Narrative:

Radar vector 180 degrees to intercept J6 between alb and sax. CDI deflection full left (aircraft shown right of course). I looked and adjusted the engines and then observed course capture. I was surprised how fast we had a centered CDI. I made a right 25 degree bank turn but started to drift further left of course. Final heading 240 degrees. I was thinking that we must be encountering a strong crosswind. The first officer was tuned into sax 209 degree inbound course. He noticed I was flying away from his course. I initiated a turn back left feeling that his was correct, but not certain at this point in time until center asked us what our heading was. My CDI and flight director was still calling for a right turn, but was fluctuating 8-10 degrees off to the right. I tuned in sax, but also had inconsistent information from the first officer's navigation/radio. Cell phone activity was suspected. A PA was made for passenger to make sure their phones were off. A couple passenger made the checks in carry-on bags. The CDI stabilized shortly after the PA. Actual course deviation was only a couple mi off (early) and no conflict occurred. This report is made in case you track possible cell phone interference in the B727 or other aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B727 PIC RPT ON CELL PHONE INTERFERENCE WITH VOR SIGNALS. THE CDI WAS SCALLOPING, AN INDICATION OF RADIO FREQ INTERFERENCE. EMI.

Narrative: RADAR VECTOR 180 DEGS TO INTERCEPT J6 BTWN ALB AND SAX. CDI DEFLECTION FULL L (ACFT SHOWN R OF COURSE). I LOOKED AND ADJUSTED THE ENGS AND THEN OBSERVED COURSE CAPTURE. I WAS SURPRISED HOW FAST WE HAD A CTRED CDI. I MADE A R 25 DEG BANK TURN BUT STARTED TO DRIFT FURTHER L OF COURSE. FINAL HDG 240 DEGS. I WAS THINKING THAT WE MUST BE ENCOUNTERING A STRONG XWIND. THE FO WAS TUNED INTO SAX 209 DEG INBOUND COURSE. HE NOTICED I WAS FLYING AWAY FROM HIS COURSE. I INITIATED A TURN BACK L FEELING THAT HIS WAS CORRECT, BUT NOT CERTAIN AT THIS POINT IN TIME UNTIL CTR ASKED US WHAT OUR HDG WAS. MY CDI AND FLT DIRECTOR WAS STILL CALLING FOR A R TURN, BUT WAS FLUCTUATING 8-10 DEGS OFF TO THE R. I TUNED IN SAX, BUT ALSO HAD INCONSISTENT INFO FROM THE FO'S NAV/RADIO. CELL PHONE ACTIVITY WAS SUSPECTED. A PA WAS MADE FOR PAX TO MAKE SURE THEIR PHONES WERE OFF. A COUPLE PAX MADE THE CHKS IN CARRY-ON BAGS. THE CDI STABILIZED SHORTLY AFTER THE PA. ACTUAL COURSE DEV WAS ONLY A COUPLE MI OFF (EARLY) AND NO CONFLICT OCCURRED. THIS RPT IS MADE IN CASE YOU TRACK POSSIBLE CELL PHONE INTERFERENCE IN THE B727 OR OTHER ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.