Oooooh, an instrument rated pilot! I probably had my ticket before you were born. It's been a while since I've flown but I have to say I do not recall even hearing interference from lightning on my radios. I certainly saw my share of lightening in the air.
I see you mostly dropped your 1960s BS. I remember when Walkmen (portable cassette tape players) were how we listened to music on airplanes, I was doing a lot of flying from Newark to Orlando. This was in the early 80s. These flights lasted almost exactly as long as the opera Fidelio, which, when I selected it, would end just as we touched down. Somehow my little Walkman never disturbed anything, and nobody cared that I was listening.
ML/NJ
I see. Were you also an @sshole before I was born? You seem to have had a lot of practice.
I see you mostly dropped your 1960s BS.
How so? I said that airlines were still using 60's era avionics. You erroneously interpreted that as "manufactured in the 60's". While some of the newer radios have better receivers (they have to, because the channel spacing is being shrunk from 25 kHz to 8.33 kHz), the technology is still the same.
Although, to be completely accurate: VORs actually date back to the 1950's. They were widely deployed in the 60's, replacing the four-course radio navigation stations.
Even glass cockpit aircraft still fly the same airways, using the same navigation facilities. GPS is being used more and more, but it's not yet a requirement. And as I noted earlier, GPS is even more susceptible to interference. Fortunately, the receiver loses lock in an obvious way.
I remember when Walkmen (portable cassette tape players) were how we listened to music on airplanes
Walkman cassette players are old analog technology, and about as advanced as a flashlight. The only way those can cause any interference is to turn it up so loud that it destroys your hearing.
I'll also note that under a reasonable interpretation, the walkman would fall under the "portable voice recorder" exception in the FARs.