Originally Posted by
rickair7777
121.306 specifically prohibits ALL PEDs with 4 exceptions (none of which are cell phones).
The air carrier (not the pilot) can determine that certain PEDs are safe, but everybody's OPSPEC (legally an annex of the FAR's) prohibits cell use except under specific conditions.
No it's not in 91, but it is effectively part of 121.
This is
not correct. FAR 121.306 is virtually identical to 91.21. As such, there are not 4 exceptions. There are five.
Exception (5), the one you failed to recognize, is precisely the exception that makes room for the use of cell phones, provided the certificate holder has determined it will not cause interference with the navigation or communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used.
OPSPECS are certainly regulatory. It's important to recognize, however, that FAR 121.306 provides a means for air carriers to allow the use of cell phones.