Captain of an A320 reports VHF interference on ZOB ARTCC frequency from a cell phone aboard his plan...

Attributes
ACN	702630
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : weeda
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 30000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : weeda
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	702630
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe cabin event : passenger electronic device
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Passenger Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Passenger Human Performance

Narrative:

We were air carrier X descending via the weeda 1 arrival into dtw. We had ZOB frequency blocked and unusable by a passenger cell phone searching for service (the passenger thought he had it off). The passenger was in seat 22-D which would have been near the antenna location. ATC confirmed that no one else was receiving the signal but us. The signal quit about the time the cell phone was turned off. During the event; all communications on the frequency to and from us were totally blocked whenever the phone would search for service. This occurred about every 20 seconds and would last for about 10 seconds duration.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN A320 RPTS VHF INTERFERENCE ON ZOB ARTCC FREQ FROM A CELL PHONE ABOARD HIS PLANE.

Narrative: WE WERE ACR X DSNDING VIA THE WEEDA 1 ARR INTO DTW. WE HAD ZOB FREQ BLOCKED AND UNUSABLE BY A PAX CELL PHONE SEARCHING FOR SVC (THE PAX THOUGHT HE HAD IT OFF). THE PAX WAS IN SEAT 22-D WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN NEAR THE ANTENNA LOCATION. ATC CONFIRMED THAT NO ONE ELSE WAS RECEIVING THE SIGNAL BUT US. THE SIGNAL QUIT ABOUT THE TIME THE CELL PHONE WAS TURNED OFF. DURING THE EVENT; ALL COMS ON THE FREQ TO AND FROM US WERE TOTALLY BLOCKED WHENEVER THE PHONE WOULD SEARCH FOR SVC. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT EVERY 20 SECONDS AND WOULD LAST FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS DURATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

Captain of an A320 reports VHF interference on ZOB ARTCC frequency from a cell phone aboard his plane.