RE: Cell Phones

["Tom Waters" <tom@tomwaters.net>]

Very good replies already, and I certainly will publish a summary when
complete; sounds like one of those back-burner issues for all of us that
finally came to the front for one of us.  Happy to help!

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: flightmed-admin@flightweb.com [mailto:flightmed-admin@flightweb.com]
On Behalf Of Rollie Parrish
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 11:02
To: flightmed@flightweb.com
Subject: Re: Cell Phones


On Mon, 11 Aug 2003, Tom Waters wrote:

> As we all know, under "normal" circumstances, their use is expressly 
> forbidden.  But, In the FAA's statements (which I cannot find, and am 
> asking for a reference here...) is the loophole that they can be used 
> in "emergency" situations.
>
> I need the definition of "emergency" , if there is one, ie: 
> mechanical, or is an air ambulance exempt, or exempt when the pt. 
> crumps, etc. I would like any referrals to websites, emails of 
> policies, or letters, etc.

IANAP (I am not a pilot) and I'm not sure how many pilots are on this list,
so here's a link to some relevant FAR's that might be helpful in your quest.

First, I'm pretty sure that there isn't a specific FAA ban on cellphones
individually, but rather they are lumped as a group into the category of
"portable electronic devices." If that's the case, then they possibly could
be approved for use similar to the way PDAs, weight and balance calculators,
pagers, laptops, medical equipment, handheld radios, etc. are. In other
words, your vendor can test a particular piece of equipment and approve it
for use on that aircraft only.

Here's a link to FAR 135.144 that deals with porable electronic devices.

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfrhtml_00/Title_14/14cfr135_00.html

Second, here's a link to FAR 135.19 on "emergency operations". The
definition seems pretty broad, but the repercussions of using this clause
may be more hassle than it's worth unless it's truly necessary (like calling
in a MayDay because the radio isn't working).

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfrhtml_00/Title_14/14cfr135_00.html

> I have been tasked to find a "permission slip" so to speak, so some of 
> our pilots will feel better, and we can guide our vendor to create 
> corporate policy for their programs nation-wide.

Please share what you find with the rest of the list.

-- 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Rollie Parrish
FlightWeb: For Air Medical Professionals http://www.flightweb.com


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