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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. |
#3
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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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"Reid & Julie Baldwin" wrote:
The news lately has mentioned that the FCC is meeting to discuss relaxing the ban on using cell phones in airplanes. Interference and electronics aside, just out of common COURTESY to others, I hope the current rule is upheld. How many calls CAN'T wait until the passenger is back on the ground? In airliners, subjecting the person/people in seats around you to your cellphone chatter when there's no choice about where you sit is both inconsiderate and rude. We have cellphones belonging to employees and customers ringing every few minutes at work, 98% of which calls could have waited until a break, lunch or after hours ... how do I know? because everyone in the entire work area can hear the conversations whether they want to or not! Ditto for restaurants, where being seated next to a table with an incessantly ringing cellphone and the ensuing loud conversations is as much of an intrusion as a toddler standing up in the booth behind you screaming in your ear while you try to enjoy the quiet, relaxing dinner you waited all week for. The Post Office now has signs that read: "Please turn off your cellphone. This is a cellphone-free establishment." Bravo! ... cellphones are terrific for true emergencies, but some people have them permanently attached to their ear, calling to announce whenever they break a nail or lose an eyelash. How many questionable things do you see people on the road do while they have their cellphone up to their ear. I shudder to think about pilots talking on their cellphone about who's going to the Christmas party and with whom while missing another aircraft announcing their position and intentions. Aren't there *enough* potential distractions without adding CELLPHONES to that mix? |
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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. |
#7
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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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wrote in message ... Interference and electronics aside, just out of common COURTESY to others, I hope the current rule is upheld. Tell me about it. Just a few minutes ago, while a sales rep guy was talking to a colleague whose desk is right next to mine, the rep's phone rang. And rang like a bell, I might add. His ringtone was "Hells Bells" by AC/DC and it was loud! Now I'm about the biggest AC/DC fan in the world, but gimmeabreak, it was very annoying. What was even more annoying was how long it took him to actually answer the dang thing. It was like he wanted everyone to hear his precious ringtone. Jeez. You think things are bad now, just look around at your run of the mill teenager. They all have phones nowadays. I went out for lunch one day at a Subway which is close to the local high school. Four kids sat down at one table and commenced to text each other or have loud phone conversations the whole time they were there. Not to mention the annoying ringtones. And if you think that a business person's phone rings a lot, you haven't seen a teenager in action. I'm afraid there is a whole generation of cell phone morons coming down the pike! -Trent PP-ASEL |
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If it's legal to hold a conversation with somebody (say, in a restaurant or
on a plane), why should it be *illegal* to hold a phone conversation? Inconsiderate behavior is simply inconsiderate behavior. Legislating or regulating when you are allowed to speak loudly and otherwise behave inconsiderate of others around you is doomed to failure - and is indicative of a country I would not want to live in. Just because you don't have the spine to ask a loud talker to speak lower doesn't mean that loud talker should be barred from talking loudly. Further, I think you do a great disservice to the professionalism of pilots and crew to suggest that simply having the ability to use a cell phone means they will be used - much less to the detriment of passenger safety. -- John T http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415 ____________________ |
#10
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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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