Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Tue, 14 May 91 00:37:00 -0700 From: Ron Schnell Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Cellular Phone Use in Aircraft ... It Worked For Me! Message-ID: Organization: TELECOM Digest Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 361, Message 7 of 9 Lines: 44 In article steves@aerobat.labs.tek.com (Steve Shellans) writes: > In article reb@ingres.com (Phydeaux) > writes: >> I realize that you're "not supposed to" do things like this, but if >> anything had happened I could always have called 911 ;-) > I don't think this is funny. The reason you're not supposed to do > things like this is that stray signals from transmitters and other > kinds of electronic equipment can interfere with the navigation > instruments. The reason you aren't supposed to use cellular phones in aircraft is different from the reason you aren't supposed to use FM radios and Portable computers. There is an FCC rule against the use of cellular phones from aircraft because they activate almost every cell in a 50 mile radius due to the confusion of trying to figure out the closest one. The FM radio/Computer rules are generally airline policy. It is pretty much accepted these days that these things can't really mess up the navigation equipment. Most airliners now use longer range navigation systems like LORAN or various satellite-based systems, which can't be upset by FM interference. I usually ask the pilot if I can use an FM scanner or similar device, and (s)he usually lets me. > [Moderator's Note: I did not think it was funny either ... maybe next > time he decides to flex the rules a little in his experiments he will > try the one which says 'keep all radios, including cell phones, turned > off in areas where dynamite and other explosive powders are being > used.' If anything goes wrong, someone will always call 911 :( PAT] If you didn't think it was funny, then why did you encourage him? In : > [Moderator's Note: You should have tried a few more tests of things > you're 'not supposed to do', such as *711 to ask what carrier it was, > and 0 for the operator to find out what place was getting your call. PAT] [Moderator's Note: See my reply after next message. PAT]