PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE DOCUMENT

This document provides general guidance for the use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) and especially intentionally Transmitting Portable Electronic Devices (T-PEDs) inside an aircraft. ED-130 addresses authorities, airframers, aircraft system integrators and aircraft operators.

The existing policy prohibits the use of T-PEDs unless appropriate demonstrations have been made. Current regulatory policy restricts the use of PEDs and T-PEDs onboard aircraft on a basis that they could adversely affect operation of aircraft systems. In addition, recent popular publications have amplified the concern that mobile phones in particular could impact aircraft systems. The policies and the concerns are addressed in ED-130.

Consequently, ED-130 provides the processes to analyse and demonstrate electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) between PED or T-PED and aircraft electronics for general use of PED or T-PED. In addition, aircraft systems associated with the use of T-PEDs providing radio services new to the aircraft will require analogue EMC demonstrations regarding the T-PEDs intentional transmission and unintentional transmissions. This document describes therefore the processes and demonstrations to achieve operational approval for PEDs and T-PEDs.

ED-130 defines PEDs as portable devices that may be brought on board by crewmembers or passengers for entertainment and operational purposes or by operators and customers for example for cargo tracking. All devices are expected in the cabin, in the luggage compartments and in other accessible compartments of the aircraft. ED-130 distinguishes between PED and T-PED, which are under aircraft operators control and those, which are for example passenger owned and brought on board. The use of some PED is under control of the aircraft's operator. For operator controlled PED and T-PED the procedures and means to demonstrate EMC are different from those for passenger devices. ED-130 provides the guidance for both cases.

EUROCAE working group 58 has developed ED-130 in mutual consultation with RTCA SC 202. ED-130 focuses on electromagnetic interference aspects and operational guidance for the use of PEDs. The procedures and recommendations within ED-130 are compatible with those in RTCA DO-294A. In addition to DO-294A, ED-130 offers recommendations to accommodate qualification of aircraft systems that may be exposed to radio frequency emissions from T-PEDs or cabin wireless services. The DO-294A includes proposed FAR revisions to incorporate PED usage signage. For completeness, these are included in annex 8. It is proposed that aircraft operational regulatory bodies in Europe include analogous paragraphs in their regulatory requirements.

Interference to terrestrial communication networks and spectrum licensing is not addressed. Similarly, health concerns are not a subject of this document.

The technical content of this document is succinct for clarity. Most of the technical content necessary for the understanding of the document is given in ANNEXES. References are given for complementary technical data.