Ok, so let me get this straight, a phone operating at a high rate of speed (in an aircraft) would cause interference to electrical equipment also traveling at the same rate of speed in the same aircraft DUE TO THE DOPPLER EFFECT? Ok, so it's been a bit since I last sat in a physics class, but Doppler Effect is applicable only if the source of the signal is moving at high speeds either towards or away from a stable point where the signal is being received. Doppler would not be a factor for equipment traveling in the same direction and speed as the source signal. It would just receive the transmitted signal . . . no Doppler.
As to using a cell phone in flight, the pilot in command of the aircraft has the authority to allow or deny the use of any devices on the aircraft (cell phone, laptop, even non-electronics). Having used one in flight (with the pilot's permission, on a private aircraft), I can tell you that the low power output cell phones now in use get VERY POOR connections to ground based cell cites. Remember, you're sitting in a sealed metal tube . . . signals don't tend to penetrate it very well, and to top it off, your transmitting a weaker signal. YMMV based on altitude.
As to why you cannot use a cell phone on a commercial aircraft, it's due to FCC rules prohibiting their use while in the air . . . basically to keep from overloading the cell network on the ground. The same reasons given earlier in this thread.
But as a pilot and someone concerned with air safety, would you rather forgo the use of electronics during certain parts of a flight if it meant getting on the ground safely. Imagine your flying on a dark and stormy night. You may not be aware, but your pilot is probably executing an instrument approach to your destination airport with less than 1000 feet of visibility, all while traveling at about 170 MPH, precision is vital, and he's relying on the instruments to get you down safely. Why take a chance interfering with these instruments because you're bored and want to use your gameboy or CD player?
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I'm glad someone could find the actual FCC regs. Thanks!
Ok, so let me get this straight, a phone operating at a high rate of speed (in an aircraft) would cause interference to electrical equipment also traveling at the same rate of speed in the same aircraft DUE TO THE DOPPLER EFFECT? Ok, so it's been a bit since I last sat in a physics class, but Doppler Effect is applicable only if the source of the signal is moving at high speeds either towards or away from a stable point where the signal is being received. Doppler would not be a factor for equipment traveling in the same direction and speed as the source signal. It would just receive the transmitted signal . . . no Doppler.
As to using a cell phone in flight, the pilot in command of the aircraft has the authority to allow or deny the use of any devices on the aircraft (cell phone, laptop, even non-electronics). Having used one in flight (with the pilot's permission, on a private aircraft), I can tell you that the low power output cell phones now in use get VERY POOR connections to ground based cell cites. Remember, you're sitting in a sealed metal tube . . . signals don't tend to penetrate it very well, and to top it off, your transmitting a weaker signal. YMMV based on altitude.
As to why you cannot use a cell phone on a commercial aircraft, it's due to FCC rules prohibiting their use while in the air . . . basically to keep from overloading the cell network on the ground. The same reasons given earlier in this thread.
But as a pilot and someone concerned with air safety, would you rather forgo the use of electronics during certain parts of a flight if it meant getting on the ground safely. Imagine your flying on a dark and stormy night. You may not be aware, but your pilot is probably executing an instrument approach to your destination airport with less than 1000 feet of visibility, all while traveling at about 170 MPH, precision is vital, and he's relying on the instruments to get you down safely. Why take a chance interfering with these instruments because you're bored and want to use your gameboy or CD player?