AOPA supports cell phones in GA aircraft

I have Verizon and always get a signal. In remote areas sometimes I
have to be at 1000 AGL to get a reliable signal.



Marco Leon wrote:
I don't know about anyone else, but I can never get a [usable] signal above
2,500 feet agl. Anyone else have a different experience? I have Verizon.

Marco Leon

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...

From the Aero-News Propwash newsletter this morning:

AOPA Lobbies Congress For Cell Phones In GA Cockpits
Aviation Advocacy Group Says The Time Is Now

General aviation pilots should be
able to use cell phones in the cockpit while they're airborne. And
they should be able to do it now. That's what AOPA is telling the
Federal Communications Commission.

"It's a safety issue," said Randy Kenagy, AOPA senior director
of advanced technology. "Cell phones and other wireless
technologies are invaluable tools for obtaining updated weather and
other information in flight. And the risk of interference with
aircraft avionics for the typical general aviation flight is very
slight."

The FCC is considering changing its rules to allow cell phones
(and other wireless devices such as pagers and Blackberries) to be
used in the air.

Despite the concern in some quarters that cell phones might
cause interference with aircraft radios and navigation equipment,
the FAA has never prohibited their use. The aviation agency always
has given pilots the final authority on what portable electronic
devices could be used in the flight. And AOPA talked with several
major cell phone service providers and found no restrictions on
using their services in GA cockpits.

And for GA pilots, the safety and
convenience benefits of the wireless devices far outweigh any
minimal interference risk.

"The majority of general aviation flights are flown under VFR,
so there is seldom exclusive reliance on electronic navigation,"
said Kenagy. "Plus, the pilot isn't isolated from the passengers
and has the immediate ability and responsibility to terminate the
use of any device at any time if it is interfering with
flight-critical electronics."

AOPA told the FCC that it strongly supports the rule change and
urged the agency to take the regulatory steps to allow the
immediate use of cell phones and other wireless devices in airborne
aircraft.

-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
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the blog: www.danford.net




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"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:8WU2e.22$7b.10@trndny01...
Jose wrote:

The new information is that the cell
companies are ok with letting cell phones be used in the air.


What new info? My contacts at Verizon say that that company, for one, is
still
opposed. If you're talking about the AOPA article, note that AOPA seems to
be of
the opinion that the entire reason for the FCC ban is to prevent
interference
with avionics. In short, AOPA doesn't know what they're talking about.

Well, they might know what can or cannot interfere with the avionics, but
not what motives the cellular industry.

Given all the news reports I hear about the service levels in the cellular
industry, are they REALLY trying THAT HARD to shoot themselves in the...ah,
....testicles?


--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

Back in the old days with the analog bag phones, I seem to remember
being able to get a signal while in the air. These days, with the
digital phones, that doesn't seem to be the case.

On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 16:49:57 GMT, Jose
wrote:

Ok, I inferred from the note that the cell phone companies were ok with
it. My bad.

Jose, anyone in 2005 who can still use "infer" correctly is okay with
me.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net