AVMAP EKP-IV

On 17-Jul-2006, Bob Fry wrote:

Using a digital PCS phone in flight is not illegal so long as the PIC
determines it doesn't interfere with any flight or nav instruments.
Using an older AMPS cellphone is illegal.


WRONG!!!

Use of ANY ordinary cellphone while in flight is prohibited. The exception
as of today is that AirCell phones (which use analog technology) are allowed
under a special FCC waiver. (For more technical info on AirCell, see:
http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/...esc=Technology)

The FCC has recently auctioned some spectrum intended for use in providing
air-to-ground links for commercial airliners. These will be used to connect
micro base stations within the airplane cabin with terrestrial networks.
Once these airborne base stations are deployed, passengers will be able to
use compatible cellphones in flight. Because connection will be to the base
station within the same airplane cabin, transmit power of both the base
station and the cellphone will be extremely low, so that they will not
interfere with terrestrial cellular networks. It is not clear whether the
operators of this airborne system will make it available to private
aircraft.

-Elliott Drucker

"ed" == e drucker writes:

ed On 17-Jul-2006, Bob Fry wrote:

Using a digital PCS phone in flight is not illegal so long as
the PIC determines it doesn't interfere with any flight or nav
instruments. Using an older AMPS cellphone is illegal.


ed WRONG!!!

I believe you are wrong. To the FCC, cellular telephones and Personal
Communication Service (PCS) phones are two different things. Cellular
phones are banned from aircraft by the FCC; PCS phones are not
explicitly banned nor permitted. I suggest http://tinyurl.com/znp3w
as a good explanation and summary.

As far as the FAA, their regulations state:

§ 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.

http://tinyurl.com/zz9j5

In other words, if you have a PCS mobile phone, and are sure it will
not switch to *cellular* service, and as operator of your aircraft you
have determined it will not cause interference with the navigation or
communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used, *and*
you can get the damn thing to work--go for it.

N.B. A few weeks ago I gave an aquaintance a flight, and she wanted
to call her husband. Tried my phone first and it would connect for a
couple of seconds and quit. Tried her phone and it worked fine. I'm
thinking she may have had a phone and service provider that switched
to AMPS, which are said to work better in flight, and which, to be
sure, are not legal to use in flight.