Can you bring your scanner on the airplane (And listen)?

[Smerri]

I will be traveling to Orlando in April on Southwest Airlines and was wondering can I bring the scanner on the plane and listen to any communications (and would it work at those speeds/altitudes) and also, on my layover in Baltimore (and also in Orlando when I have to wait for my friend), can I listen to the scanner in the airport or do people frown upon that?

I am pretty sure it's not allowed in air, but was looking for some confirmation on the air rules as well on on the ground.

 

[DaveNF2G]

This has been discussed to death already. Do a Search on the forums. You might also try the Wiki.

 

[Smerri]

This has been discussed to death already. Do a Search on the forums. You might also try the Wiki.

I did search the forums with no luck (only returned a handful of posts) which is why I decided to post.

 

[shaft]

No, its not illegal to cary on board an aircraft.
Safe bet is to leave it off inflight.
If you decide to listen in the terminal, I would recomend being discrete about it.

 

[SkipSanders]

Not illegal to have on an aircraft.

Violation of FAA regulations to have it turned ON on an aircraft, without the permission of the airline. Note, the pilot of a commercial airliner does NOT have the legal right to allow you to use it, unless the airline has delegated that authority to him. Private pilots, however, may give you permission.

Reason: However unlikely, and it IS unlikely, your scanner radiates signals all over the bands, depending on what you have programmed into it. If you happen to be seated near an antenna on the plane's surface, or just near wiring, and the random factors end up with you radiating on a frequency the aircraft's electronics are listening to for navigational/communications purposes, you could screw things up.

Cellphones on aircraft, by the way, have a different problem, they are part of a system which was designed for use with radios with SHORT ranges, which would be received only by a local cell or two. When you're in the air at altitude, you're equally hitting MANY cells, which can foul up the whole cellular system with tied up channels.

 

[CLB]

If you fly United, you can put the seat headphones on channel 11 or whatever it is now. You can hear all the ATC you want.

 

[rfsparkz]

Scanner at airport

Hello,
With all the security at airports now I would suggest not to use a scanner there.I was parked waiting for my Wifes flight to arrive at YYZ.A security vehicle pulled up just behind me and ran my plate.I heard them on the scanner I was listening to.My Jeep does look unusual with 2 VHF/UHF antennas and a screwdriver antenna for HF freqs on it.I guess if you saw me in front of you then yes it would interest you.They didnt approach me but I did see the security camera turn directly at my vehicle.By the way,I have personal communications plates ( ham radio) on my Jeep.Just take this as some good advice.Oh ya if you ever see me at the airport or elswhere just say hello and let me know you are a scanner owner.There is a photo of my Jeep on Scanont website.

Have a great day Russ VE3ELL

 

[abqscan]

I did search the forums with no luck

This should help you out....

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21646

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56055

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26008

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Scanning_on_an_Airplane

 

[MarcInIllinois]

We had reason to be at STL yesterday and I inquired of a TSA supervisor about listening to a scanner w/ earbud after clearing security while waiting to board. Was told I could do it, but to leave it in plain sight and be prepared to explain what the item was and that it was only a hobby if (and most likely) were asked by a roaming TSA agent in the secured boarding areas.

YMMV.

 

[b7spectra]

Back in the 90's, when I was a traffic reporter, in both the Cessna 172 and Bell Jet Ranger, we had lots of scanners in them! Pilots wanted to listen in as well!

Still, not the same as commercial flights, but all you have to do when you are boarding the a/c is simply ask the pilot.

 

[DaveNF2G]

Still, not the same as commercial flights, but all you have to do when you are boarding the a/c is simply ask the pilot.

Just to clarify, you only need to ask the pilot if you are boarding a private aircraft. As has been discussed over and over and over again previously, commercial pilots do not have the authority to give permission. The aircraft "operator" in that case is the airline.

 

[b7spectra]

The captain of the aircraft IS the final say on what goes on within the plane.

 

[JoeyC]

The captain of the aircraft IS the final say on what goes on within the plane.

Negative. The captain cannot overrule the company policies.

 

[SkipSanders]

Well, he CAN, he'll just be fired when they find out. The Pilot can decide to fly from LA to San Diego by way of Denver, too...

The FAA rule does not allow the pilot to override it, so he'd be in trouble with the FAA as wall. The 'Operator' (The Airline) can delegate authority to the Pilot in Command if they choose to do so, but they must officially do that for him to have that authority.

 

[ibagli]

But if the pilot permitted it without permission (and someone higher up found out), the problems would all be the pilot's (with his airline and the FAA), correct, and not the "offending" passenger's?