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

In early 2007, OnAir will arrive. OnAir is aservice that uses satellite technology to enable air travel passengers to use wirelessdevices such as mobile phones, Internet connections from computers andBlackberries during a flight. The debate over the use of wireless technologyduring flight has been going on for years, and now that it’s about to happen,the debate is likely to heat up.

First of all, you should know that the first waveof this will not be happening on US flights. Airbus, the plane manufacturer whois creating this technology, is selling it to AirFrance. AirFrance is expectedto have the service available to passengers in early 2007. Whether passengerswill have to pay for the service like they pay for headphones for a movie isnot known yet. Two other airlines, the British airline bmi and TAP Air Portugal areboth considering using OnAir, but nothing has been finalized, yet.  

So what is the debate all about? Who wouldn’t wantthe convenience of using their cell phone during a long flight, gettingimportant e-mails on their Blackberry or having the luxury of surfing theInternet to pass the time? Apparently, lots of people and for some very validreasons.

The Safety Consideration

There has been an ongoing concern that the use ofmobile phones (cell phones to us Americans) and other devices that use wirelesstechnology could interfere with the plane’s navigational equipment. Recenttechnological advances in both navigational equipment and cell phone technologyseem to negate this concern, but not everyone is convinced. There is concernthat the navigational equipment on older planes may still be affected.

The MobilePhone Debate  

Okay, suppose the safety issue is taken care of andthere is no concern that wireless communications technology will interfere withthe plane’s navigational equipment. What objection is there to the use ofmobile phone’s during a flight?

Surveys have shown that the majority of airtravelers are against the use of mobile phones on an airplane because it wouldbe downright annoying to sit next to someone who is receiving and making phonecalls for hours on a flight. They imagine being stuck between two incessanttalkers.

Common sense would seem to tell you that peoplewouldn’t really be so inconsiderate as to have hour’s long conversations ontheir mobile phone during a flight. But experience has shown us when it comesto mobile phones, most people loose their common sense. People will hold loudpersonal conversations in restaurants and grocery stores and on buses. Theywill drive using a handheld mobile phone even states where it has been madeillegal. So does anyone really believe that people will use common sense andconsideration during air travel? Not really.

It’s easy to see the scenario. Business people whointend to be considerate will receive what they deem to be a very importantbusiness call and end up talking longer than they expected. Or, a mom who justwants to check on her children for a minute will end up having to chat witheach one of them before she can hang up.

It’s no wonder that air travel passengers areconcerned that the use of mobile phones will become an annoyance duringflights. They already are an annoyance down on the ground. Another concern someair travelers have will be the tension that all of this annoyance will create,perhaps making already jittery flyers more frustrated and pushing them over theedge. 

Some people are already nervous just about flying.Add a cramped, overcrowded plane to the mix, the constant threat of terrorism,the restrictions on what can be carried on, and now the addition of aninconsiderate mobile phone user sitting right next to that nervous flyer, andsomeone might just snap.

What about Internet connection?

Travelers aren’t as adamantly against the use ofInternet connections for computers and pda’s such as Blackberrys. Those devicesare quiet. Many passengers already use their laptop computers on a flight; it’sjust not connected to the Internet when they use it. Being able to send andreceive e-mail messages while on a flight could be convenient to most people,particularly business travelers. There doesn’t seem to be much of a debate overthese devices as long as safety is not a concern.

What Can be Done?

When should you start being concerned with thisissue? As of right now, US carriers don’t seem to be considering using OnAir orany service like it. A report on MSN Travel said that the airlines that theyasked – AirTran, Spirit, and US Airways – all said that they have heard theirpassengers say they don’t want mobile phones used on planes and are againstadding the services. However, the question is, if these services do catch on inEurope and prove to be a money maker for the carriers who use it, will the UScarriers jump on board? In an era of shrinking profits, will they be able toresist?

So if the trial that AirFrance is giving OnAirproves to be successful and the UScarriers jump on board, what can be done to make sure that mobile phone usagedoes not become a problem on board?

One solution is to have no cell phone usage times.Perhaps next to the little light above your seat that lets you know if you needto have your seat belt fastened or not, there could be another light that letsyou know if it’s the proper time to use your cell phone or not. Cell phone timecould be restricted on long flights and on flights that are overnight when mostpeople would want to sleep.

Another solution is to give the crew the ability todisable the voice function on devices during restricted times. During thosetimes text messaging and e-mailing would be allowed, but talking would bedisabled.

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