FAA Moves Toward Mandatory Replacement of Certain Honeywell Displays

The Federal Aviation Administration moved toward mandatory replacement of certain older Honeywell International pilot displays installed on more than 150 Boeing 737s and 777s flown by US carriers, raising new concerns about susceptibility to interference from Wi-Fi signals.

Regulators have warned that in extreme cases, Wi-Fi systems aboard commercial jets could cause essential pilot displays to blink or temporarily blank out, a previously discovered vulnerability affecting several hundred airliners world-wide. The FAA's move comes amid a proliferation of Web connectivity for airline passengers and pilots alike, and also coincides with FAA deliberations to ease current cabin restrictions on using personal electronic devices below 10,000 feet. Industry officials said the latest action wasn't prompted by those broader policy discussions, though it may end up having some impact on the agency's final decision. Both Honeywell and Boeing previously acknowledged the potential interference problem, which hasn't shown up during any flights.