RSSRinging cell phones coming to a EU flight near you
By Ed Oswald | Published April 7, 2008, 7:14 PM
Following six months of studies, the EU is finally ready to move forward with allowing in-flight cellular calls within the next month or so.
Once the plane has reached an altitude of 3,000 meters (9,850 feet), calls will be permitted. An on-board cellular tower of sorts will handle the calls, and then transfer them to the network on the ground.
Calls would be able to be made across the EU without any need for an airliner to get separate permission from each of the countries it flies over through the program. This will allow airlines to offer uninterrupted service when it is within European airspace.
Even with this boost from the governmental bodies, this does not mean service will be automatic. The European Aviation Safety Agency still needs to give approval for any installed system.
Also, flight captains will be given the authority to shut off the systems if they feel it necessary, and regulators urged airlines to keep prices low, and remember those who may not want to be disturbed by chatty passengers.
"In-flight mobile phone services can be a very interesting new service especially for those business travelers who need to be ready to communicate wherever they are, wherever they go," telecom commissioner Vivane Reding said.
The first flights with the technology will likely be through Air France and Ryanair, who are already prepared to submit applications.
Great.. just what I want and that's to sit by a person on a 8=10 hour flight and hearing their phone ring. So much for the friendly skies.
Score: 0
|well the problem with having the ability to talk on the plane via cell phone is that if they just won't let go of the phone it can be quite problematic since you're on a long trip. I can't really imagine people being on a train for more than a few hours in this day since if it's any longer either you're traveling on a tour bus/car or on the airplane.
Regarding the 9/11 issue, it is possible for a call to be made out of the airplane. I know for one that Air Canada has "on board cellphones". Those phones are made specifically for the aircraft so that you can make calls, but not receive them.
Score: 0
|Alaskan Airline did this in the early 90's but it does cost a lot. I use to fly out of Anchorage on it and did use the phone to check in with the Business that I had.
Score: 0
|Have any of you ever taken a train? People talk on cellphones all the time and it never really bugged me that much. Why would plane be any different?
Score: 0
|Would be cool if this was data only.
Score: 0
|Do you remember the (fake) calls presented from the 9/11 hijacking from the "passengers" in a plane?
Just more evidence that north-american people had been sadly tricked.
No cell phone could sync from a plane even if the plane flew very low in 2001 (no time to sync against any cell at 300m/h). Only with this technology (onboard cell tower) these communications can be established.
Score: 0
|Actually, you know what, that's an interesting point which I hadn't heard before.
I'd be interested in a study to see whether speed and height affects ability to communicate with comms towers.
Score: 0
|I made some searches and here is a good resume:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO408B.html
There are tons of technical info available that shows that calls could not be made the way that the government and some media said. But, that article goes further showing the contradictions in which the speakers falled along with detailed call times, etc. Sad lies...
Score: 0
|I think this will very quickly get on the nerves of everyone in earshot.
I hope they will ask where you want to be seated.
"Hello Sir ... What section do you want to be seated? standard or bleeping hell."
I think some loud headphones and enough music for the trip will be in order.
Score: 0
|Yeah, it's one way to counteract it.
Have a pair of battery powered speakers blaring out 'If you're happy and you know it clap your hands' and play it for the duration of all and any mobile conversation would be another.
Surely that must be allowed?
Score: 0
|Studies have been done that show that people hearing only half a conversation feel a subconscious sense of discomfort, probably due to not being able to either follow along or tune it out. It's one thing to be on the street, where you can walk away from it. It's another thing entirely when you have to sit next to it with no escape.
Score: 0
|Ah ****. It had to be Ryanair.
This has been on the cards for years. It should only be allowed on long-haul flights and limited to an hour maximum talking (limitless internetage).
Then it'd stop people being ****ed off with the passenger they're next to shouting "I'M ON THE PLANE! THE PLANE!" for too long.
Score: 0
|I am hoping that this never ever comes to the United State. Just what I would need it so fly coast to coast and have someone next to me talking the entire way.
Score: 0
|