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FCC talking about relaxing cell phone rules
The news lately has mentioned that the FCC is meeting to discuss relaxing
the ban on using cell phones in airplanes. Most of the news coverage focuses on the implications for airline passengers. They said that the FAA would also have to change rules before airline passengers could use cell phones. The FCC is mainly concerned with interference with ground based use. The FAA is mostly concerned about interference with aircraft electronics. Does the FAA prohibit cell phone use in private aircraft, or is that just an FCC rule? If it becomes legal to use a cell phone from the air, I may have to look into one of those headset adapters for cell phones. |
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Does the FAA prohibit cell phone use in private aircraft, or is that just an
FCC rule? It's an FCC rule, designed to avoid overloading the old style analog cell sites. The rule is thought not to apply to the newer digital cell service (but I don't think it's been tested in court). The FAA rule for part 135 ops (135.144) essentially lets the operator of the aircraft determine what they will allow and disallow. They make a determination that a device will or will not interfere (but then if they determine wrong, and an accident occurs, the "careless and reckless" clause will certainly be trotted out). I don't think there is an equivalent rule for part 91 ops; the pilot is responsible for the safety of the flight, which by default includes portable electronic devices. Jose -- Freedom. It seemed like a good idea at the time. for Email, make the obvious change in the address. |
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Jose wrote: It's an FCC rule, designed to avoid overloading the old style analog cell sites. The rule is thought not to apply to the newer digital cell service (but I don't think it's been tested in court). It's never going to be tested in court because the FCC regulations explicitly state that you may legally use PCS phones in the air. One problem there is that most PCS phones still fall back on the old AMPS frequencies when they can't connect over the higher frequencies. George Patterson The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise. |
#4
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the FCC regulations explicitly
state that you may legally use PCS phones in the air. Didn't know that. Can you point to the exact wording? Jose -- Freedom. It seemed like a good idea at the time. for Email, make the obvious change in the address. |
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Jose wrote:
Didn't know that. Can you point to the exact wording? I researched this issue back in August and posted the results here. http://tinyurl.com/6zary Feel free to peruse the FCC regs, yourself. They're online at http://www.fcc.gov -- John T http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415 ____________________ |
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Jose wrote: Didn't know that. Can you point to the exact wording? Can't find it anymore - I used to be able to search the regulations, but they've broken them up into small chunks now. As I recall, it was an explicit statement to the effect that the prohibition on cell phone usage in the air does not apply to PCS devices. The regs for broadband PCS are at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/w...7cfr24_03.html Regs for cell phones are at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/w...7cfr22_03.html George Patterson The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise. |
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Jose wrote
I don't think there is an equivalent rule for part 91 ops; the pilot is responsible for the safety of the flight, which by default includes portable electronic devices. Section 91.21: Portable electronic devices. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may operate, nor may any operator or pilot in command of an aircraft allow the operation of, any portable electronic device on any of the following U.S.-registered civil aircraft: (1) Aircraft operated by a holder of an air carrier operating certificate or an operating certificate; or (2) Any other aircraft while it is operated under IFR. (b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to— (1) Portable voice recorders; (2) Hearing aids; (3) Heart pacemakers; (4) Electric shavers; or (5) Any other portable electronic device that the operator of the aircraft has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used. (c) In the case of an aircraft operated by a holder of an air carrier operating certificate or an operating certificate, the determination required by paragraph (b)(5) of this section shall be made by that operator of the aircraft on which the particular device is to be used. In the case of other aircraft, the determination may be made by the pilot in command or other operator of the aircraft. |
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"Reid & Julie Baldwin" wrote in message ... The news lately has mentioned that the FCC is meeting to discuss relaxing the ban on using cell phones in airplanes. Most of the news coverage focuses on the implications for airline passengers. They said that the FAA would also have to change rules before airline passengers could use cell phones. The FCC is mainly concerned with interference with ground based use. The FAA is mostly concerned about interference with aircraft electronics. Does the FAA prohibit cell phone use in private aircraft, or is that just an FCC rule? If it becomes legal to use a cell phone from the air, I may have to look into one of those headset adapters for cell phones. IIRC the FARs do not prohibit the use of cell phones in flight for part 91 ops in VFR. When operating on an IFR flight plan I believe there are restrictions on operation of equipment that can be construed as a ban on the use of cellphones. The operative regulation in either case though is with the FCC who I do believe prohibits airborne use of cell phones, though it is utterly unenforceable. As a very frequent airline flyer, this sounds like an awful idea to me. First, it's bad enough having to listen to the guys yelling into their phones before they shut the door. Second, those 2-5 hours I'm in the aluminum tube are the last hours of my life when my boss/clients/girlfriend/etc do not expect me to be reachable by phone, email, or text message. I'd much rather keep it that way. -cwk. |
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C Kingsbury wrote:
As a very frequent airline flyer, this sounds like an awful idea to me. First, it's bad enough having to listen to the guys yelling into their phones before they shut the door. Grow a spine and ask them to quiet down. Second, those 2-5 hours I'm in the aluminum tube are the last hours of my life when my boss/clients/girlfriend/etc do not expect me to be reachable by phone, email, or text message. I'd much rather keep it that way. If you tell me what model phone you have, I'm sure I can help find the power switch for you. At the very least, I can help remove the battery. For whose convenience is the phone: Yours or the people who call you? To demonstrate, this morning I was "disposing of waste water" (to paraphrase Casey W.) when my cell phone began vibrating (I don't use an audible ringer unless I'm home, away from the phone and expecting a call). There's not a snowball's chance in Hades that I'll answer the phone while taking care of that kind of business - yet I've seen many others do so. I try to flush just a little more loudly when presented the opportunity. Cell phones are not the cause of inconsiderate behavior. Would you rather treat the symptoms or kill the cancer causing the symptoms? -- John T http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415 ____________________ |
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"John T" wrote in message m... C Kingsbury wrote: Second, those 2-5 hours I'm in the aluminum tube are the last hours of my life when my boss/clients/girlfriend/etc do not expect me to be reachable by phone, email, or text message. I'd much rather keep it that way. If you tell me what model phone you have, I'm sure I can help find the power switch for you. At the very least, I can help remove the battery. For whose convenience is the phone: Yours or the people who call you? If I turn the phone off I'll get an angry message saying "why didn't you pick up?" The other party may be the boorish one but that doesn't solve my problem. When I'm on a plane these days I have an excuse for being unreachable. It's pretty much the last place where that's true. -cwk. |
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