Does anyone know if hand held GPS devices are allowed to be turned on in flight?

Question

Does anyone know if hand held GPS devices are allowed to be turned on in flight?

Answer 1

I use one all the time.. I don't know what Lesh is talking about. I use a USB unit connected to my laptop and it displays speed and altitude and position using MS maps. It is not expressly forbidden, so I use it!

Answer 2

GPS devices don't transmit.  They receive signals that are already being transmitted from satellites regardless if it is on or off.  Aside from take off and landing, I don't see any reason why you can't use it.

Answer 3

What would be the purpose? They don't work inside.  This is why in a car your Satnav (a sophisticated GPS device) has to be on the dash/ in windscreen area  to recieve signals from the satellites that give your position.

Answer 4

Some airlines allow it to be used above 10,000', some do not allow it to be used at all.  Here is a list:

http://gpsinformation.net/airgps/airgps....

I often use mine (and will sometimes specifically pick one airline versus another for this reason).  I then download the "breadcrumbs" it records and plot them on a map.

If your GPS has a built-in altimeter, I don't know if it will record the altitude correctly or not.  Do those work based on air pressure?  If so...the cabin is pressurized so it will always read about 8000'.  Mine just calculates altitude by triangulation, the same way it calculates lat and long, so it records the altitude pretty accurately while in flight.

As for Lesh's point - if you leave it in your lap or on your tray table, it won't work.  But if you hold it up to the window, it does.  I usually pin it in place with the window shade or with my shoulder.

Answer 5

Some airline don't mind and other airline will not allow you to turn on a GPS devices even though it is not a transceiver.

When in doubt, ask your flight attendant

I personal have used GPS on a plane and mark way points as we fly by different cities, no big deal if you don't make it to obvious.