Aero Cell

[Mike Sullivan]

I've called several cell companies (Sprint, Nextel and AT&T) about a hand held aero cell phone, but they're all clueless. Is there such an animal? If so, who makes them and what company handles the service?

Thanks.

Mike :confused: :confused:

[kwmoore]

Several options, for example...

Garmin makes the NavTalk Pilot, a cell phone/GPS combo:

http://www.garmin.com/products/navTalkPilot/

In fact one can use a regular cell phone in the plane--people use them on mountains, so what's the difference? Stories about FCC fines may be apocryphal; see a recent article in the August 2002 issue of the Cessna Pilots Association magazine (p. 6232-6233).

Aviation Consumer had an article about cell phone/aviation headset adaptors in the June 2002 issue. If you're a subscriber and are registered on their website, you can find it at

http://www.aviation-consumer.com/archives/32_6/avionicsreport/5159-1.html

Lastly, there is the option of a panel mount. I had an AirCell 1000 put into 812KT's panel. At the time, I was anticipating increasing the frequency of out-of-California trips in my plane, and both the safety of having the phone capability (with battery backup) as well as Nexrad download onto the MX20 induced me to have it put in. Well, some unanticipated family and career-related developments have recently put that plan on hold, and if I were doing the panel now I would forego the AirCell. However, it is worth looking at if you're installing an avionics package and really want those capabilities.

My 2 cents anyway...