Something I didn’t mention, which you nailed there has been no violations by the FCC. However, what I also did not mention was that on a lot of modern aircraft they have a data bus. And when a cell phone is turn on the signal is very weak, but when you plan a game, check messages, or talk on it the signal gets very strong and is absorbed into the aircraft data bus in some cases. What happen it creates a bad sector on the data bus, which tells the aircraft navigation computer what to do and when to do it.
The worst case I have read was a 737 crew flying IFR at night according to there instruments were lined up to land at an airport in the mid west. Then the pilot look out the window and did not see any runway lights and pulled up. He contacted the controller who told him his aircraft was 10 miles off course. The captain again check his instruments and was sure they were right had the flight attendants make sure all cell phones on the aircraft were turned off. The flight attendants found a lady talking on her phone when it was turned off the onboard computers cleared up the data bus error. This is one of several stories I have read and heard about.
This problem is worse on certain model aircraft than others and it depends where you are sitting when you use your cell phone. For example if you are sitting over the wing on some aircraft there is a data bus right below the floor. If you move five seats for or aft it will not effect the aircraft navigation systems.
Just a little more food to digest.
Denny of Oakland
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