John Matylonek <<john>>
writes:

I have noticed some agony regarding the legality of using ham
radios for the transmissions on business band (USHPA official) frequencies. Most
new pilots are confused. My own dilemma is that I have to teach the proper
regard for regulations and to have cost effective communications for my
students.

The problem is that ham radios are not "certificated" or "type accepted" (legal)
for business band transmission. The reason being that the FCC does not want
business band radio layman to get their hands on powerful radios that can muck
up business band and the ham radio airwaves.

But, business band radios modified by ham operators may transmit on ham
frequencies because their individual skill at radio use provides them that
privilege. So, the solution is to purchase legal type certificated dual band or
programmable business band radios and but not use their restricted ham frequency
capability until one is legally a ham operator.

I make the case, in the following presentation, that certain situations in hang
gliding and paragliding warrant the use of either the business band and/or ham
frequencies and that both capabilities are possible in a strictly legal way.

http://www.oregonhanggliding.com/radios.shtml

In response to my quest for a clarification what he was talking
about, John writes:

Yes, you and your friends are way ahead of most people. But that
is my whole point. You have been in hang gliding a long time so your radio
skills and privileges have increased with your hang rating rating and flying
needs. That's appropriate. It's not very appropriate to expect my students or
other early flyers to get a ham radio license as a condition to purchasing a
radio. Yet I need good radios on my students. My recommendation makes sense.