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[KT0DD]

Is it legal for me to take my HT and operate aeronautical mobile from a friends private plane, as long as I follow his instructions (he's the pilot) on when it is safe to operate?

Todd - KT0DD

[WA6BJH]

Should be OK.  Plenty of pilots do it.

[W9IQ]

Absolutely. Have fun.

- Glenn W9IQ

[K7KNX]

I've done it lots of times!  It's a lot of fun.  I modified an aircraft mic to work with my Icom hand held.  I ty-rap it just above the regular mic and just place the earphone inside my David Clark headset. There are various interface circuits on line to actually run it through the A/C audio system. If I have all the comm and HT stuff running, I can be entertained by two aircraft radios plus the ham stuff!

Have a great flight !

Ken
K7KNX

[KM1H]

Is it legal for me to take my HT and operate aeronautical mobile from a friends private plane, as long as I follow his instructions (he's the pilot) on when it is safe to operate?

Todd - KT0DD

Thats about the only time I use an HT as a passenger in a friends vintage single prop.

[G8FXC]

If you visit any other country, check before operating - I think the US is more relaxed about this than many other administrations. My British licence has an explicit ban on all airborne operation.

Martin G8FXC

[K0UA]

This may or not pertain to you, but when I look at and pay attention to ham radio while riding in the airplane, I get a little queasy after a while. I find it best to look out the windshield, and to do no more than absolutely necessary with the rig. YMMV

[W6QW]

In my plane, I always used noise canceling mic's (and headsets). Depending on the cabin noise level, this may make your TX audio more enjoyable to copy. Plenty of options are available.

[K6AER]

I had 6 and 2 meter Azdens  installed in my F33 Bonanza next to the King radios.  Antenna was a 5/8 wave mobile whip in front of the vertical stabilizer with a home made diplexer. You need a 337 FAA certificate to permanently install Ham radios into a civilian aircraft. HT's are not an issue.

I could work repeaters 250 miles away East of Colorado repeater sites.

[W1MOW]

I've done it in my Cessna 172. I have a 2m 1/4 wave mounted just aft of the VHF antenna. I also modified the audio panel to accept the radio.

Gary W1MOW

[WA8NVW]

Just two notes:  First, if the plane is flying over land or water that is under jurisdiction of the FCC, you are not operating aeronautical mobile per the FCC's definition.  You would NOT append "/AM" to your callsign on CW or "Aeronautical Mobile" if on phone.  That procedure only applies while flying over land or waters not claimed by any other (foreign) country.
Second, remember when you key up a repeater input frequency on an airplane that you are several thousand feet up and your signal will reach many repeater inputs across several states.  Not all states have adopted the same channels or spacings for analog or digital FM.  Start on the 2M and UHF simplex calling frequencies. 

[W9IQ]

Just two notes:  First, if the plane is flying over land or water that is under jurisdiction of the FCC, you are not operating aeronautical mobile per the FCC's definition.  You would NOT append "/AM" to your callsign on CW or "Aeronautical Mobile" if on phone.  That procedure only applies while flying over land or waters not claimed by any other (foreign) country.

I am curious where in Part 97 you find this reference to an "official" aeronautical mobile definition. Please cite the appropriate paragraph.

Then keep in mind that US territory amateurs are allowed to use any self assigned suffix or suffix provided:

97.119(c) One or more indicators may be included with the call sign. Each indicator must be separated from the call sign by the slant mark (/) or by any suitable word that denotes the slant mark. If an indicator is self-assigned, it must be included before, after, or both before and after, the call sign. No self-assigned indicator may conflict with any other indicator specified by the FCC Rules or with any prefix assigned to another country.

- Glenn W9IQ

[KB1GMX]

used /Am for years mostly phone so the other guy had a clue
what I was up to.

Did that both HF and VHF/UHF.  Works well with suitable antenna.
THe ADF wire could be repurposed for HF (assuming VFR) and
depending on the plan copper tape on the windows in a safe
non-obstructing location is good for higher frequencies.

Like some said managing the audio and PTT is a must as you may
have to fly the plane and that is for the uninitiated first priority.
Easier if your a passenger or both pilots.  The down side  from
4000ft its not hard to key every repeater that can hear you (radius
is 150-200 miles++) or on .52 create a pile up. 


Allison

[KJ4PR]

I live just outside of Key West on Cudjoe Key. Have used my handheld many times flying in private planes. With 5 watts at 30,000 feet I can usually get up to 175 miles.