Kind of interesting....

[KarenB]

Our recent flight from Harrisburg to Washington DC was canceled due to no working radio. They announced that the plane was going to be "ferried" back to Washington, flying at a low altitude.

My thoughts were this was done so they could be in cell phone range to radio in the incoming flight? Can you tell me more about this? I just found it very interesting!!

Karen

[Kimmar]

I can't remember exactly the rules from ground school, but there are rules about flying without a radio, and it can be done. Alot of small planes fly without radios at all and are completely legal. Try posting this on Captain Hutch's board, he'll be able to answer better than me.

[Barb-SAN]

Alot of small planes fly without radios at all and are completely legal.
To clarify, they can only fly without a radio in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace, and Class E if VFR. Everywhere else they need to be able to communicate with ATC.
Here's a link to the classes of airspace, and what's required to fly in each of them: http://www.fly-ul.com/Airspace/

Edited to add: Yep, good question for Capt. Hutch, as to how that jet will transition controlled airspace, and land at the airport, without a radio. Cellphone??

[Kimmar]

YEs but he'll have to turn the phone off before he takes off... Lol

[Barb-SAN]

YEs but he'll have to turn the phone off before he takes off... Lol
Yeah...I thought cell phones could interfere with the plane's electronics?
Maybe they use ACARS?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_Communications_Addressing_and_Reporting_S ystem

Calling Capt. Hutch...:D

[MathFox]

Putting up my moderator hat and :magic: this thread landed in the Flightdeck. :angel:

[Barb-SAN]

Another thought, the pilots knew the radio was not working before they made the ferry flight. It wasn't an inflight loss of communication. So perhaps they were given a handheld radio for that flight by their company, so they could communicate with ATC. Maybe that's not allowed for a flight with passengers? Speculation only...but I do know private pilots who carry a hand-held radio as a backup in case their plane's installed radio fails.

[KarenB]

Putting up my moderator hat and :magic: this thread landed in the Flightdeck. :angel:

LOL...thanks!

[Captain Hutch]

Karen B,

I have to believe that there was at least one working radio on the aircraft, and it would be one of the regular equipment. You cannot operate a passenger flight with less than 2 radios, but you could ferry the aircraft with only one radio. With zero installed radios working, you would not be allowed to operate this aircraft. Cell phone or hand held radios would not do the job either. Normally someone would fly in an extra part or radio or whatever, but apparently there were no spare aircraft for that operation.

Hope this helps,

Hutch :tiphat: