309 wrote:

Michael Ash wrote:

My understanding is that the major problem with cell phones on GA
craft was simply that the old-style cell networks couldn't handle them. An
active cell phone in the air would be within range of a bunch of different
towers which caused confusion in the network, since it was built on the
assumption that the ground would limit your line of sight so that you
would only be in range of two or three towers at a time.

There are also interference issues with AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.

Certainly. But there is a big difference between airliners and GA craft
when it comes to this, namely the fact that in GA craft the use of cell
phones will be obvious to the pilot and he can politely ask the passenger
to put it away, or he can get off the phone himself. The range of
instrumentation will also be much more varied. When I'm flying there
should be no interference issues since the only electronic stuff in the
glider is the aircraft radio. If I were to use the phone and it were to
start messing with the radio, I can always hang up. Airliners have a lot
more instrumentation and the use of forbidden objects is harder to detect,
so the rules are more strict.

--
Michael Ash
Rogue Amoeba Software