I'm on my way to Vancouver on Friday, over the Rockies, so I'll try my cell
phones.

Of course, the only relevant experiment would involve a passenger located in
the optimum position (in terms of propagation), flying in the same model of
aircraft, on the same route, in the same conditions (height, weather, etc).
Has this experiment been attempted? It's a simple "Case Closed... or Open!"

I've talked with pilots that say such a call, under the given
circumstances/conditions, is impossible, and now I have your evidence --
it's confusing. When you adapt your headset through the pilot's headset, is
there any benefit from an antenna located on the outside of the plane?

Personal experience: I've flown from Calgary to Northern Alberta in
Beechcraft King Airs and Piper Navahos and wasn't able to receive any signal
on my Bell Mobility cellular modem, nor was I able to make cellphone calls
shortly after takeoff.

Also, ignoring how the cellphone affects the plane, how does the plane
affect the cellphone? Any interference... blocking or attenuation of signal?
Seems probable. I don't know anything about jet engines. Can you make a
cellphone call standing near a jet engine while it's running at the required
speed? Does it generate any RF interference? Is the fusilage a factor?

I also fly small planes (as a student), and have no difficulty agreeing that
you can make a cellphone call, at slow speeds, over/near populated areas --
but that's not relevant here. I will, however, be impressed if I can make a
cellphone call while flying over the Rockies or the interior of British
Columbia.

Shawn



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave King

> The bit about the cell phones is just not at all correct. I'm a pilot and
> have used my cell phones quite nicely when airborne. Works just as
> well as when on the ground. Actually works much better as the coverage
> area is extended quite a bit over the norm. And this is in remote areas
> with not even close to the cell coverage and density that they have
> on the east coast.
> 
> Thats been valid for my phones from low level vfr through the Rockies
> up to about 30,000 ft trying to avoid scratching the paint on them. And
> I can give you a list of people who have headset adapters for the phones
> to jack into the intercoms in helo's, pistons and turbines. Works even
> better for them.
> 



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