Re: Continental Airlines policy prohibits GPS use in flight

From: Peter (prathman_at_comcast.net)
Date: 02/26/05 

Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2005 12:56:05 -0800

qwerty wrote:

> "Bob Gardner" <bobmrg@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:IsydnW_34PvCBb3fRVn-pA@comcast.com...
>
>>Samre thing for American Airlines.
>
> Not to mention that the 9/11 attackers used handheld GPS's to navigate those
> AA planes to the WTC & Pentagon. So, it's a bit understandable if AA is a
> bit "nervous" about their use during their flights.

There has been no evidence to that effect presented. The hijackings
occurred on a nice sunny day when the most obvious way to navigate is to
look out the window. Following the Hudson river south to Manhattan and
then looking for a couple really tall towers isn't that hard to do.
There was some fairly well-publicised evidence that at least one of the
hijackers had purchased a Garmin III+, but none that it was used or
needed on September 11th.

Furthermore, AA had previously switched back and forth a few times on
their rules for passenger use of GPS but their current policy
prohibiting them was instituted before the hijackings (I believe in
August, 2000) and therefore could not have been made in response to
subsequent events. Nor would it make sense to allow passengers to have
them on board but turned off if the concern was about security since
obviously any hijacker won't be deterred from turning his back on once
he takes over the plane.

Continental has also switched back and forth several times. They had a
policy prohibiting use until December, 1999 at which point they allowed
use for several months before again banning use. Then in November 2000
they again allowed passenger GPS use and that appears to have remained
their policy until recently when Roy was informed that it had changed
once again. Hope they decide to switch back again.

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