When I renewed my aircraft radio license recently, it specifically says that handhelds are included in the aircraft radio license.
Jan_Olieslagers wrote:
Allowed in BE. I know several instructors who have one, to guide students from the runway, especially during first solo.
I know that differently: Although not allowed in Germany, I know several instructors who have one, to guide students from the runway, especially during first solo. 
Done that myself all the time – or would have in case I needed to talk to the student which I never had to – when I was still instructing PPL. Holding that thing in the hand is reassuring, both for the instructor and the student…
For some years during the 90ies I had my Icom IC-A20 officially registered in the avionics equipment list of our C421 as emergeny radio. That was a minor act then and I would have been allowed to use it on board of that aeoplane (but only that aeroplane, nowhere else!). The downside was that being on that list it was required to pass the annual inspection every time. For which the avionics company charged a little fee, not much, but enough to get it removed from the list after a few years. No idea if that would still be possible with EASA.
" Here in DK all transmitting equipment need a permit unless it is a PMR or CB radio."
I am quite often in Denmark. At Roskilde airport I do monitor ATIS and request start up and clearance with my Icom in order to preserve the aircraft battery. Is this illegal ?
highflyer wrote:
Is this illegal ?
I guess so.
Loads and loads of “vintage” planes here in the UK have a handheld radio, with a headset adaptor.
In some of them it works better than in others, and the locals at EGKA will know exactly who I mean
Peter wrote:
Loads and loads of “vintage” planes here in the UK have a handheld radio,
And quite a few smaller airfields in Germany are operated by handheld radio most of the time as well. There is always a big approved and certified ground station in their control tower (or whatever structure is used for that) but most of the time the radio operator (“Flugleiter”) will run his airfield using his unapproved handheld radio whilst seeing to other duties like mowing grass or repairing fences…
Does it really matter if it is legal or not? You are sitting in your plane and use your handheld for atis or start up? You use it in the air in an emergency.
From my CAA radio licence issued last year:
