Comment Re:Interference with flight instruments (Score 1) 773
It really depends on how they are packed.
You can quite easily contain the field from the magnets with a piece of iron. You could also pack the magnets in opposite directions so that any residual field from one magnet cancels the field from another.
If they are packed properly, I don't see why it should be a problem for a compass even if it is right next to the crate of magnets.
I agree that you would need to check that the compass is pointing in the correct direction before taking off (which is presumably standard procedure anyway). The compass being affected is certainly a lot more obvious then electrical interference so less of a danger. It would seem sensible to warn the pilot though to make sure he checks for any problems.
It sounds to me that the captain reacted violently before checking if the cargo was actually dangerous. If there was any danger then I think it should be obvious before taking off (the magnet pointing at the crate and not north).
There seems to be a lot of irrational, unscientific behavior when it comes to interference and flying. Electrical interference is well understood physically. It should be easy to generate fields at a range of frequencies in a range of positions inside the cabin to test what is safe and what is not. That way we could have rules surrounding electronics based on real threat, not superstition. TFA article mentions that interference has been blamed for a recent accident but not any tests like this being done or any measures to shield the planes (if a mouse is enough to endanger a plane then making sure no one carries anything dangerous is obviously isn't going to work).
You can quite easily contain the field from the magnets with a piece of iron. You could also pack the magnets in opposite directions so that any residual field from one magnet cancels the field from another.
If they are packed properly, I don't see why it should be a problem for a compass even if it is right next to the crate of magnets.
I agree that you would need to check that the compass is pointing in the correct direction before taking off (which is presumably standard procedure anyway). The compass being affected is certainly a lot more obvious then electrical interference so less of a danger. It would seem sensible to warn the pilot though to make sure he checks for any problems.
It sounds to me that the captain reacted violently before checking if the cargo was actually dangerous. If there was any danger then I think it should be obvious before taking off (the magnet pointing at the crate and not north).
There seems to be a lot of irrational, unscientific behavior when it comes to interference and flying. Electrical interference is well understood physically. It should be easy to generate fields at a range of frequencies in a range of positions inside the cabin to test what is safe and what is not. That way we could have rules surrounding electronics based on real threat, not superstition. TFA article mentions that interference has been blamed for a recent accident but not any tests like this being done or any measures to shield the planes (if a mouse is enough to endanger a plane then making sure no one carries anything dangerous is obviously isn't going to work).
