Leave your cell phone at home

For the time being, most North American airlines are not following the lead of France and Europe in allowing mobile phones and wireless communication technology to be used while in the air. The European Union has officially announced that airlines are now allowed to permit passengers to make and receive calls on their cell phones, use e-mail communication and send text messages once the plane has reached an altitude of 10,000 feet.

Government agencies in Canada believe that using mobile phones may pose a safety risk. Currently no mobile phone is allowed even after the aircraft has landed and is taxiing at the airport.

WestJet is one carrier that suggests passengers may actually enjoy a flight without interruption of fellow passengers chatting away. They have, however, indicated they will be watching the developments in Europe to determine the feasibility of in-flight wireless communication.

source : http://www.aviation.ca/

In-flight cell phone use may soon be available

Travellers who want to make a phone call, while flying the skies of Europe will soon be able to use their mobile on commercial flights across the continent.

Ofcom, the UK regulator has finally given its approval for the use of mobile phones on aircraft registered in the UK, while flying in European airspace.

There are other problems that will need to be resolved before a totally universal system is in place. The Civil Aviation Authority, CAA, has stated that aircraft would need to have operating procedures in place to ensure that their planes systems would not be disrupted.

The current intention is to install tiny base stations, known as pico cells on aircraft, which can be switched on after takeoff, to create a cell phone coverage area within the plane. This will give passengers access to phone calls, text, and the internet.

Back in 2003 the CAA stated that mobile phone signals caused serious interruption to navigation equipment on commercial aircraft. This caused navigation equipment to give out false information, it is not yet certain that pico systems may not have the same effect.

source : http://www.techwatch.co.uk/