be discouraged from bringing along your GPS receiver on your next flight. Do some quick research before you go as to the policies of the airline you are traveling, follow the crew's guidance with regard to PEDs, and most of all, have fun with your GPS! Happy Flying!

TeamAv8r