Is it possible to use a cell phone while flying?

[Rik]

Having started flight school, I wanted to get prepared and get all the things in advance prior to the first lesson. So I searched on here for head sets. I read the reviews and decided to purchase/order a "Quiet Technologies" head set.

 

While I was reading the reviews and thoughts on here, past threads and post, someone had mentioned you could jack in your music and your phone..

 

How does one connect a cell phone and for that matter, would it even work while up at altitudes?

[chrisk]

I'm lucky if I can get my cell phone to send/receive a text, but I usually fly fairly high.  When I connect the cell phone to the headset, it is usually to close an IFR flight plan.  The connection is through my audio panel.

[RobertGary1]

It's intended to be used on the ground. Technically it's a violation of fcc rules to use it in the air. I've had success with texts down low. Back in the Edge days I could text at altitude but not with 4G.

-Robert

[Hank]

I've used cell phone making calls before departure, to be picked up and for clearance; little need so far to make calls between landing and shutdown.

I have MP3 player and intercom music in out, so don't need to play music from the phone into my headset, but that's a popular use for the music input, whether wired or Bluetooth.

[larryb]

I've used it in the air, through my Bose Bluetooth connection. The higher you go the harder it is to get a good signal. My iPad on Garmin pilot often gets enough signal to update weather.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Gone]

I find that my cell phone will not usually get a signal above 5000' to 7000' depending on where I am.

Ned Gravel

Lucky steward of C-FSWR, a '65 E model at Rockcliffe, Ontario, (CYRO)

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[N201MKTurbo]

I have found that if I send a text it always goes through. It may take half an hour, but iit goes through eventually.

I had a vacuum pump go out on a trip home from Oregon. We were scheduled to fly out the next morning to New Orleans, I sent text messages to my wife and she was able to buy a pump and it was waiting in the hanger when I landed. She found one at KRN and got a good deal at that!

[midlifeflyer]

As I understand it the FCC rule against use involves the number of line-of-sight towers you would impact. 

 

Highest I've used my phone was just above the traffic pattern for a private airport. We had a gear malfunction and decided to head home instead of land where the nearest airport with appropriate services was over 40 MN away by air and more than an hour and a half in a car. So I called him.

 

I have heard stories, though of at least text messages getting through at higher altitudes although I haven't tried it myself.

[Yetti]

No you can't the plane will fall out of the sky.  Because if you think about it the cell phone towers have much higher output transmitters than your phone.  And no one asks to put the transmitters in "airplane mode"  before your plane departs.

[1964-M20E]

I simply cant get a good signal.

[CCowboy]

There are inexpensive devices to plug your cell phone, MP3, etc. to you headset.  Look at Aircraft Spruce for some devices.  I believe one is called the "Muse".  That said, especially if you are starting flight training, DO NOT be fiddling with you phone and texting while flying. You need to be focused on the tasks at hand.  There is no difference between texting while driving or flying.  True, at altitude you can receive cell signals and can text, there are FCC rules that don't allow it.  But, you will not get caught and fined.  However, missing conflicting traffic and ATC communications while you are consumed with your non aviation communications can hurt you.

[Rik]

I know that on commercial flights, your cell phone will work if you are over a major city, such as Dallas and the plane has made it's decent into the area. I know that in the Los Angeles Basin the phone works as well as when the flights get into the "IE" peoples phones start ringing. 

 

Just didn't know how the phone  would be jack'd into the headsets to hear or communicate with. When on the ground this could be a use as your not high enough to loose signal yet.

[Hank]

Having started flight school, I wanted to get prepared and get all the things in advance prior to the first lesson. So I searched on here for head sets. I read the reviews and decided to purchase/order a "Quiet Technologies" head set.

 

While I was reading the reviews and thoughts on here, past threads and post, someone had mentioned you could jack in your music and your phone..

 

How does one connect a cell phone and for that matter, would it even work while up at altitudes?

If you recently bought Halos, they should include a Bluetooth adapter. Mine doesn't have one, but I've been using them since 2010.

[DrBill]

I have found that usually under 3000 agl more like 2000 agl it works OK.   Part of the reason is that the antennas on cell towers are tilted toward the ground at 10-20 degrees to keep the cell size small.

BILL

[carusoam]

So...

1) For technical reasons, it is not going to work (reliably) at altitudes.

2) From MS experience,

- over major cities it may be possible...

- texts are more reliable...

- low altitudes, you can call your ride to let you know you are nearing the pattern.

- great fo opening and closing flight plans and receiving IFR clearances.

3) Blue tooth is good

4) Halos are good

5) Student pilots...

-no talking on the cell phone while flying. Elevated level of distraction.

-no selfies of doing dangerous things. See photo of five large people in a M20C...

Best regards,

-a-

[Yetti]

One version of the Bose has a jack for your music.  It also has Bluetooth to connect up a phone call.   I have used my Bose in an airport terminal and had the best conversation ever.  Usually the calls are interrupted by announcements and such.   not with ANR.   Almost missed my flight.

[Jerry 5TJ]

I have a PS8000BT audio panel in the "C" that pairs to my smartphone with its Bluetooth link.

One more reason to put phone into airplane mode -- I was flying an LPV approach and at about 1000 AGL my phone rang through the headset: An undesirable distraction.

[Shadrach]

I had no idea it was illegal to make a call from your own airplane.  I have made maybe a half dozen calls en route. Seems to work best in areas with sparse population and few towers.  I called my wife once from the run up area at KCBE before take off.  I went ahead and took off.  As I was climbing through 3,500 I told her where I was (A20s w/bluetooth = no airplane sounds) and that I might drop the call.  Call dropped around 5000MSL (3800-4600AGL in that area)

[midlifeflyer]

There are inexpensive devices to plug your cell phone, MP3, etc. to you headset. 

 

There are indeed. And headsets that do it all by themselves, both via plug-in and Bluetooth.

[Guest]

It's only legal to in the air if used by cell phone fairies or gnomes. Cousins of the night time aircraft repair fairies.

Clarence

[PMcClure]

Illegal?  Is that a FCC or FAA regulation, or both? 

[carusoam]

The airlines point to the FAA for having everyone shutdown their portable electronics. The portables were good for interfering with onboard nav and com equipment...

The FCC has some issues regarding the use of cell phones while flying. The aerial cell phone has a tendency to use up more than it's fair share of towers while it switches back and forth for best signal strength...

That is my understanding of both situations.

Best regards,

-a-

[Hank]

I live and fly in the boonies. The couple of times I've tried, I don't have a signal. When I forget to put the phone in Airplane mode, a 2½ hour XC will almost kill the battery as it searches continuously.

 

Works well on the ground though, whether calling for clearance or to let someone know I am leaving and when to meet me. This is the only disadvantage I have found to my Halo headset, I have to hold the phone to my ear. With my old clampers, I could shove it under one side and let go, talking and taxiing.

[Shadrach]

The airlines point to the FAA for having everyone shutdown their portable electronics. The portables were good for interfering with onboard nav and com equipment...

The FCC has some issues regarding the use of cell phones while flying. The aerial cell phone has a tendency to use up more than it's fair share of towers while it switches back and forth for best signal strength...

That is my understanding of both situations.

Best regards,

-a-

Perhaps, but I know a number of pros who turn their phones on in decent to check texts. Most of them have been issued iPads with data plans for use in the cockpit.

[PMcClure]

Does the FAA have any regulations against GA pilots having a cell phone on or using it in flight?