I'm just curious where other platforms stand on the policy, and your opinions on cell phones on planes.
Currently for the P-8: on standard mission flights beginning and ending at the same airfield (TAC flight), cell phones are not allowed onboard the aircraft period end, even if faraday bags are available. If you are doing a repo, all devices must be in faraday bags. If you are doing a repo but a mission along the way (TACREPO), you ARE allowed to have phones onboard, but they must be in a faraday bag.
This is a relatively new policy of about a year or so. Everyone I talk to sees a potential issue arising when it comes to diverting. In my opinion, I understand for COMSEC reasons why phones are not allowed onboard but it seems a little wonky that phones on a TACREPO are authorized, but not on a regular TAC flight. Based on the instruction from group, there is no apparent possibility of exceptions or waivers.
How is it for other platforms? I'm not expecting an answer from VQ folks...
Currently for the P-8: on standard mission flights beginning and ending at the same airfield (TAC flight), cell phones are not allowed onboard the aircraft period end, even if faraday bags are available. If you are doing a repo, all devices must be in faraday bags. If you are doing a repo but a mission along the way (TACREPO), you ARE allowed to have phones onboard, but they must be in a faraday bag.
This is a relatively new policy of about a year or so. Everyone I talk to sees a potential issue arising when it comes to diverting. In my opinion, I understand for COMSEC reasons why phones are not allowed onboard but it seems a little wonky that phones on a TACREPO are authorized, but not on a regular TAC flight. Based on the instruction from group, there is no apparent possibility of exceptions or waivers.
How is it for other platforms? I'm not expecting an answer from VQ folks...