In article .net,
Ralph Mowery wrote:

"Steve Giovanis" wrote in message
...
Why is it against the rules to operate a scanner radio on commercial
airliners? It's not a transmitter. It can't do harm to the aircraft in
any mannner. So what's the big deal? Steve

While it is not a transmitter by design it still transmitts weak signals.
There are various oscillators in the scanners that can act as very low power
transmitters without antennas. The range may be only 100 yards but that
can be enough to cause problems with the radios and other electronic gear in
the plane. Just imagine the scanner outputs a stray signal on the
navagation receiver or it blocks a transmissoin from the tower at a critical
point. Not likely that it can hapen but they want to cover all the bases.


Yet they will allow you to use a Laptop, portable DVD, Gameboy,
electric shaver, etc. All of these will put out as much if not more RF
interference than a scanner. If the airplane's navigation system is so
suceptible to RF interference, what's stopping terrorists from taking
advantage of this by using a scanner secretly, say in their pocket with
an earpiece? Or, does the scanner have to be seen by the flight crew
for it to have any ill effects?