What? Wireless air travel? Yeah, It's coming soon

The Ability to Use Wireless Technology during Airdeem to be a very important business call and
Travel - It's on Its Way.end up talking longer than they expected. Or, a
In early 2007, OnAir will arrive. OnAir is a servicemom who just wants to check on her children for
that uses satellite technology to enable air travela minute will end up having to chat with each one
passengers to use wireless devices such asof them before she can hang up.
mobile phones, Internet connections fromIt's no wonder that air travel passengers are
computers and Blackberries during a flight. Theconcerned that the use of mobile phones will
debate over the use of wireless technology duringbecome an annoyance during flights. They already
flight has been going on for years, and now thatare an annoyance down on the ground. Another
it's about to happen, the debate is likely to heatconcern some air travelers have will be the
up.tension that all of this annoyance will create,
First of all, you should know that the first waveperhaps making already jittery flyers more
of this will not be happening on US flights. Airbus,frustrated and pushing them over the edge.
the plane manufacturer who is creating thisSome people are already nervous just about
technology, is selling it to AirFrance. AirFrance isflying. Add a cramped, overcrowded plane to the
expected to have the service available tomix, the constant threat of terrorism, the
passengers in early 2007. Whether passengers willrestrictions on what can be carried on, and now
have to pay for the service like they pay forthe addition of an inconsiderate mobile phone user
headphones for a movie is not known yet. Twositting right next to that nervous flyer, and
other airlines, the British airline bmi and TAP Airsomeone might just snap.
Portugal are both considering using OnAir, butWhat about Internet connection?
nothing has been finalized, yet.Travelers aren't as adamantly against the use of
So what is the debate all about? Who wouldn'tInternet connections for computers and pda's
want the convenience of using their cell phonesuch as Blackberrys. Those devices are quiet.
during a long flight, getting important e-mails onMany passengers already use their laptop
their Blackberry or having the luxury of surfingcomputers on a flight; it's just not connected to
the Internet to pass the time? Apparently, lots ofthe Internet when they use it. Being able to send
people and for some very valid reasons.and receive e-mail messages while on a flight
The Safety Considerationcould be convenient to most people, particularly
There has been an ongoing concern that the usebusiness travelers. There doesn't seem to be
of mobile phones (cell phones to us Americans)much of a debate over these devices as long as
and other devices that use wireless technologysafety is not a concern.
could interfere with the plane's navigationalWhat Can be Done?
equipment. Recent technological advances in bothWhen should you start being concerned with this
navigational equipment and cell phone technologyissue? As of right now, US carriers don't seem to
seem to negate this concern, but not everyone isbe considering using OnAir or any service like it. A
convinced. There is concern that the navigationalreport on MSN Travel said that the airlines that
equipment on older planes may still be affected.they asked - AirTran, Spirit, and US Airways - all
The Mobile Phone Debatesaid that they have heard their passengers say
Okay, suppose the safety issue is taken care ofthey don't want mobile phones used on planes
and there is no concern that wirelessand are against adding the services. However, the
communications technology will interfere with thequestion is, if these services do catch on in
plane's navigational equipment. What objection isEurope and prove to be a money maker for the
there to the use of mobile phone's during a flight?carriers who use it, will the US carriers jump on
Surveys have shown that the majority of airboard? In an era of shrinking profits, will they be
travelers are against the use of mobile phones onable to resist?
an airplane because it would be downrightSo if the trial that AirFrance is giving OnAir proves
annoying to sit next to someone who is receivingto be successful and the US carriers jump on
and making phone calls for hours on a flight. Theyboard, what can be done to make sure that
imagine being stuck between two incessantmobile phone usage does not become a problem
talkers.on board?
Common sense would seem to tell you thatOne solution is to have no cell phone usage times.
people wouldn't really be so inconsiderate as toPerhaps next to the little light above your seat
have hour's long conversations on their mobilethat lets you know if you need to have your seat
phone during a flight. But experience has shown usbelt fastened or not, there could be another light
when it comes to mobile phones, most peoplethat lets you know if it's the proper time to use
loose their common sense. People will hold loudyour cell phone or not. Cell phone time could be
personal conversations in restaurants and groceryrestricted on long flights and on flights that are
stores and on buses. They will drive using aovernight when most people would want to sleep.
handheld mobile phone even states where it hasAnother solution is to give the crew the ability to
been made illegal. So does anyone really believedisable the voice function on devices during
that people will use common sense andrestricted times. During those times text
consideration during air travel? Not really.messaging and e-mailing would be allowed, but
It's easy to see the scenario. Business people whotalking would be disabled.
intend to be considerate will receive what they