LoPresti's CLEARBLUE Bluetooth headset for pilots: roger, Roger
By Thomas Ricker 
posted May 17th 2007 10:39AM
posted May 17th 2007 10:39AM
We're not going to pretend to know the first thing about cockpit communications. Still, given our experiences with janky Bluetooth gear, we're feeling a bit uneasy about the new CLEARBLUE bluetooth headset for pilots. Developed by LoPresti, the device is said to automatically prioritize communications between four simultaneously connected devices: 1) ATC/Radios (highest priority), 2) Intercom, 3) Cellphone (is that even legal?), and 4) the iPod. Apparently, the system will be ready later this year and is designed to work with LoPresti's Fury aircraft which uses the iPod as both an in-flight entertainment system and -- get this -- the flight data recorder. We know what you're thinking, "surely they can't be serious." They are, now quit calling us Shirley. [Via Bluetooth Source]
Have you ever seen a grown man naked Billy?
Do you like gladiator films?
And can I get a vector, Victor?
Sorry, had to be done. Don't know shit about piloting or headsets but I do know a great movie when I see one.
Is an iPod sturdy enough to be a black box?
I could be mistaken, but many light aircraft are not fitted with full-on flight data and voice recording systems. I would agree with the contention that an iPod may not be the most sturdy platform with which to manage this task, but something's better than nothing. The low (relative) cost of an iPod compared to a FDR/CVR has to be a bonus for amateur pilots as well.
Got it. Thanks.
It's legal to use a cellphone in a general aviation airplane if the pilot in command allows it. This headset was obviously created for the GA pilot.
not true. at this point cellphones are not allowed to be used in any airplane in flight no matter what the pilot says.
I guess every pilot I know regularly breaks the law. I did just look this up on the FAA website. It turns out the iPod can be used must be turned off while under IFR rules.
You're right. Its illegal to use in flight. The reason they 'say' you can use it, is to call preflight, file flight plans, etc from your cell phone before you actually depart. Ofcourse, that is just the 'legal way around' b/c everyone still uses their cell when they fly anyway.
This rule only applies to commercial carriers.
According to the FAR:
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person
may operate, nor may any operator or pilot in command of an aircraft
allow the operation of, any portable electronic device on any of the
following U.S.-registered civil aircraft:
(1) Aircraft operated by a holder of an air carrier operating
certificate or an operating certificate; or
(2) Any other aircraft while it is operated under IFR.
So unless your in IFR flight you can use your cellphone in a general aviation airplane.
This must be so that you can blast Queen's "One Vision" as you break thru the Libyan air defense to save your father being held captive.
I think the real question is, is it designed to use a video or a nano?
It may not be black box good, but I've run over and dropped my nano into a cup full of soda and it was still perfectly fine. It took slamming my car door on it to finally crack the screen, although most is still viewable, and it still works the same. As mentioned, for the cost difference I'll take the iPod as a flight recorder. And well, if anyone is ever checking the data I'm probably dead anyway, what the hell do I care?
Has Engadget confirmed this story this time?
**This was NOT designed for commercial airline service**
It's meant for people who fly Cessnas and the like, just get that clear in your head. The FAA does not have a blanket ban on cell phones on all planes, just commercial airline flights. If somebody wants to use a cell phone in their private plane, they're more than welcome to do so. There are many instruments you can get that aren't influenced by the EM radiation, and most light aircraft fly low and slow enough to get decent reception.
And whenever you see bulky headsets like the one pictured, it's always made for Cessnas and such. Pilots of jet aircraft use headsets similar to what you might see someone in a call center wearing.
I'm a private pilot, and here's the deal:
- I've had too many problems with bluetooth not working on the ground, so I would not want to use it in the air, particularly when you're in crowded airspace and the controllers are yelling at you.
- Cell phones are not allowed to be used in flight, and I'm pretty sure that's because it's an FCC thing, not an FAA thing. They are very useful when there are clouds and you have to call a controller on the ground to get "into the system" for instrument flight rules (IFR) clearances. You get way better treatment if you can call them and tell them you're ready to go right away.
- I'm pretty sure you can also use a cell phone if there is an emergency or if you lose your radios. Just call the tower on your cell.
- A lot of avionics have data outputs so that for instance, the fuel flow meter can talk to the GPS so that you can figure out how much more distance you have before you run out of gas. It makes a lot of sense to take that data feed and record it onto an ipod. Survival of the ipod isn't really the issue, it's more for later analysis of the data. Also, a lot of pilots survive GA crashes, and when that happens, you want to know what happened to the engine!
- A lot of headsets with wires already allow you to attach an ipod and cell phone and do the prioritization, so that's not a new feature.
- Having bluetooth in the cockpit is not that big of a deal since the inside of the airplanes is tiny, so it's not like you're getting up and walking around.
As a student pilot and amateur radio license holder, what Chris said.
The cell phone use is primarily for calls while on the ground, pre-flight, post-flight etc. In fact, if you file a flight paln, you're supposed to call and close it when you arrive. If you don't close it within a certain time frame, they begin checking about your safe arrival at your destination.
And certainly cell phones can be used in emergency situations, radio failure, etc.
I use my cell phone all of the time in my Cessna. It is plugged into my intercom which is wired to the headsets. For VFR flight rules, there is no reason you can't use your phone. Nearly all of my instruments are mechanical anyway.
Bluetooth headset would be awesome. I can't tell you how many times I have had the headset cord hang on the lever for my flaps as I was coming in for a landing.
To echo what others have said (I'm a pilot):
The FAA does not limit cell phone use. The FCC is the organization which limits cell phone use. It is illegal to use a cell phone from the time that an airplane (of any type) leaves the runway until it lands, unless it is an emergency situation. Beyond that, they usually don't work if you're over about 3000 feet (not that I would know that from experience).
The functionality of the bluetooth headset would be for calling for IFR clearance (or in the DC area, ADIZ clearance as well). Controllers now usually require that you call to receive your clearance as it keeps the radio lines open for planes in the air who need to change their flight plans. As such, it is very helpful to have a better way to hear the phones, as the planes are loud when taxiing and the headsets make it difficult to use the phone otherwise.
I'll take two of them.
Keep the headset.
It is an FCC thing with the cellies. The FAA doesn't give a hoot what GA pilots do with a cell, as long as the pilot in command approves (and he is usually the one using the cell). The FCC doesn't authorize cell phones for use in any aircraft, but by the time someone figures out that you are making illicit cell calls from your cessna, you would have retired to Boca.
I have used a cell in the plane (pilot here), it did NOT affect any instruments in any way. It is great to have in an emergency situation (lost comms), because flying IFR w/o radios is no fun at all. Hell, even VFR without a radio sucks. I have hade good signal up to about 8500 feet, but that might have been dependent on how close i was to a tower to signal at that altitude...probably also depends on the carrier, cell phone brand, baro press., and whether or not you ate your wheaties that day.
The cell phone airplane thing is something the major carriers don't want, because then pax don't have to use the uber-$$$$ airphones.
Bluetooth is cool, that means less extraneous wires, which is great. a GA cockpit is a crowded place, and less clutter makes it a lot easier to manage the flight.
shes hot, what up with those glasses, why do women look so hot in them, am i slave to fashion?
Nice airplane!
Specifications
Max speed (Lycoming IO360)
222 MPH
Cruise speed
215 MPH
Stall Speed (flaps)
54 MPH
Fuel Burn 75%
10.5 GPH
Range (with 45 minute reserve)
1000 SM
Rate of climb (at sea level)
1350 FPM
Service Ceiling
21,000 FT
Design Gross Weight
2300 LBS
Empty Weight
1450 LBS
Useful Load
850 LBS
Engine
Lycoming IO 360A1B6
Horsepower
200 HP
Wing Loading
16.6 LB/SQ FT
Fuel Capacity (Useable Fuel)
60 GAL
Wing Area
138.6 SQ FT
Wing Span
29.3 FT
Cabin Width
44 IN
Cabin Height
45 IN
Wheel Base
12 FT 5 IN
Baggage Capacity
200 LBS
Fully Aerobatic (exceeds FAA requirements) Ultimate Load 7+G's
Military style HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick)
Dual independent redundant brake systems
Curved parallax correction instrument panel
Roller bearing jet design push rod controls
Sequenced main gear doors
RAM boost air induction
Custom guage selection (Analog or Digital instruments)
Completely flush riveted
http://www.loprestifury.com
Oh yeah, lopresti ranks right up there in my estimation.
They installed a few mods on my airplane about 12 years ago and I like 'em. Real speed mods.
Guess I hacked my airplane. Sheesh.
Life's short, fly fast...Vita Brevis, avitem presti! or something.
Time to turn on the Otto Pilot.
My understanding is that one of the main reasons why the FCC has a ban is because of the costs associated with switching from tower to tower that rapidly on the fly (no pun intended) to keep your call from getting dropped.
It's not really as big of a deal on a small private plane as on a commercial jet, since your not moving as fast, but I assume it's slightly easier to regulate "no cell in the air" compared to "no cell over this speed".
I can't believe how long it took for someone to mention the chick.
Bluetooth doesn't work so well on the ground - hate to lose a connection when you're trying to figure out if there's another plane flying towards you in the clouds or something like that.
Most cell phones are not allowed by the fcc to be used in flight because they will hit multiple towers and cause problems, as well as using a slice of bandwidth across a huge area and causing more problems, however there are companies which market cellphones made specificaly for pilots which are engineered to avoid these problems and consequently cost quite a bit more(up front and for phone plans). Also many pilots have standard cell phones which they use one the ground for things like requesting fuel(would you realy want to use a credit card over open air waves?)