Pilots?? Quantas says Bluetooth caused plane to dive?

Vipergrün · 10-09-2008, 08:44 AM

From the article;

"a passenger clicking on a wireless mouse mid-flight was blamed for causing a Qantas jet to be thrown off course, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's monthly report."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10536660

Is this even plausible?

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

I sincerely doubt it. Nearly every flight I've been on (hundreds), I see at least 2-3 people that "forget" to turn off their wireless and bluetooth on their laptops and cellphones.

...but I guess it's a good idea he didn't "SCROLL DOWN".

onewhippedpuppy · 10-09-2008, 09:24 AM

Aircraft go through a huge variety of interference testing prior to certification. It doesn't seem plausible that a common item like a Bluetooth device could cause such severe interference. Also, I don't believe that the A300 is fly by wire, which makes it even more unlikely. Maybe a run-away pitch trim controller or autopilot issue?

SlowToady · 10-09-2008, 09:26 AM

There have apparently been several incidents with Airbus planes suddenly loosing altitude.

Hey I have a thought, maybe Airbus just uses ****ty electronics?

Hard-Deck · 09:57 AM

I have flown many different airplanes, to include fly-by-wire.

Absoutely doubtful...Qantas is reaching, ever heard of a Red Herring?

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quantas has had a lot of glitches lately
started when oil was like really expensive... HMMMMmmmm...

tcar · 10-09-2008, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Also, I don't believe that the A300 is fly by wire, which makes it even more unlikely. Maybe a run-away pitch trim controller or autopilot issue?

Was an A330-300. It IS FBW.

A320 was the first ever commercial airliner that was FBW, I think.

Rot 911 · 10-09-2008, 11:32 AM

"QANTAS. QANTAS never crashed."

GG Allin · GG Allin's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt V

"QANTAS. QANTAS never crashed."

damnit, beat me to it.

TechnoViking · TechnoViking's Garage

Quote:

I sincerely doubt it. Nearly every flight I've been on (hundreds), I see at least 2-3 people that "forget" to turn off their wireless and bluetooth on their laptops and cellphones.

I'm willing to bet that every single plane flown every single day has at least one cellphone and a number of Bluetooth devices on the entire flight.

I've heard it's the cell phone companies that don't like all those fast-moving phones on their network, which is the real reason we're asked to turn them off.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

In the days before flip phone, I had one of the big ones in my carry on bag. I had shut it off, but it must have been jostled and the ON button pressed. And then the SEND button pressed too. When I arrived and took it out of my bag, it had been going for hours. But we made it there without incident.

ckissick · 10-09-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt V

"QANTAS. QANTAS never crashed."

Definitely.

Dennis Kalma · Dennis Kalma's Garage

If cell phones and Bluetooth were really threats to air safety, would the airlines really be happy with just "asking" people to turn it all off? If they were serious, they would insist that the devices be checked in, turned off, sealed up or otherwise incarcerated for the flight.

The real reason is as stated....too many cell zone changes from fast moving aircraft causes the cell system to go wonky....

Dennis

beepbeep · 10-09-2008, 03:10 PM

Sounds more like CAT...

VINMAN · 10-09-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlowToady

There have apparently been several incidents with Airbus planes suddenly loosing altitude.

Note to self;......Stay off Airbuses!

VINMAN · 10-09-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt V

"QANTAS. QANTAS never crashed."

SlowToady · 10-15-2008, 05:03 AM

Software responsible for Qantas plane diving. But hell, why not blame consumer electronics? It's much easier to pass the buck to consumers, than to fix shady business practices. I have an idea..fix your fscking software!

SlowToady · 10-15-2008, 05:06 AM

By the way, I smell a lawsuit. Actually, a large one. Broken bones and _spinal_ injuries?

I hope Qantas has a baller insurance policy...

DasBoot · 10-15-2008, 07:05 AM

Qantas has had no "crashes", but they did run off the runway in two incidents.

onewhippedpuppy · 10-15-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcar

Was an A330-300. It IS FBW.

A320 was the first ever commercial airliner that was FBW, I think.

I missed that. I'm an aero engineer, and love new technology. But FBW is a bit scary.