Kuala Lumpur: Use of cellphones, laptops, electronic games and other such gadgets while travelling by air can disrupt the functioning of other sophisticated equipment onboard, including navigational system of aircrafts, an aerospace expert has said.

The Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI), generated by most of the electronic equipment, emanates from the transmitters attached to the communication devices, including those having WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities, said professor Vladimir Zhuravlev of University Sains Malaysia School of Aerospace Engineering.

He said the use of such equipment in flights could cause problems as more and more onboard subsystems were equipped with electronic control elements.

"The use of these electronic devices can lead to errors in the autopilot systems, navigation systems and other onboard subsystems managed by electronic control elements," he told the New Straits Times.

Zhuravlev said the EMI generated by such devices was similar in principle to the military electronic countermeasures that electromagnetically jam enemies communication systems.

Drawing attention of air traffic authorities, Zhuravlev suggested to ban on use of such electronic gadgets onboard to avoid risk.

"In many cases, management decisions are made by persons who are not specialists in the appropriate fields. They think about economics and advertising but not about technical problems and safety," he said.

Source : PTI