Australian regulators to allow cell phone use on flights

[OceansEdge]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010 ... 968612.htm
... and of course the cell phone companies gonna make a BUNDLE off it!

Australians could soon be able to use their mobile phones in flight after the latest ruling from the national communications watchdog.

Phones were banned on board flights because of their potential to interfere with navigational equipment but new technology has changed that.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has now approved phone use after consultation with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

ACMA spokesman Chris Chapman says it is now up to airlines to decide what services can be used.

"Whether they have simple tweeting or data download availability or allow full-scale voice-calls, which is the matter that probably would irk a lot of people understandably, that's a matter entirely for the airlines," he said.

But Mr Chapman says a special on-board system that relays mobile signals must be installed.

"This particular technology, which was the one applied for, has been approved and that will give the optionality, if you like, to the airlines."

But that system cannot carry more than one signal provider, which means phone use could be limited to customers of one telecommunications network.

The pico-cell control unit blocks onboard mobile handsets from receiving signals from terrestrial base stations and the pico-cell acts as a base station and transmits to terrestrial networks via satellite.

So far, only one carrier, Aeromobile, a subsidiary of Norwegian telco Telenor, is able to provide the service, which will cost users international roaming charges despite the communications taking place in domestic skies.

Texts alone can be up to 10 times the price of standards texts.

In its submission to ACMA, Telstra said the proposed scheme would artificially restrict mobile traffic to one provider aboard each aircraft and deny Australian consumers access to the country's competitive mobile market.

ACMA says that should alternative, safe methods of mobile communication on aircraft be proposed for commercial operation in future, including those that access Australia's terrestrial networks, then it will move to consider those methods.

[MrWings]

This isn't about whether cell phones cause interference.

It is that having a plane full of people talking on cell phones would be annoying as hell. People in the grocery store yell into theirs like they are talking into a tin can with a string on it.

[Heliian]

If people can use their cell phones on a plane, I want to be able to smoke on the plane again. Talk about annoying, that's all you need is 150 people talking on their bluedouche headsets for the entirety of the trip. I find the people who switch on their phones and start checking their emails before the plane even reaches the gate annoying. Really? are you that important? If you're such a hot shot then why don't you charter you're own damn plane. Now that i got that off my chest, what's the deal with airline food....

[McPhoo]

If people can use their cell phones on a plane, I want to be able to smoke on the plane again. Talk about annoying, that's all you need is 150 people talking on their bluedouche headsets for the entirety of the trip. I find the people who switch on their phones and start checking their emails before the plane even reaches the gate annoying. Really? are you that important? If you're such a hot shot then why don't you charter you're own damn plane. Now that i got that off my chest, what's the deal with airline food....

+1

[KHills]

If people can use their cell phones on a plane, I want to be able to smoke on the plane again. Talk about annoying, that's all you need is 150 people talking on their bluedouche headsets for the entirety of the trip. I find the people who switch on their phones and start checking their emails before the plane even reaches the gate annoying. Really? are you that important? If you're such a hot shot then why don't you charter you're own damn plane. Now that i got that off my chest, what's the deal with airline food....

+1

+ a million... in the future the airline that advertises that no cell phones are allowed has my business.

[200Above]

or even more concerning is the fact that no one will be listening to the pax briefings, and/or when an emergency evacuation is warranted, do u think anyone will make it out alive?

People will be finishing their Black Berry Messanger text before they evacuate an airplane.

[AuxBatOn]

or even more concerning is the fact that no one will be listening to the pax briefings, and/or when an emergency evacuation is warranted, do u think anyone will make it out alive?

Is that a joke? People read books, do other stuff than talking on their cells right now. WIll they make it out alive?

I think it's about time technology catches up.

As far as switching on the phones to check emails as soon as the aircraft lands, well, that's normally how I coordinate my transport from the airport to my destination. So yes, I will turn my phone on and send a quick email. Not because I'm a "hot shot" but because I don't want to stick to the airport for longer than I need to.

One thing that ANNOYS the HELL out of me... I usually play games/read e-books on my phone on a flight, because it's boring (especially on Jazz with no entertainment system). I cannot play them/read for take off/landing but the dude beside me can read his (physical) book. What the hell is the difference?

[Heliian]

Do you have a team of minions monitoring your emails 24hrs a day? If you booked a flight wouldn't you have prearranged transport, weak arguement but to each his own. Just got off a flight from YUL to YYZ and the boarding and unloading took forever because everyone now has giant wheelie bags which all get jammed in the overheads(i would say 60 percent of the wheelies would not fit in the test rack, no enforcement though), but there's not enough room above each row so people are scrambling around trying to find space and then to grab their bags as soon as the a/c lands. We were still taxiing when about a dozen people stood up(seatbelt sign on) and started to open bins and grab their shit, I was wishing the pic would slam the brakes so these jerkoffs would get a lesson in flying etiquette. Air Canada is still the worst airline in canada.

[godsrcrazy]

Do you have a team of minions monitoring your emails 24hrs a day? If you booked a flight wouldn't you have prearranged transport, weak arguement but to each his own. Just got off a flight from YUL to YYZ and the boarding and unloading took forever because everyone now has giant wheelie bags which all get jammed in the overheads(i would say 60 percent of the wheelies would not fit in the test rack, no enforcement though), but there's not enough room above each row so people are scrambling around trying to find space and then to grab their bags as soon as the a/c lands. We were still taxiing when about a dozen people stood up(seatbelt sign on) and started to open bins and grab their shit, I was wishing the pic would slam the brakes so these jerkoffs would get a lesson in flying etiquette. Air Canada is still the worst airline in canada.

If you had your phone handy you could snap a pic and post it. Autobaton i am with you. I to have been told to put turn of my reader on my phone for taxi and takeoff. While buddy beside me has there paper spread out across me or a book that is 2 inches thick. Here is another weak argument the only reason the world knew what really happened on some flights on 9/11 was due to those that said the hell with the cell phone regulations.

[Tim]

Autobaton i am with you.

hehe

im with you too autobaton!

[bcflyer]

Do you have a team of minions monitoring your emails 24hrs a day? If you booked a flight wouldn't you have prearranged transport, weak arguement but to each his own. Just got off a flight from YUL to YYZ and the boarding and unloading took forever because everyone now has giant wheelie bags which all get jammed in the overheads(i would say 60 percent of the wheelies would not fit in the test rack, no enforcement though), but there's not enough room above each row so people are scrambling around trying to find space and then to grab their bags as soon as the a/c lands. We were still taxiing when about a dozen people stood up(seatbelt sign on) and started to open bins and grab their shit, I was wishing the pic would slam the brakes so these jerkoffs would get a lesson in flying etiquette. Air Canada is still the worst airline in canada.

What does your last comment has to do with this topic?

[Heliian]

If Air Canada allowed cell usage on their planes, i'm sure it wouldn't work half the time and cost an exhorbident amount of money. It's funny though that with all the fuel saving measures they enact on these flights like limited baggage, they would go and add more weight to the plane and another antenna to create drag. Proving that profits come before customer satisfaction. Beleive it or not, AirInuit is even a better airline than Air Canada. My last flight included the choice of a hot or cold meal. When was the last time Alpha Charlie gave you anything for free, have you had the onboard service? 7 dollar sandwiches shouldn't be allowed, they could be used as weapons. Back to the phones on planes, so with cabin noise, people will be constantly having to raise their voices and say "say again" over and over. Probably why they took all the onboard payphones off the planes.

Boing

[bcflyer]

Helion,

This article is about Australian airlines possibly allowing cell phone usage on airplanes and somehow you turn it into an Air Canada bashing.

You obviously have no idea what is going on in the industry as Air Canada already has two 319s set up for onboard internet and cell phone usage. The biggest stumbling block is that so far it can only be used in the US as there are no providers in Canada. (I'm sure you will somehow blame that on Air Canada as well...) It is a HUGE benefit for our business passengers as they can now stay connected with their offices while in flight.

Comparing them to Air Inuit is ridiculous. The serve completely different destinations in completely different markets. The only route that they compete with Air Canada on is YUL-YQB and their flights are over $40.00 more expensive for a 50 min flight.. Is your hot meal worth $40? Hows the inflight entertainment system on Air Inuit? Watch any first run movies for FREE lately? Check what you get on Air Canada's true competitors and you'll find they all offer pretty much the same service..

[yycflyguy]

Heliian is the type of person that would be the first to bitch on here about the cost of an AC YYZ-YVR flight going up $10. Those AC BASTARDS!!!