Effect of electromagnetic interference by neonatal transport equipment on aircraft operation

With the increase of the number of civilian air ambulance services operating in the United States, the potential to interference with any of the aircraft's electrical systems by the electromagnetic interference (EMI) produced by medical equipment is steadily increasing. About 70 percent of neonatal incubators, monitors, and ventilators tested over the past 15 years produced excessive EMI, by military standards. It is recommended that standards for acceptable EMI levels shold be developed by the FAA and that hospitals should not purchase transport equipment from manufacturers who refuse to meet EMI standards. It is also suggested that aircraft operators must be aware of possible interference with their aircraft, and insist on equipment which meets EMI standards.