FAA directive requires cockpit display upgrades on Boeing aircraft over Wi-Fi interference

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has unveiled a new airworthiness directive that mandates airlines to replace cockpit display units (DU) on more than 1,300 Boeing 777 and 737 aircraft to prevent possible interference from Wi-Fi and cellular devices.

Under the new airworthiness directive (AD), carriers are required to replace the Honeywell International-manufactured units within five years.

The existing phase 3 DUs need to be replaced with phase 1, phase 2 or phase 3A DUs, and new DU database software needs to be installed for certain units.

FAA said in a statement: "We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of flight-critical information displayed to the flight crew during a critical phase of flight, such as an approach or takeoff, which could result in loss of aeroplane control at an altitude insufficient for recovery, or controlled flight into terrain."

FAA officials stated that the action was taken based on separate analyses conducted by the agency and Boeing, which showed flickering or temporary blank out of cockpit displays when a Wi-Fi or a mobile device is in use.

Honeywell spokesman Steve Brecken was quoted by Reuters as saying that no display units were observed to have blinked in-flight due to Wi-Fi interference.

"The only know occurrence was during a developmental test conducted on the ground," he said.

"We worked with Boeing and addressed any concerns in 2012 with new display hardware."

FAA’s directive is significant as it comes days after the European Aviation Safety Agency has cleared the use of mobile devices by passengers during the takeoff and landing of flights, removing the restrictions that were so far placed.

However, the agency has left it for the individual airlines to take a decision on providing mobile phone access to their passengers.

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Image: The new airworthiness directive requires replacing display units on Boeing 777 and 737 jets. Photo: courtesy of Boeing.