Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Fri, 17 May 91 11:01:14 EDT From: James Turner Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Cellular Phone Use in Aircraft 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 368, Message 4 of 7 Lines: 65 I don't know if anyone has actually posted the FAR (Federal Air Regulation) that applies to this kind of stuff, but I thought I'd give you the verbatim text: FAR Part 91 (General Operating and Flight Rules) 91.21 Portable Electronic Devices (a) Except as provided for 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 operating 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 protable electronic device that the operator of the aircraft has determined will not cause interference with the navigation or communications system of the aircraft on which itis 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 requried 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 any other aircraft, the determination may be made by the pilot in command or other operator of the aircraft. COMMENTS AND EXPLANATIONS: (a) - Not that these regs are binding over US-registered planes only. What you do on a British Airways flight from JFK is between you and them. (1) This is basically any commerical air carrier. (2) This is anyone flying under instrument conditions (poor visibility). This means any pilot in any aircraft, not just commercial. (b)(5) Note that the person making the decision must determine that the device WILL NOT interfere. This is different from prohibiting devices that WILL interfere. Basically, if you're not sure, you can't permit it. (c) Also note that the Pilot in Command (Captain) of a commercial flight is not allowed to make this determination. It must be made by the owner (read lawyers). Hope this will help clarify things. James M. Turner | > (LET ((DISCLAIMER 'INTERLEAF-NOT-RESPONSIBLE)) Senior System Engineer Interleaf, Inc