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An large transport was off course on the high altitude airways due to radio magnetic interference from passenger equipment.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 219419 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199208 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : rav |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 17000 msl bound upper : 17000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : j64 |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 8600 flight time type : 300 |
| ASRS Report | 219419 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : overcame equipment problem other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
Our flight had just intercepted J-64 off of the pottstown 320 degree radial 30 DME mi from ravine (VOR). We were told that we were north of course but all indications in the cockpit showed us to be near centerline. Later, during this same flight, we were cleared direct to knox VOR. Within a few mins the chicago center controller asked us twice if we were proceeding direct to knox VOR. Again, all indications were normal. I then asked our flight attendants to inspect the cabin for portable electronic devices. She reported within a few mins that a tape machine and a 'game boy' electronic toy were being used. After these devices were turned off, no other reports were received from ATC. It becomes a bit confusing when a controller questions your navigation but all indications were normal. I'm still not 100% sure how much the electronic devices contributed to our navigational error.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN LGT WAS OFF COURSE ON THE HIGH ALT AIRWAYS DUE TO RADIO MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE FROM PAX EQUIP.
Narrative: OUR FLT HAD JUST INTERCEPTED J-64 OFF OF THE POTTSTOWN 320 DEG RADIAL 30 DME MI FROM RAVINE (VOR). WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE N OF COURSE BUT ALL INDICATIONS IN THE COCKPIT SHOWED US TO BE NEAR CTRLINE. LATER, DURING THIS SAME FLT, WE WERE CLRED DIRECT TO KNOX VOR. WITHIN A FEW MINS THE CHICAGO CTR CTLR ASKED US TWICE IF WE WERE PROCEEDING DIRECT TO KNOX VOR. AGAIN, ALL INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. I THEN ASKED OUR FLT ATTENDANTS TO INSPECT THE CABIN FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES. SHE RPTED WITHIN A FEW MINS THAT A TAPE MACHINE AND A 'GAME BOY' ELECTRONIC TOY WERE BEING USED. AFTER THESE DEVICES WERE TURNED OFF, NO OTHER RPTS WERE RECEIVED FROM ATC. IT BECOMES A BIT CONFUSING WHEN A CTLR QUESTIONS YOUR NAV BUT ALL INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. I'M STILL NOT 100% SURE HOW MUCH THE ELECTRONIC DEVICES CONTRIBUTED TO OUR NAVIGATIONAL ERROR.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.