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Dx'n in a plane
- Thread starter jras20
- Start date
> How is fm reception in a plane? I may be flying next month
> just wondering how is it like on FM? I know though some
> planes wont allow you to turn on the radio though...?
>
There has been a few heated discussions on the subject here before.
Overall here is what I can tell you:
1. Its illegal in most cases and can be potentually dangerous.
2. Stations from a few hundred miles can be picked up. But they fade in and out fast as the planes move. Sounds sort of like E-Skip. Station on every frequency.
3. AM reception isn't all the best.
<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
> just wondering how is it like on FM? I know though some
> planes wont allow you to turn on the radio though...?
>
There has been a few heated discussions on the subject here before.
Overall here is what I can tell you:
1. Its illegal in most cases and can be potentually dangerous.
2. Stations from a few hundred miles can be picked up. But they fade in and out fast as the planes move. Sounds sort of like E-Skip. Station on every frequency.
3. AM reception isn't all the best.
<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
> How is fm reception in a plane? I may be flying next month
> just wondering how is it like on FM? I know though some
> planes wont allow you to turn on the radio though...?
>
Here's a somewhat recent thread which covers EVERYTHING you'd ever want to know
...
http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Board=dx&Post=615666&page=
> just wondering how is it like on FM? I know though some
> planes wont allow you to turn on the radio though...?
>
Here's a somewhat recent thread which covers EVERYTHING you'd ever want to know
...http://www.radio-info.com/mods/board?Board=dx&Post=615666&page=
>> 1. Its illegal in most cases and can be potentually
> dangerous.
> 2. Stations from a few hundred miles can be picked up. But
> they fade in and out fast as the planes move. Sounds sort of
> like E-Skip. Station on every frequency.
> 3. AM reception isn't all the best.
>
I found that at 16,500FT - FM Reception is as stable as Tropo - No fading was noted at all. As it was a private plane (twin prop type) I was allowed to use a radio on board. Reception was very intense on some FM stations.
I used an AM/FM tuner modified to run of 6 AA batteries & used a boombox tape recorder to record the reception in stereo. Antenna was one of those T shaped ribbon types. Pilot & Co-pilot reported no problems of interference.
Due to the alititude, reception only made it up to 450km or so. Nice experience though!
dxer2_2000
> dangerous.
> 2. Stations from a few hundred miles can be picked up. But
> they fade in and out fast as the planes move. Sounds sort of
> like E-Skip. Station on every frequency.
> 3. AM reception isn't all the best.
>
I found that at 16,500FT - FM Reception is as stable as Tropo - No fading was noted at all. As it was a private plane (twin prop type) I was allowed to use a radio on board. Reception was very intense on some FM stations.
I used an AM/FM tuner modified to run of 6 AA batteries & used a boombox tape recorder to record the reception in stereo. Antenna was one of those T shaped ribbon types. Pilot & Co-pilot reported no problems of interference.
Due to the alititude, reception only made it up to 450km or so. Nice experience though!
dxer2_2000
> >> 1. Its illegal in most cases and can be potentually
> > dangerous.
> > 2. Stations from a few hundred miles can be picked up. But
>
> > they fade in and out fast as the planes move. Sounds sort
> of
> > like E-Skip. Station on every frequency.
> > 3. AM reception isn't all the best.
> >
>
>
> I found that at 16,500FT - FM Reception is as stable as
> Tropo - No fading was noted at all. As it was a private
> plane (twin prop type) I was allowed to use a radio on
> board. Reception was very intense on some FM stations.
>
> I used an AM/FM tuner modified to run of 6 AA batteries &
> used a boombox tape recorder to record the reception in
> stereo. Antenna was one of those T shaped ribbon types.
> Pilot & Co-pilot reported no problems of interference.
>
>
> Due to the alititude, reception only made it up to 450km or
> so. Nice experience though!
>
> dxer2_2000
Yep, I've found (both on private planes and airliners) that the "interference" claims are pure bunk. While I've read technical reason after technical reason, I've never once heard of any pilots complain about this theoretical "interference". Pure BS if you ask me.<P ID="signature">______________
http://theradioblog.blogspot.com</P>
> > dangerous.
> > 2. Stations from a few hundred miles can be picked up. But
>
> > they fade in and out fast as the planes move. Sounds sort
> of
> > like E-Skip. Station on every frequency.
> > 3. AM reception isn't all the best.
> >
>
>
> I found that at 16,500FT - FM Reception is as stable as
> Tropo - No fading was noted at all. As it was a private
> plane (twin prop type) I was allowed to use a radio on
> board. Reception was very intense on some FM stations.
>
> I used an AM/FM tuner modified to run of 6 AA batteries &
> used a boombox tape recorder to record the reception in
> stereo. Antenna was one of those T shaped ribbon types.
> Pilot & Co-pilot reported no problems of interference.
>
>
> Due to the alititude, reception only made it up to 450km or
> so. Nice experience though!
>
> dxer2_2000
Yep, I've found (both on private planes and airliners) that the "interference" claims are pure bunk. While I've read technical reason after technical reason, I've never once heard of any pilots complain about this theoretical "interference". Pure BS if you ask me.<P ID="signature">______________
http://theradioblog.blogspot.com</P>
>
> Yep, I've found (both on private planes and airliners) that
> the "interference" claims are pure bunk. While I've read
> technical reason after technical reason, I've never once
> heard of any pilots complain about this theoretical
> "interference". Pure BS if you ask me.
You are an engineer? The 10.7 MHz IF of an FM receiver radiates right in the middle of the AV band when tuned to higher end FM signals.
> Yep, I've found (both on private planes and airliners) that
> the "interference" claims are pure bunk. While I've read
> technical reason after technical reason, I've never once
> heard of any pilots complain about this theoretical
> "interference". Pure BS if you ask me.
You are an engineer? The 10.7 MHz IF of an FM receiver radiates right in the middle of the AV band when tuned to higher end FM signals.
S
Scott1
Guest
I once used a walkman tuned to 95.5 on a commercial flight from Portland, Oregon to LA. I held the radio in place against the window (along with most of the earpiece "antenna") with a pillow and left it tuned to 95.5 the entire flight. I heard the Portland 95.5 until it was overtaken by Reno, and I heard Reno almost until I started picking up the 95.5 in LA. I don't recommend this practice though. I was young and stupid then!
T
THEInsultant
Guest
> >
> > Yep, I've found (both on private planes and airliners)
> that
> > the "interference" claims are pure bunk. While I've read
> > technical reason after technical reason, I've never once
> > heard of any pilots complain about this theoretical
> > "interference". Pure BS if you ask me.
>
> You are an engineer? The 10.7 MHz IF of an FM receiver
> radiates right in the middle of the AV band when tuned to
> higher end FM signals.
>
In theory, you're right David. Several things to consider about this are that first, the signal they are trying to hear is AM, and the IF from your radio will be a carrier, so in most cases it will just be an annoying tone in their ear, if it's even a problem. I assure you they will get the attendants to go find the offending radio if they get some interference. With several watts from their tower radios line-of-site it isn't a real problem in most all cases. Absolutely don't use radios on approach and departure! That would be a bad thing as that's first when they need communications the worst, plus they are closer to the ground and may not be able to hear the area control tower once they are handed off from the local tower. I have used radios on commerical aircraft, but only when we where up for several minutes. I'm quite sure I've never caused a real problem.
<P ID="signature">______________
--- THE Insultant ---</P>
> > Yep, I've found (both on private planes and airliners)
> that
> > the "interference" claims are pure bunk. While I've read
> > technical reason after technical reason, I've never once
> > heard of any pilots complain about this theoretical
> > "interference". Pure BS if you ask me.
>
> You are an engineer? The 10.7 MHz IF of an FM receiver
> radiates right in the middle of the AV band when tuned to
> higher end FM signals.
>
In theory, you're right David. Several things to consider about this are that first, the signal they are trying to hear is AM, and the IF from your radio will be a carrier, so in most cases it will just be an annoying tone in their ear, if it's even a problem. I assure you they will get the attendants to go find the offending radio if they get some interference. With several watts from their tower radios line-of-site it isn't a real problem in most all cases. Absolutely don't use radios on approach and departure! That would be a bad thing as that's first when they need communications the worst, plus they are closer to the ground and may not be able to hear the area control tower once they are handed off from the local tower. I have used radios on commerical aircraft, but only when we where up for several minutes. I'm quite sure I've never caused a real problem.
<P ID="signature">______________
--- THE Insultant ---</P>
> >
> > Yep, I've found (both on private planes and airliners)
> that
> > the "interference" claims are pure bunk. While I've read
> > technical reason after technical reason, I've never once
> > heard of any pilots complain about this theoretical
> > "interference". Pure BS if you ask me.
>
> You are an engineer? The 10.7 MHz IF of an FM receiver
> radiates right in the middle of the AV band when tuned to
> higher end FM signals.
>
to see for yourself, place two FM radios near each other. tune one radio to a lower frequency and tune the other radio until you hear a signal on the other radio at the higher end of band. some radios can send out a signal several feet, even throughout the house. you can also tune an FM radio to certain frequencies and emit a signal that will be picked up on your television. I'm sure the reason they don't like FM radios on a plane is because there is an aircraft band directly above the FM radio band starting above 108Mhz. Tuning an FM radio could indeed emit a signal that could be heard on this band since is is directly above FM assuming you are sitting close enough to the aircrafts antenna. As far as AM I know a pilot who says they can pick up AM radio on the planes radio and you can pick up lots of stuff but it fades in and out if your traveling fast.
> > Yep, I've found (both on private planes and airliners)
> that
> > the "interference" claims are pure bunk. While I've read
> > technical reason after technical reason, I've never once
> > heard of any pilots complain about this theoretical
> > "interference". Pure BS if you ask me.
>
> You are an engineer? The 10.7 MHz IF of an FM receiver
> radiates right in the middle of the AV band when tuned to
> higher end FM signals.
>
to see for yourself, place two FM radios near each other. tune one radio to a lower frequency and tune the other radio until you hear a signal on the other radio at the higher end of band. some radios can send out a signal several feet, even throughout the house. you can also tune an FM radio to certain frequencies and emit a signal that will be picked up on your television. I'm sure the reason they don't like FM radios on a plane is because there is an aircraft band directly above the FM radio band starting above 108Mhz. Tuning an FM radio could indeed emit a signal that could be heard on this band since is is directly above FM assuming you are sitting close enough to the aircrafts antenna. As far as AM I know a pilot who says they can pick up AM radio on the planes radio and you can pick up lots of stuff but it fades in and out if your traveling fast.
> In theory, you're right David.
Not just in theory; in practice, too. A couple of things...
While you're correct "in theory" that tower radios run decent power, that by no means ends the discussion. Radio waves follow an inverse square rule -- meaning that as you increase or decrease the distance from a transmitter, the signal strength changes exponentially (to simplify the issue). So a weak transmitter a few yards away can squash a much stronger transmitter further away.
I frankly don't follow your implication that radio communications between the ground and the plane at cruising altitude are unimportant. There are life-threatening things that can happen at altitude, not just at landing and take-off. Gosh, I wouldn't want the pilot to miss a message that the plane is subject to a mid-air collision.
Further, I want my pilot concentrating on flying the plane, not distracting by hets you consider harmless, or preoccupied with sending flight attendants around the plane to find the idiot how can't follow simple instructions.
And beyond all that, it violates federal law. That should be enough.
You know, I am leaving for the airport in a couple of hours. I will have a radio with me, but it and my ham handheld will stay in the carry-on.
DE
Not just in theory; in practice, too. A couple of things...
While you're correct "in theory" that tower radios run decent power, that by no means ends the discussion. Radio waves follow an inverse square rule -- meaning that as you increase or decrease the distance from a transmitter, the signal strength changes exponentially (to simplify the issue). So a weak transmitter a few yards away can squash a much stronger transmitter further away.
I frankly don't follow your implication that radio communications between the ground and the plane at cruising altitude are unimportant. There are life-threatening things that can happen at altitude, not just at landing and take-off. Gosh, I wouldn't want the pilot to miss a message that the plane is subject to a mid-air collision.
Further, I want my pilot concentrating on flying the plane, not distracting by hets you consider harmless, or preoccupied with sending flight attendants around the plane to find the idiot how can't follow simple instructions.
And beyond all that, it violates federal law. That should be enough.
You know, I am leaving for the airport in a couple of hours. I will have a radio with me, but it and my ham handheld will stay in the carry-on.
DE
D
DXER1
Guest
> > In theory, you're right David.
>
> Not just in theory; in practice, too. A couple of things...
>
>
> While you're correct "in theory" that tower radios run
> decent power, that by no means ends the discussion. Radio
> waves follow an inverse square rule -- meaning that as you
> increase or decrease the distance from a transmitter, the
> signal strength changes exponentially (to simplify the
> issue). So a weak transmitter a few yards away can squash a
> much stronger transmitter further away.
>
> I frankly don't follow your implication that radio
> communications between the ground and the plane at cruising
> altitude are unimportant. There are life-threatening things
> that can happen at altitude, not just at landing and
> take-off. Gosh, I wouldn't want the pilot to miss a message
> that the plane is subject to a mid-air collision.
>
> Further, I want my pilot concentrating on flying the plane,
> not distracting by hets you consider harmless, or
> preoccupied with sending flight attendants around the plane
> to find the idiot how can't follow simple instructions.
>
> And beyond all that, it violates federal law. That should
> be enough.
>
> You know, I am leaving for the airport in a couple of hours.
> I will have a radio with me, but it and my ham handheld
> will stay in the carry-on.
>
> DE
>
I remember when I was flying from Dallas to Orlando and back to Dallas form a high school spring band trip, Me and a friend of mine had on our walkman and was listening to the radio both to and from and lost the Dallas stations when we flew over New Orleans. Coming back we were headed through some really rough spring type storms and politely asked us to turn them off and explained that we were headed through rough weather and the pilot needed the inter ference to go away temporarely and told us that she would come tell us when to we can use them agian. I would ask the flight attendant first before trying to cause trouble. There was a discussion about this topic sometime back but may not be in the database. hope this helps
DXER1 <P ID="signature">______________
"I'm a gonna go to hell when I die!" Connan O'Brien
"yay boo, yay boo, it's lots of fun to do, if ya like it holler yay, and if ya don't ya holler boo!"
Connan O'Brien
</P>
>
> Not just in theory; in practice, too. A couple of things...
>
>
> While you're correct "in theory" that tower radios run
> decent power, that by no means ends the discussion. Radio
> waves follow an inverse square rule -- meaning that as you
> increase or decrease the distance from a transmitter, the
> signal strength changes exponentially (to simplify the
> issue). So a weak transmitter a few yards away can squash a
> much stronger transmitter further away.
>
> I frankly don't follow your implication that radio
> communications between the ground and the plane at cruising
> altitude are unimportant. There are life-threatening things
> that can happen at altitude, not just at landing and
> take-off. Gosh, I wouldn't want the pilot to miss a message
> that the plane is subject to a mid-air collision.
>
> Further, I want my pilot concentrating on flying the plane,
> not distracting by hets you consider harmless, or
> preoccupied with sending flight attendants around the plane
> to find the idiot how can't follow simple instructions.
>
> And beyond all that, it violates federal law. That should
> be enough.
>
> You know, I am leaving for the airport in a couple of hours.
> I will have a radio with me, but it and my ham handheld
> will stay in the carry-on.
>
> DE
>
I remember when I was flying from Dallas to Orlando and back to Dallas form a high school spring band trip, Me and a friend of mine had on our walkman and was listening to the radio both to and from and lost the Dallas stations when we flew over New Orleans. Coming back we were headed through some really rough spring type storms and politely asked us to turn them off and explained that we were headed through rough weather and the pilot needed the inter ference to go away temporarely and told us that she would come tell us when to we can use them agian. I would ask the flight attendant first before trying to cause trouble. There was a discussion about this topic sometime back but may not be in the database. hope this helps
DXER1 <P ID="signature">______________
"I'm a gonna go to hell when I die!" Connan O'Brien
"yay boo, yay boo, it's lots of fun to do, if ya like it holler yay, and if ya don't ya holler boo!"
Connan O'Brien
</P>
Let us do it this way:
The local oscillator is 10.7MHz above what the radio is tuned to.
The aircraft Nav band begins just above 108.0MHz.
Do not tune the radio above 97.1MHz and we should have no issue.<P ID="signature">______________
Proud 2 B a pioneering satellite radio subs¢riber
Ai4i is always on the trailing edge of technology
______________</P>
The local oscillator is 10.7MHz above what the radio is tuned to.
The aircraft Nav band begins just above 108.0MHz.
Do not tune the radio above 97.1MHz and we should have no issue.<P ID="signature">______________
Proud 2 B a pioneering satellite radio subs¢riber
Ai4i is always on the trailing edge of technology
______________</P>
> Let us do it this way:
> The local oscillator is 10.7MHz above what the radio is
> tuned to.
> The aircraft Nav band begins just above 108.0MHz.
> Do not tune the radio above 97.1MHz and we should have no
> issue.
Even above 97.1, I've never had any pilot or crewmembers ask me to turn off my radio during flight (and yes, I agree with the post a few steps above... never listen during takeoff or landing!). I've listened all over the band on numerous airline flights, and not once has anyone mentioned it.<P ID="signature">______________
http://theradioblog.blogspot.com</P>
> The local oscillator is 10.7MHz above what the radio is
> tuned to.
> The aircraft Nav band begins just above 108.0MHz.
> Do not tune the radio above 97.1MHz and we should have no
> issue.
Even above 97.1, I've never had any pilot or crewmembers ask me to turn off my radio during flight (and yes, I agree with the post a few steps above... never listen during takeoff or landing!). I've listened all over the band on numerous airline flights, and not once has anyone mentioned it.<P ID="signature">______________
http://theradioblog.blogspot.com</P>
> Even above 97.1, I've never had any pilot or crewmembers ask
> me to turn off my radio during flight
maybe they were busy...you know...piloting the aircraft<P ID="signature">______________
but wait...there's more!</P>
> me to turn off my radio during flight
maybe they were busy...you know...piloting the aircraft<P ID="signature">______________
but wait...there's more!</P>
D
DXER1
Guest
> > Even above 97.1, I've never had any pilot or crewmembers
> ask
> > me to turn off my radio during flight
>
> maybe they were busy...you know...piloting the aircraft
>
You would think they would send a flight attendant out and hunt you down.
Other than that flight form Orlando to Dallas I have never had a problem.
<P ID="signature">______________
"I'm a gonna go to hell when I die!" Connan O'Brien
"yay boo, yay boo, it's lots of fun to do, if ya like it holler yay, and if ya don't ya holler boo!"
Connan O'Brien
</P>
> ask
> > me to turn off my radio during flight
>
> maybe they were busy...you know...piloting the aircraft
>
You would think they would send a flight attendant out and hunt you down.
Other than that flight form Orlando to Dallas I have never had a problem.
<P ID="signature">______________
"I'm a gonna go to hell when I die!" Connan O'Brien
"yay boo, yay boo, it's lots of fun to do, if ya like it holler yay, and if ya don't ya holler boo!"
Connan O'Brien
</P>
> > > Even above 97.1, I've never had any pilot or crewmembers
>
> > ask
> > > me to turn off my radio during flight
> >
> > maybe they were busy...you know...piloting the aircraft
> >
> You would think they would send a flight attendant out and
> hunt you down.
> Other than that flight form Orlando to Dallas I have never
> had a problem.
>
I recently went to Orlando from Philadelphia, and I listened to the radio in the plane while cruising with the permission of the flight attendant. I was constantly scanning the FM band, not staying on one frequency for more than a few minutes. I could guess the location of the plane by the locations of the strongest radio stations. While going towards Orlando, I was amazed that I could identify many of the stations up to North Carolina, since I heard them on tropo. I knew we were "almost there" when I heard XL 106.7 from Orlando in the plane. This is like sampling many stations around the country at once. The station that stayed the longest time was 102.5 The Shark out of North Carolina.While on the ground, it was hard to get the local stations of Philly and Orlando, but once in the air, there's a station on every frequency, and they don't fade quickly, and repositioning the radio changes the station received on a frequency. I don't listen to the radio on the plane for the music, but to learn how the reception is like.<P ID="signature">______________
17-year-old radio geek
Location: Princeton Junction, NJ
AIM: KewlDude471
WWPH 107.9 FM: http://wwph1079fm.no-ip.org</P>
>
> > ask
> > > me to turn off my radio during flight
> >
> > maybe they were busy...you know...piloting the aircraft
> >
> You would think they would send a flight attendant out and
> hunt you down.
> Other than that flight form Orlando to Dallas I have never
> had a problem.
>
I recently went to Orlando from Philadelphia, and I listened to the radio in the plane while cruising with the permission of the flight attendant. I was constantly scanning the FM band, not staying on one frequency for more than a few minutes. I could guess the location of the plane by the locations of the strongest radio stations. While going towards Orlando, I was amazed that I could identify many of the stations up to North Carolina, since I heard them on tropo. I knew we were "almost there" when I heard XL 106.7 from Orlando in the plane. This is like sampling many stations around the country at once. The station that stayed the longest time was 102.5 The Shark out of North Carolina.While on the ground, it was hard to get the local stations of Philly and Orlando, but once in the air, there's a station on every frequency, and they don't fade quickly, and repositioning the radio changes the station received on a frequency. I don't listen to the radio on the plane for the music, but to learn how the reception is like.<P ID="signature">______________
17-year-old radio geek
Location: Princeton Junction, NJ
AIM: KewlDude471
WWPH 107.9 FM: http://wwph1079fm.no-ip.org</P>
E
elpasodawg
Guest
1. ALWAYS ask for permission from the crew! Tell them that you will keep the receiver on for a very short period. Many times the pilots understand or are ham operators (I once heard one do a CQ on 20 meters himself). Sometimes, they'll ask you what you received.
2. With their permission I have also done TV, AM, FM, WB
3. With FM and TV (including UHF) you generally receive the station on the horizon, not the guy below you. You will find a "pile-up" on 2-6, maybe a dominant station coming through on 7-13, and usually able to hold a station a bit longer on UHF, especially on the higher end where there are fewer stations. I once help a low-power (8.75 KW) station from El Paso to 300 miles out on a charter to Brownsville.
4. Delta used to have a "horizon chart" showing mileage to horizon, depending on altitude. 30,000 feet has a horizon of about 210 miles. On a transatlantic flight, I was getting Europe (at least the video/teletext) beyond the horizon, which is normal -- VHF goes about 15% over the horizon. BTW pilots tell me on transatlantic that actually use HF for air traffic control when well offshore!
5. For diehard DX'ers such as myself, Dx'n in a plane can be great!!! (I travel with a 1979-model Hitachi 5" portable with the old turret tuners -- a heckuva lot better than those constantly-scanning electronic tuners.
Hasta luego y 73's
2. With their permission I have also done TV, AM, FM, WB
3. With FM and TV (including UHF) you generally receive the station on the horizon, not the guy below you. You will find a "pile-up" on 2-6, maybe a dominant station coming through on 7-13, and usually able to hold a station a bit longer on UHF, especially on the higher end where there are fewer stations. I once help a low-power (8.75 KW) station from El Paso to 300 miles out on a charter to Brownsville.
4. Delta used to have a "horizon chart" showing mileage to horizon, depending on altitude. 30,000 feet has a horizon of about 210 miles. On a transatlantic flight, I was getting Europe (at least the video/teletext) beyond the horizon, which is normal -- VHF goes about 15% over the horizon. BTW pilots tell me on transatlantic that actually use HF for air traffic control when well offshore!
5. For diehard DX'ers such as myself, Dx'n in a plane can be great!!! (I travel with a 1979-model Hitachi 5" portable with the old turret tuners -- a heckuva lot better than those constantly-scanning electronic tuners.
Hasta luego y 73's
L
LeeSmith
Guest
I had a long reply typed out but lost it .. Damn it all!
For the last 30 years, I've had a dual career running .. broadcasting and flying. I've been lucky enough to have worked in engineering, on-air, production, and programming.. even tried the dreaded sales job. Eventually, I owned a stand-alone FM and recently sold out to a new owner and cashed in my chips.
After 15 years of commercial flying and managing small airlines, I joined the Fed Govt and have worked for the last 22 years as a Civil Aviation Inspector dealing with small air carrier operations. I've also been a ham operator for about 35 years and operated aeronautical mobile quite frequently ... at least until they sold the last of our airplanes with HF radio in it.
Yes, I've also used an FM radio "in the back end." I also ALWAYS ask the Capt if he minds before doing so and only at cruise altitude. Its very, very neat to do.
The bottom line of this whole topic is ... "Its illegal to use a Portable Electronic Device (PED) on board an aircraft without permission from the flight crew." That in itself should be enough to give you pause for thought, but for the scofflaws among you, there are exceptionally good technical reasons for the practise to be made illegal. The risk to aviation safety far outweighs your desire to express your personal freedom to listen to tunes at will.
Do a Google search on "Portable Electronic Devices" and you'll get a lot of info .. maybe far too much info for those who dislike it when scientific data conflicts with their personal opinions.
For those who say, "I've done it once or twice and the pilot never came back and smashed my radio or we didn't fly into the side of a mountain and therefore the whole thing is bumpkus" are truely in the dictionary sense of the word .. ignorant....as in "not knowing" ...and have been dealing with an exceptionally small slice of the aviation pie while developing their flawed point of view and inappropriately applying generalities.
Here's a link to a Congressional Study done on PEDs which may give the more sensible among you to give pause for thought. http://www.house.gov/transportation/aviation/hearing/07-20-00/07-20-00memo.html
For those who insist it is all some hoax perpetrated by big government to suppress your god-given right to DX, stay out of my airspace thanks....and if you were to ever cause an aircraft accident, I hope you survive totally unscathed so you can spend the rest of your life contemplating just how stupid you are are.
Regards,
Lee
For the last 30 years, I've had a dual career running .. broadcasting and flying. I've been lucky enough to have worked in engineering, on-air, production, and programming.. even tried the dreaded sales job. Eventually, I owned a stand-alone FM and recently sold out to a new owner and cashed in my chips.
After 15 years of commercial flying and managing small airlines, I joined the Fed Govt and have worked for the last 22 years as a Civil Aviation Inspector dealing with small air carrier operations. I've also been a ham operator for about 35 years and operated aeronautical mobile quite frequently ... at least until they sold the last of our airplanes with HF radio in it.
Yes, I've also used an FM radio "in the back end." I also ALWAYS ask the Capt if he minds before doing so and only at cruise altitude. Its very, very neat to do.
The bottom line of this whole topic is ... "Its illegal to use a Portable Electronic Device (PED) on board an aircraft without permission from the flight crew." That in itself should be enough to give you pause for thought, but for the scofflaws among you, there are exceptionally good technical reasons for the practise to be made illegal. The risk to aviation safety far outweighs your desire to express your personal freedom to listen to tunes at will.
Do a Google search on "Portable Electronic Devices" and you'll get a lot of info .. maybe far too much info for those who dislike it when scientific data conflicts with their personal opinions.
For those who say, "I've done it once or twice and the pilot never came back and smashed my radio or we didn't fly into the side of a mountain and therefore the whole thing is bumpkus" are truely in the dictionary sense of the word .. ignorant....as in "not knowing" ...and have been dealing with an exceptionally small slice of the aviation pie while developing their flawed point of view and inappropriately applying generalities.
Here's a link to a Congressional Study done on PEDs which may give the more sensible among you to give pause for thought. http://www.house.gov/transportation/aviation/hearing/07-20-00/07-20-00memo.html
For those who insist it is all some hoax perpetrated by big government to suppress your god-given right to DX, stay out of my airspace thanks....and if you were to ever cause an aircraft accident, I hope you survive totally unscathed so you can spend the rest of your life contemplating just how stupid you are are.
Regards,
Lee
D
dab1100
Guest
> 1. Its illegal in most cases and can be potentually
> dangerous.
> 2. Stations from a few hundred miles can be picked up. But
> they fade in and out fast as the planes move. Sounds sort of
> like E-Skip. Station on every frequency.
> 3. AM reception isn't all the best.
>
I've heard that it's illegal to operate an FM radio but in 30+ years of flying commercial, I have never heard any announcements about not using FM radios when they tell you when you can or can't use other electronic equipment like cell phones, CD or DVD Players, computers, etc. I suppose if it were important, someone would have mentioned it. I have listened in the air while flying over Florida.... stations flipped from West Palm to Pensacola pretty quickly. You only can keep a signal for 5-10 minutes because you're moving so fast.
> dangerous.
> 2. Stations from a few hundred miles can be picked up. But
> they fade in and out fast as the planes move. Sounds sort of
> like E-Skip. Station on every frequency.
> 3. AM reception isn't all the best.
>
I've heard that it's illegal to operate an FM radio but in 30+ years of flying commercial, I have never heard any announcements about not using FM radios when they tell you when you can or can't use other electronic equipment like cell phones, CD or DVD Players, computers, etc. I suppose if it were important, someone would have mentioned it. I have listened in the air while flying over Florida.... stations flipped from West Palm to Pensacola pretty quickly. You only can keep a signal for 5-10 minutes because you're moving so fast.
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