Implementing In-flight Mobile Phone Services

Air France started with a limited service trial in late 2007, allowing passengers to send and receive text messages and e-mails.

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Some airlines already allow passengers to check e-mail or surf the Internet while in air.

The airline planned to begin allowing voice calls within the first three months of 2008, but said it would regulate call makers "to maintain passengers' comfort and well-being," Network World reported.

The airline uses pico cell technology to send calls to a satellite, where they're then routed to the ground-based phone system.

Callers are allowed to use their phones only when the aircraft is 10,000 feet or higher off the ground.

Other airlines, especially those based in the United States, allow limited use of cell phones while on the ground. American Airlines and its subsidiaries, for example, allow use of cell phones during taxi-in, as signaled by an onboard announcement. Cell phone use is not allowed during flights, as doing so is against FCC rules.

Individual Airline Restrictions
Most major air carriers will tell you about their in-flight mobile phone and personal electronic device policies on their Web sites. You can usually find these easily by going to their Web sites and searching by keyword. Here are some links to airlines and their cell phone policies:

However, several airlines are experimenting with a different cell-phone function -- using them as boarding passes. The International Air Transport Associations approved a method allowing airlines to send a barcode image to a passenger's cell phone in late 2007. The airline gate attendant can scan the image on the phone the same as one would scan a traditional paper board pass. With a projected 2010 start, advances such as these show that airlines and mobile phone technology will continue working together in the future [source: Into Mobile].

Cell Phones and Airplane Test
If you’re interested in an exploration of the safety issues posed by cell phones and personal electronic devices on airplanes, you might check this link. The Discovery Channel television show “Mythbusters” did an episode on cell phones and airplanes. The show found that there was no evidence of interference. You can read about it at TV.com.

 

Along with such government rules, other issues, such as uncertain billing, customer service and service availability, keep airlines from providing full cell phone use onboard their aircraft in flight.

For lots more information about in-flight mobile phone service and related topics, check out the links on the next page.