To the FCC, cellular (analog or AMPS) 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 explicitly permitted. I suggest <http://tinyurl.com/znp3w> http://tinyurl.com/znp3w as a good explanation and summary.
As to the FAA, their regulations state: ยง 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> 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. I've rarely had much luck. _____ From: Dan Caliendo [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 3:05 PM To: Ralph Finch Cc: 'Ercoupe Flyin' Subject: Re: [ercoupe-flyin] Weather I have been told it is illegal to use your cell phone in the air because it is line of sight and will interfer with multiple towers at the same time. (Also the way they catch you at it when your call gets picked up by towers normally way out of range). Dan On Nov 20, 2007, at 8:47 AM, Ralph Finch wrote: I doubt you will be able to use the iPhone during flight: any wifi hotspots will come and go in moments, and from personal experience, Cingular GSM phone reception mostly doesn't work. I believe it is legal from both the FCC's and FAA's perspective though. Ralph Finch _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 4:51 PM To: Ercoupe Flyin Subject: [ercoupe-flyin] Weather Has anyone had experience with getting real-time graphic weather updates on internet capable phones, such as Apple's new iPhone? Being able to "see" (and avoid) storm cells on your flight path would be great for cross country flights. Darick 94139 . <http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=19928376/grpspId=1705340085/msgI d=498/stime=1195519885/nc1=4430620/nc2=3848614/nc3=4507179> . <http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=19928376/grpspId=1705340085/msgI d=502/stime=1195570049/nc1=4767086/nc2=3848627/nc3=4507179>
