AOPA supports cell phones in GA aircraft

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

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