Reply #47: The regulation against cell phone use on aircraft is an FCC reg, not FAA.

[Liberal In Texas]

The rational behind bannning cell phone use on aircraft is because cell phones at altitude and traveling at speed cause the ground reception towers to have to switch too quickly screwing with the system.

It is not about the avionics on the airplane.

Current proposals for use of cell phones on aircraft include an on board reciever in the aircraft that would relay the signal much like a cell tower does, or more like the way the airphone system works.

You may or may not be able to get a signal in and out of a plane at 30,000 feet, but it's dicey. The transmitter (your phone) is in an enclosed "Faraday cage" 6 miles above the terrain traveling at some 500 mph. A prolonged conversation would be unlikely.

A google of this will bring up many discussions pro and con.