Hi all. First post here. I'm hoping someone here can answer my question about whether it's legal to transmit on the 902-928MHz ISM band while airborne. I have in mind small private aircraft, not commercial airliners. The idea would be to use this band for exchanging small pieces of data between aircraft on a periodic (not continuous) basis.
I have read parts 15.245 and 15.247 (link) and don't see any prohibition against use in aircraft. However, the Wikipedia page about ISM band lists uses of the 902-928MHz band as:
FIXED, Mobile except aeronautical mobile & Radiolocation service; in Region 2 additional Amateur service
I'm not quite sure what "aeronautical mobile" means in this context. A different part of the Wikipedia page links to something called Aeronautical mobile service, which might be what it refers to.
Does anyone know for sure? You help is greatly appreciated.
-Ben
I would say, in a small private plane (e.g. not an airliner as mentioned) the use of any transmitting equipment would be up to the Pilot in Command. His ship, his rules.
I know several experimental plane builders who have used this band to send performance data from their planes to the ground when flight testing. I've never really analyzed the legal aspects of what they were doing.
However, it seems that if you're a ham in Region 2, you're good to go, obviously with clearance from the pilot. See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/33-centimeter_band
So, that's my take on it anyway.
TIB
regulations barring use of these frequencies from the air. as TIB stated it is up to the pilot. many hams use their gear from the air with the pilots OK.