Possible electronic emissions interfering with navigation of aircraft. Heading track deviation.

Attributes
ACN	166548
Time
Date	199012
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : shv
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw tower : cae
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	166548
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Aircraft tracking on N4 east of shv when its navigation compass and CDI began to oscillate 5-10 degrees left and right of course. Several mins later ZFW reported us to be 8 NM north of course and gave us a heading to fly to get back on course. Simultaneously, we had the F/a's check for computers/radios among the passenger and several were found to be in use. Once these were turned off, the aircraft navigation systems functioned normally. Corrective action: greater public awareness, and govt and industry enforcement to eliminate the growing problem with electromagnetic interference.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLE ELECTRONIC EMISSIONS INTERFERING WITH NAVIGATION OF ACFT. HEADING TRACK DEVIATION.

Narrative: ACFT TRACKING ON N4 E OF SHV WHEN ITS NAV COMPASS AND CDI BEGAN TO OSCILLATE 5-10 DEGS LEFT AND RIGHT OF COURSE. SEVERAL MINS LATER ZFW RPTED US TO BE 8 NM N OF COURSE AND GAVE US A HDG TO FLY TO GET BACK ON COURSE. SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE HAD THE F/A'S CHK FOR COMPUTERS/RADIOS AMONG THE PAX AND SEVERAL WERE FOUND TO BE IN USE. ONCE THESE WERE TURNED OFF, THE ACFT NAV SYSTEMS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. CORRECTIVE ACTION: GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND GOVT AND INDUSTRY ENFORCEMENT TO ELIMINATE THE GROWING PROB WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.