Cordelli-

So what's your point? Someone using an unauthorized item is different than a person using an unauthorized item which is dangerous?

I think I see the distinction. Just not the difference.

1. Possession of electronic devices such as radio receivers (or transmitters!) is not prohibited aboard passenger aircraft. Using them is prohibited, so don't do it.

2. Contrary to what TA posted above, it's very unlikely that a radio receiver has an oscillator running at the frequency being received. It's far more likely that there is an oscillator running 10.7 MHz away from the frequency being received, not to mention several other oscillators. It so happens that the upper frequency limit of the FM Broadcast Band is much closer than 10.7 MHz from the lower frequency limit of the Aircraft band. In any event, it doesn't matter whether a particular radio interferes with aircraft communications or navigation equipment or not. It's just prohibited. In order to approve a radio for use, that particular model would have to be tested to prove that is does not cause interference from every possible location in every possible aircraft. (Aircraft antennas are located in various places along the fuselage.) This is obviously impractical and expensive to do even once (and of course cabin crew would have to know how to determine what type of radio you were using).

I always have a scanner in my carry on. I like to tune in on ham radio conversations in Asia. Over 107,000 miles since 9/11 without any problems or questions about it. I have never turned it on in the air but did on the runway once in LAX (after sitting for over 2 hours without much info) What they told us and what the real reason for the delay were totally different...

What was the difference?

Never brought a scanner on board but when small GPS units first came out brought one on board. It works if held up to the window and is at the right angle. I was sitting upstairs on a 747-400 and one of the pilots came out and saw it. At then time he had never used one of the hand held type--so he was very interested in it. He wanted to check was the accuracy of my GPS versus plane's GPS. Asked me if he could take it to the cockpit for a few minutes. Came back about 20-minutes later and reported that it was pretty close to plane's GPS.

GPS units are specifically allowed, while scanners are prohibited. I'll also echo another comment - you're not missing much by not hearing air to air (only used over water, usually quiet), or company communications. Most of the company communications in the air is done via ACARS anyway.

Mark: Re your comments that GPS are permitted--I've heard this from some pilots before but most UA cabin staff do not seem to know about it as I 've been requested not to use it by quite a few. Aside from this: What makes them different from any other type of radio receivers which are prohibited?

In the future, you might politely ask the FA to check with the captain. It might help to know that the reference is on page 8.100.7 of the FOM.

I don't know what makes a GPS different - perhaps they don't produce as much of a signal as a radio receiver in order to receive information from the satellites. Or perhaps there is better quality control of GPS units because many of them will go into aircraft. Sorry I can't really answer that question.

"First Officer's Manual" ??

"Flight Operations Manual" ??

Or do I just say "the FOM" (and is that pronounced "fahm" or "fome" or "eff-oh-em"

(I want to sound like I know what I'm talking about )



[This message has been edited by cblaisd (edited 05-29-2002).]

I think they just say "manual" Chuck.
I don't know. I'm as stOopid as you are...
Jana =)

I personally dont think that there is any scientific research that ties cell phone and receivers causing a plane to crash. I often forget to turn of my cell phone and I have yet to be in a plane crash? My personal belief is that airlines don't allow cell phones because they want to make part of the 5 dollars a minute they charge for the inflight phones?

I thought about that as I was writing it, but it was late and I was going to bed (I have to have some excuse, don't I?)

It's the Flight Operations Manual - something the FAs do not have. The same information is probably in their Inflight Handbook, but I don't have access to that.

It's pronounced "eff-oh-em", btw.

Thank you, Mark. I will file that reference away for use when I take my Palm/GPS combo on its maiden flight next month

I've found that scanners are handy while in the car en route to the airport to pick somebody up. I listen to the approach frequency to find when the flight is coming in. Tends to be more accurate at knowing when a flight will land than calling the airline.

On WN, permissibility of inflight use of GPS is stated in the inflight magazine.