Narrative:

I was encouraged by fellow pilots and a chief pilot to write a report based on the FAA decision to allow passengers electronic devices powered up during aircraft movement and my headset/electrical interference concern. I have a bose X headset and I use the power on associated with the headset during critical phases of flight. I encounter electrical interference with my headset anytime someone has left their cell phone on during taxi; takeoff; climb and during arrival; landing; and taxi in to the terminal area. The noise is best described as an electrical radio seeking a source; similar to a cell phone near a car/house radio. It is not loud; but consistent 'beeping' as the electrical item seeks a 'radio' source. My concern is that with more electrical devices allowed; this could increase the noise and interference in headsets.my headset recently went through bose maintenance for non-electrical issues (a bracket broke) and certified tso worthy and returned to me for service; however; this issue happened prior to and still happens. I do not receive interference inflight after 10;000 feet when the cell phone service can no longer find a source. I would be curious if other pilots across the aviation spectrum find an issue with cell phones on with noise reduction headset. Note; this bose X does not receive power source from the aircraft; but provides its own battery pack for noise reduction operation. More study needs to happen to see about electrical interference before fully implementing passenger 'open season' on electrical gadgets.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ-200 Captain experiences interference in his Bose X headset possibly caused by a cell phone.

Narrative: I was encouraged by fellow pilots and a Chief Pilot to write a report based on the FAA decision to allow passengers electronic devices powered up during aircraft movement and my headset/electrical interference concern. I have a Bose X headset and I use the power on associated with the headset during critical phases of flight. I encounter electrical interference with my headset anytime someone has left their cell phone on during taxi; takeoff; climb and during arrival; landing; and taxi in to the terminal area. The noise is best described as an electrical radio seeking a source; similar to a cell phone near a car/house radio. It is not loud; but consistent 'beeping' as the electrical item seeks a 'radio' source. My concern is that with more electrical devices allowed; this could increase the noise and interference in headsets.My headset recently went through Bose maintenance for non-electrical issues (a bracket broke) and certified TSO worthy and returned to me for service; however; this issue happened prior to and still happens. I do not receive interference inflight after 10;000 feet when the cell phone service can no longer find a source. I would be curious if other Pilots across the aviation spectrum find an issue with cell phones on with noise reduction headset. Note; this Bose X does not receive power source from the aircraft; but provides its own battery pack for noise reduction operation. More study needs to happen to see about electrical interference before fully implementing passenger 'open season' on electrical gadgets.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.