Narrative:

While on an intercept heading of 200 degree for runway 18L cvg and 12 mi out, the localizer CDI indicated full scale deflection to the right for course intercept. The map display also indicated a continued 200 degree heading for course intercept. NAVAID was properly tuned and identify. In visual conditions, the 200 degree heading looked O.K. For course interception, except that the navigation commands indicated that we still needed to 'correct to the right' even though we had already crossed course centerline (visually). About 5 mi out and left of course, with navigation and CDI command to continue to 'correct right,' we discontinued use of the ILS guidance, aligned to the left visually for the remainder of the approach and landing. At about 1 NM on final, the CDI and map display indicated proper course alignment. After landing, I asked the flight attendant in charge if she had seen anyone using a personal cell phone during approach. A passenger in seat #xd heard us talking and told us that the passenger in seat #yd was using a phone (personal) during approach. When asked, he also said that she hung up her phone just prior to landing (that seemed to explain the proper course guidance at about 1 NM on final). I've asked that our company be more emphatic in their PA's about not using personal cell phones once the boarding door has been closed. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the crew was flying an MD88 aircraft. The flight attendant noted that the passenger had violated regulations by talking on her cell phone during taxi out. The flight attendant told her that was not allowed. The electronic interference affected the localizer display. This also caused a like error map shift on the moving map display. All problems stopped when the passenger turned off the cell phone. The crew was luckily in VMC conditions this day. The captain is worried the next time may be in IMC. The captain would like to see a much stronger enforcement policy by the air carrier and the FAA established.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 CREW HAD ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE THAT AFFECTED THE ILS NAV DISPLAY.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN INTERCEPT HDG OF 200 DEG FOR RWY 18L CVG AND 12 MI OUT, THE LOC CDI INDICATED FULL SCALE DEFLECTION TO THE R FOR COURSE INTERCEPT. THE MAP DISPLAY ALSO INDICATED A CONTINUED 200 DEG HDG FOR COURSE INTERCEPT. NAVAID WAS PROPERLY TUNED AND IDENT. IN VISUAL CONDITIONS, THE 200 DEG HDG LOOKED O.K. FOR COURSE INTERCEPTION, EXCEPT THAT THE NAV COMMANDS INDICATED THAT WE STILL NEEDED TO 'CORRECT TO THE R' EVEN THOUGH WE HAD ALREADY CROSSED COURSE CTRLINE (VISUALLY). ABOUT 5 MI OUT AND L OF COURSE, WITH NAV AND CDI COMMAND TO CONTINUE TO 'CORRECT R,' WE DISCONTINUED USE OF THE ILS GUIDANCE, ALIGNED TO THE L VISUALLY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE APCH AND LNDG. AT ABOUT 1 NM ON FINAL, THE CDI AND MAP DISPLAY INDICATED PROPER COURSE ALIGNMENT. AFTER LNDG, I ASKED THE FA IN CHARGE IF SHE HAD SEEN ANYONE USING A PERSONAL CELL PHONE DURING APCH. A PAX IN SEAT #XD HEARD US TALKING AND TOLD US THAT THE PAX IN SEAT #YD WAS USING A PHONE (PERSONAL) DURING APCH. WHEN ASKED, HE ALSO SAID THAT SHE HUNG UP HER PHONE JUST PRIOR TO LNDG (THAT SEEMED TO EXPLAIN THE PROPER COURSE GUIDANCE AT ABOUT 1 NM ON FINAL). I'VE ASKED THAT OUR COMPANY BE MORE EMPHATIC IN THEIR PA'S ABOUT NOT USING PERSONAL CELL PHONES ONCE THE BOARDING DOOR HAS BEEN CLOSED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE CREW WAS FLYING AN MD88 ACFT. THE FA NOTED THAT THE PAX HAD VIOLATED REGS BY TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE DURING TAXI OUT. THE FA TOLD HER THAT WAS NOT ALLOWED. THE ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE AFFECTED THE LOC DISPLAY. THIS ALSO CAUSED A LIKE ERROR MAP SHIFT ON THE MOVING MAP DISPLAY. ALL PROBLEMS STOPPED WHEN THE PAX TURNED OFF THE CELL PHONE. THE CREW WAS LUCKILY IN VMC CONDITIONS THIS DAY. THE CAPT IS WORRIED THE NEXT TIME MAY BE IN IMC. THE CAPT WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MUCH STRONGER ENFORCEMENT POLICY BY THE ACR AND THE FAA ESTABLISHED.

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.