Cell Phones on Airbus Planes OK'd

[FiveO]

Cell Phones on Airbus Planes OK'd

AP
Posted: 2007-06-19 14:38:30

PARIS (June 19) - European planemaker Airbus said Tuesday it had received the go ahead from European aviation authorities for an onboard mobile phone system.

Passengers will be able to make and receive calls in addition to being able to send and receive e-mails and text messages once the system is in place, Airbus said.

In a statement, Airbus said it was the first aircraft maker to win approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency for its GSM on-board system. Passengers will be able to make and receive calls in addition to being able to send and receive e-mails and text messages once the system is in place, Airbus said.

Cabin crew can easily manage the service and have the option of selecting a "voice-off" mode which only allows SMS text messaging and e-mail services, Airbus also noted.

OnAir, a joint venture between Airbus and SITA, will act as the service provider for a range of connectivity services.

Initially the service will be available on Airbus' single-aisle planes for short-haul flights in western Europe, following the granting of airworthiness certification.

"This certification is Airbus' first response to the growing market demand for on-board connectivity," Rainer von Borstel, Airbus senior vice president for cabin and cargo customization, said in the statement.

"It paves the way for the subsequent worldwide deployment of cell phone services and Internet based services across all Airbus aircraft types," he added.

The announcement came as Airbus is pulling in plane orders at the Paris Air Show this week in a boost to the struggling planemaker and its parent company European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.

http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_...00010000000001

[Qgar]

Great!! Now we'll get to hear all sorts of fascinating conversations for hours on end, with nowhere to escape to...

[FiveO]

Originally Posted by WildCougar

Great!! Now we'll get to hear all sorts of fascinating conversations for hours on end, with nowhere to escape to...

Exactly.

[slushie]

Cabin crew can easily manage the service and have the option of selecting a "voice-off" mode which only allows SMS text messaging and e-mail services, Airbus also noted.

PIC authority.....

[pullup]

Get ready for a whole lotta air rage incidents.

[frog_flyer]

That's quacktastic.

I can't wait to hear which balla knocked up which hoe.

I can't wait.




added with a lil bit of

with a tad of

.

adios

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Someone should come up with internet on a plane! They'd pull in some cash!!!

[amorris311]

boeing had that. it flopped. it was way expensive as well.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by amorris311

boeing had that. it flopped. it was way expensive as well.

Connexxtions? Or something like that?

[amorris311]

whatever it was. really expensive. when i flew to asia a few times i only saw one person in my 6 flights on teh internet. he was saying something like 50 bucks a flight. that is way too expensive for iming.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by amorris311

whatever it was. really expensive. when i flew to asia a few times i only saw one person in my 6 flights on teh internet. he was saying something like 50 bucks a flight. that is way too expensive for iming.

Oh, Boeing always was ahead of the times!

[FiveO]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

Someone should come up with internet on a plane! They'd pull in some cash!!!

Kinda off topic but Florida is making our Turnpike wireless.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by FiveO

Kinda off topic but Florida is making our Turnpike wireless.

Because you should be driving and surfing the net!

[MQAAord]

I wouldn't have an issue with texting/SMS, but I have serious concerns about people having cell phone conversations while airborne. I can really see people getting up in arms because someone is talking "too loud" or talking next to someone who's trying to sleep........

Let's just hope that while Airbus may have made this possible, that the FAA and the FCC will not allow it to happen here.

[Murdoughnut]

Originally Posted by FiveO

Kinda off topic but Florida is making our Turnpike wireless.

So the drug smugglers can stay in touch easier?

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by MQAAord

Let's just hope that while Airbus may have made this possible, that the FAA and the FCC will not allow it to happen here.

I kinda hope they do allow it to happen here. Won't be any worse than the folks with those loud, irritating children.

[tonyw]

Originally Posted by MQAAord

I wouldn't have an issue with texting/SMS, but I have serious concerns about people having cell phone conversations while airborne. I can really see people getting up in arms because someone is talking "too loud" or talking next to someone who's trying to sleep........

Let's just hope that while Airbus may have made this possible, that the FAA and the FCC will not allow it to happen here.

No, dumbass, I really don't want to hear about your gout or Aunt Bessie's new rototiller.

Go ahead and text away but please, for the love of God and all that is holy, do not let people talk on their cell phones during flight.

[X-Forces]

I can only guess what the privilege of a mid-air cell phone conversation will set you back per minute.

I remember the old "credit card swiper" phones were crazy money/minute, I can only guess what "FL350 Roaming" will cost!