I just used reasonably priced wireless Internet in plane. I flew yesterday with Norwegian Boeing 737 plane. When the plane took off there was a surprising announcement on the plane: This plane has a free wireless Internet system on board. As soon as the plane is in flying altitude and the fasten your seatbelt light has bee turned on you are free to start to use your tablet or laptop with WLAN. Norwegian says that it is the first flight company that offers WiFi internet in the plane in Europe.
I tried the WLAN connection with a small tablet (5″ Deal Android tablet). When I opened the web browser I was forwarded to Norwegian plane home page that gave view to flight information like flight time, altitude, speed and route map. Quite ueful. That page has a button to activate free Internet connection. When I pressed I was forwarded to a web address in row44.com domain. The registering felt to be taking long time (at least 30 seconds). After registering Internet connection worked. I could access Internet well, but the connection had noticeable latency (extra several seconds) every time I opened a web page. But after some waiting things worked quite similarly what I would get with Internet through cellular network data (works but takes time to load pages). So not very broadband connection but worked acceptably.
I tried to figure out some details of the system they used. When looking at WLAN frequency use I saw there were two different channels in use with same similar naming. I quess they have two WLAN basestations on different channels to cover the airplane, not just one base station. The system seems use some form of Web Accelerator server on board. I got some 504 errors sometimes, and the error page told that the web accelerator system had problem with satellite connection. So based on that the system seems to be using a satellite uplink from plane to Internet. I could not do any actual performance testing of the network, because I could not get any speed test pages to work on my tablet (I am not sure if that problem was with my crappy tablet or if those pages were somwhow blocked). Some general details of the system can be found at Row 44 web page.
I think that Internet connection during flight is a good idea. Norwegian is planning to offer WLAN in all of it’s planes during 2012. I am waiting for other flight companies to catch up on this.
125 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cable-based antenna improves in-flight wireless access
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/other/4389864/Cable-based-antenna-improves-in-flight-wireless-access?cid=Newsletter+-+EDN+on+Analog
GORE Cable-Based Antennas improve signal propagation without increasing hardware for in-flight applications. Easily installed along the length of the cabin ceiling, the antennas ensure reliable access.
Signals are transmitted via a signal network computer and outside antenna to satellites connected to the worldwide network.
Tomi Engdahl says:
In-flight WiFi company Gogo now offers Delta and Virgin America customers free access to eBay
http://thenextweb.com/us/2012/08/13/in-flight-wifi-company-gogo-now-offers-delta-virgin-america-customers-free-access-ebay/
In-flight connectivity service provider Gogo this morning announced that it has signed up a new partner for its digital multimedia platform. Starting today, passengers of both Delta Air Lines and Virgin America will get free access to e-commerce juggernaut eBay.
The company says it currently enables passengers to go online on more than 1,500 commercial aircraft, including all domestic AirTran Airways and Virgin America flights, all domestic mainline Delta Air Lines flights and select Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways flights.
But come on, seriously, does anyone want to shop on eBay during a flight?
Tomi Engdahl says:
Real-world testing of Wi-Fi hotspots
http://www.eetimes.com/design/microwave-rf-design/4394000/Real-world-testing-of-Wi-Fi-hotspots?Ecosystem=communications-design
For years, coffee shops, airports and hotels have offered Wi-Fi hotspots to entice clientele. But as consumer connectivity expectations have grown, so to has the proliferation of Wi-Fi hotspots into every facet of our daily lives, including barber shops, corner pubs, fast-food restaurants, bookstores, car dealerships, department stores, and more. Today’s mobile Internet travels with everyone, and it has redefined what it means to “be connected.” But it wasn’t always this easy.
Connectivity is so important to consumers, that it’s not uncommon for them to select a destination or method of transport based on the cost and quality of Wi-Fi Internet access. It is also not uncommon for them to select one coffee shop over another based on high-speed Internet access.
Ease of Use is a Feature
Hotspots use the 802.11 open authentication method, meaning no authentication process at Layer 2 – at all. The customer’s client device (laptop, iPad, smartphone, etc.) joins the hotspot’s SSID, and is forwarded to the DHCP service, and the client device receives an IP address, default gateway and DNS. This, in its purest form, is hotspot connectivity.
At this point the client is now ready to access the Internet. One option is to just allow direct access. This is the easiest of all systems. It causes no difficulty with devices, because there is no user interaction.
However, most hotspot providers opt for a captive portal solution – whereby any attempt by the client device to either load a browser-based Internet session, check e-mail, etc., will all be redirected to an HTTP web page. By capturing all possible outbound ports, the customer’s experience is changed from what they would get at home.
On this captive portal page, the customer can choose to accept the terms of service, and/or pay for Internet usage. The use of a captive portal makes accessing the Internet via a hotspot quite difficult for devices that do not have native web browsing capabilities. The more “hoops” a customer has to go through, the lower their valuation of the hotspot service.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The FAA is studying expanding device usage on flights, but don’t worry, voice calls are off limits
http://thenextweb.com/us/2012/08/27/the-faa-studying-expanding-device-usage-flights-dont-worry-voice-calls-limits/
Today the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it has formed a ‘government-industry’ group to study the use of consumer electronics devices on flights. As their number and variety has proliferated, rules concerning their usage in flight have aged.
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood calls the rules covering electronic devices in flight of “consumer interest.” Indeed. One begins to wonder what is magical about the 10,000 foot mark that makes the turning on of your iPad safe; why is it unsafe at 9,000 feet?
To begin its work, the group is soliciting and accepting input from the public.
Here’s the rub, however: don’t ask for the ability to make phone calls during flight. The FAA is not interested in making that change; “[t]he group will not consider the airborne use of cell phones for voice communications during flight.”
Tomi says:
Watchdog probes rules for naughty mobe fondling on flights
Whipping out gizmos on takeoff and landing revisited
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08/28/us_studies_tech_on_planes/
US regulators are going to look into the rules that stop passengers using their “interfering” electronic gizmos on aeroplanes.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced that it would be setting up a government and industry group to assess how airlines decide which gadgets can be used and when.
The current norm is to be told to turn off iPods, mobiles and laptops completely when taking off and landing, while most can be turned back on after the plane levels out – even phones as long as they’re in flight mode.
Much urban myth surrounds whether or not these bans are necessary or just a hangover from the days of much less sophisticated tech.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mobile phone interference with plane instruments: Myth or reality
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/beyond-bits-and-bytes/4395932/Mobile-phone-interference-with-plane-instruments–Myth-or-reality-?cid=EDNToday
“Please power off your electronic devices like mobile phones, laptops during takeoff and landing as they may interfere with the airplane system.” – A common instruction while on board a plane. Some airlines go further asking passengers to keep mobile phones switched off for the entire duration of the flight.
However, it makes one wonder (especially an engineer) how true this could be. If electronic gadgets were able to interfere with airplane communication and navigation systems and could potentially bring down an airplane, you can be sure that the Department of Homeland Security wouldn’t allow passengers to board a plane with a mobile phone or iPad, for fear that they could be used by terrorists.
Possible electromagnetic interference to aircraft systems is the most common argument put forth for banning passenger electronic devices on planes.
Another reason I found that makes the most sense was the fact that when you make a call, at say 10,000 feet, the signal bounces off multiple available cell towers, rather than one at a time. The frequent switching between cells creates significant overhead on the network and may clog up the networks on the ground, which is why the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) banned cell use on planes.
Contrary to the fact, a few airlines do allow mobile phones to be used on aircraft, however with a different system that utilises an on-board base station in the plane which communicates with passengers’ own handsets (see figure).
The base station – called a picocell – is low power and creates a network area big enough to encompass the cabin of the plane. The base station routes phone traffic to a satellite, which in turn is connected to mobile networks on the ground.
Tomi Engdahl says:
American Airlines announced Wednesday it will acquire 17 000 Samsung Galaxy Note (smartphone with tablet properties) for in-flight staff. They are used in electronic memory as a book and as an integral part of the in-flight service.
Galaxy Note was selected for pilot program based on feedback received.
The company intends to allow the tablets to the captain and the cabin staff.
Source: http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/lentoyhtio+ostaa+tyontekijoilleen+17+000+galaxy+notea/a840479?s=r&wtm=tietoviikko/-20092012&
Tomi Engdahl says:
Airplanes And Electronics: It’s Time To Stop The Silliness
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/brians-brain/4397184/Airplanes-And-Electronics–It-s-Time-To-Stop-The-Silliness?cid=EDNToday
I recently learned that American Airlines received FAA approval for its pilots to begin using iPads in the cockpit during all phases of Boeing 777 flights, notably including takeoff and landing. By replacing an approximately 35 lb. bag full of reference documents and manuals with the sub-2 lb. Apple tablet, American Airlines claims that it’ll save as much as $1.2 million per year in fuel, calculated based on today’s prices. And perhaps obviously, American Airlines is petitioning the FAA for permission to expand iPad use to all airplanes in its fleet.
Similarly, I found myself on non-Southwest Airlines flights for the first time in a long time this past week, traveling to and from Boston for the Embedded Vision Summit. I wasn’t particularly surprised to find LCD screens for all passengers, along with power outlets some of the seats (although SeatGuru had indicated that they wouldn’t exist). In fact, I was surprised to not encounter in-flight Wi-Fi service. To wit, I was mildly surprised to see that the video service was DirecTV-branded; I’m assuming that the planes are being fed by an on-board satellite dish (thereby begging the question of why they aren’t also offering satellite-based Internet service, although I realize that most carriers have now switched to cellular-based approaches), although it could have just been a DirecTV-branded conventional on-board video server setup.
But what really surprised me was that the LCDs remained active during the entire flight, including takeoff and landing.
But I’m presuming that most folks on my planes didn’t have engineering education jobs. And therefore, again, this presents a poor role-modeling scenario; the airline is telling passengers to shut their electronics devices off, while simultaneously streaming images over the LCDs stuck smack-dab in front of their faces.
Tomi Engdahl says:
In-Flight Entertainment Arrives at a Crossroad
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/25/business/in-flight-entertainment-is-at-crossroad.html?src=recg
Paramount Pictures at the annual trade show sponsored by the Airline Passenger Experience Association, a network of airlines and businesses and professionals who supply various in-flight comfort and entertainment services, from seats to software.
If I had a take-away from the event, it was that in-flight entertainment is at a crossroad. At a time when about a third of passengers are flying with their own devices like tablets and smartphones, how do airlines respond?
Passengers carrying tablets, smartphones and laptops already have “a very wide range of content available right up to the point where they board the aircraft,”
Do premium carriers continue to invest heavily in hardware — in expensive in-seat audio and video systems that provide packaged offerings like hundreds of on-demand movies, television programs and video games, but need regular upgrading as technology improves?
Or do other carriers concentrate mostly on improving in-flight Wi-Fi for those passengers who prefer to use their own hardware?
If so, do the airlines try to sell them licensed content like movies and video games, while somehow overcoming significant concerns by studios and other providers about piracy?
And how do they address passenger discontent about slow, balky in-flight Wi-Fi service, not to mention complaints about the dearth of power outlets on airplanes?
Hollywood studios and other content providers are happy to sell fairly recent movies to airlines to offer on the on-demand seat video systems. But while airlines can save lots of money, including fuel costs, by stripping out the cables and seat screens and installing far-simpler Wi-Fi servers, the studios are wary of streaming content onto personal devices on open networks.
As the industry struggles to sort those things out
Tomi Engdahl says:
More entertainment options on plane might benefit everybody in plane:
Q&A: Why Children Are Annoying on Airplanes
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-09-28/q-and-a-why-kids-are-annoying-on-airplanes
Low-cost Malaysian airline AirAsia (AIRA:MK) has finally done what many disgruntled passengers have long hoped for: It has banned children from sections of some airplanes.
“quiet zone” and reserved for adult
So are children really that annoying on flights?
kids can be really disruptive on flights. But usually when that happens, it’s not the kid’s fault; it’s the parents’.
I see parents come on a plane with nothing to entertain their child, so then the kid gets bored and starts kicking the seat in front of them. Sometimes parents will sit in first class but leave their kids in coach. The kids will be standing in the aisle during takeoff or trying to get out of their seats.
I know of some people who buy little toys from the dollar store, one for each hour of a flight, and if the kid is good, they get a toy. They’ll behave if they know they’re going to get a toy.
Kids just need supervision, that’s all. But adults should be able to behave themselves.
Alvaro Ferone says:
Wireless internet is really great, i always use wireless internet at home and the coverage and the bandwidth is great. `;`:’
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Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows 8 Tablets On A Plane: Emirates Airlines Takes Microsoft, HP Into Real Clouds
http://www.fastcompany.com/3003286/windows-8-tablets-plane-emirates-airlines-takes-microsoft-hp-real-clouds
Using tablet tech to go way beyond mere beverage service, here Emirates execs discuss flying with open Windows.
PATRICK BRANNELLY: On an Airbus A380, there’s about 25 cabin crew the purser is in charge of. Chances are, the purser’s only flown with three of them before. Then there’s 500 passengers. On a tablet, you can see an instant overview of the entire team, as well as all about the passengers–how many infants are on board; do any passengers have special needs or preferences; is this person’s favorite drink a gin and tonic? Imagine doing all that with paper–which we used to do. You would literally be carrying around a piece of paper about eight feet long. Now, with Windows 8, you can just touch a photograph of the crew and see what languages they speak. You can see who on the crew speaks Swahili, and dispatch the nearest one to the passenger who doesn’t understand English.
KG: At the moment, we’re just announcing the fact that we’ll be giving these to the purser. I think that’s the way the world is going, but there’s no decision yet.
Miguelina Puertas says:
Wireless internet will become even more popular because people love to travel a lot. ;
Tomi Engdahl says:
FCC to FAA: Allow ‘greater use’ of electronic devices during flights
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/271565-fcc-chairman-to-faa-allow-greater-use-of-electronic-devices-during-flights
The head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday pushed for wider in-flight use of electronic portable devices during airplane flights.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to “enable greater use of tablets, e-readers, and other portable devices” during flights in a letter sent Thursday to Michael Huerta, the acting administrator of the FAA.
The FAA launched a study group this summer to review its policies and guidance on in-flight use of electronic devices as people have increasingly turned to mobile phones and tablets to connect with one another. To the chagrin of most passengers, the FAA said the study would not consider allowing “voice communications” during flights.
In recent years, the agency has approved rules that allow people to surf the Web on wireless networks during flights.
Tomi Engdahl says:
FCC urges rethink of aircraft personal-electronics blackout
Signs of sanity over American skies
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/12/07/fcc_electronics_ban_rethink/
The head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has written to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) asking for a rethink of the current ban on using electronic items in flight.
Currently all electronic devices have to be switched off on US aircraft operating below 10,000 feet, and can only used in flight-safe mode (i.e., with the radios turned off) above that ceiling. Now FCC boss Julius Genachowski is asking for a rethink.
“This review comes at a time of tremendous innovation, as mobile devices are increasingly interwoven in our daily lives,” Genachowski wrote in the letter obtained by The Hill.
The FAA first started banning portable electronics on flights back in 1991, originally for devices using the 800MHz frequency range but now extending to portable electronics of all types. It looked again at the ban in 2004, but decided to do nothing, but has recently said it’s examining its options.
There’s no denying that the ban annoys air travelers, particularly since the rules as they stand make little sense.
Cabin crews also loath the rules, since it’s a major point of friction between them and customers. Many pilots also question whether the ban is really necessary, particularly as the FAA has already certified them to use tablets at all stages of a flight if the fondleslabs contain flight data.
Keeping the ban on electronics, however, does have one major advantage as far as the FAA, airlines and aircraft manufacturers are concerned: it’s cheap.
In order to certify electronics on aircraft, someone has to test each of the thousands of devices for interference on each type of commercial aircraft. But no one wants to pay for that, so it’s simply more convenient to issue a blanket ban and leave the cabin crew to take the flak for it.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mobile phone interference with plane instruments: Myth or reality?
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/beyond-bits-and-bytes/4395932/Mobile-phone-interference-with-plane-instruments–Myth-or-reality-?cid=EDNToday
“Please power off your electronic devices like mobile phones, laptops during takeoff and landing as they may interfere with the airplane system.” – A common instruction while on board a plane. Some airlines go further asking passengers to keep mobile phones switched off for the entire duration of the flight.
However, it makes one wonder (especially an engineer) how true this could be. If electronic gadgets were able to interfere with airplane communication and navigation systems and could potentially bring down an airplane, you can be sure that the Department of Homeland Security wouldn’t allow passengers to board a plane with a mobile phone or iPad, for fear that they could be used by terrorists.
Tomi Engdahl says:
United becomes first US airline to offer overseas WiFi with satellite-equipped 747
http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/15/united-becomes-first-us-airline-to-offer-overseas-wifi-with-sate/
Lufthansa’s been pulling (relatively) speedy Ku-band satellite internet from the heavens for a bit over two years, but now trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific WiFi has finally made its way to a US-based carrier. United, the first US airline to fly the Dreamliner, announced today that a Boeing 747-400 is currently flying around the globe with a constant connection, letting passengers hop online during any portion of the flight — taxi, takeoff and landing being are a few obvious exceptions, but there’s no requirement that the aircraft operate within range of air-to-ground transmitters, a la Gogo.
Tomi Engdahl says:
FAA to pilots: Turn off personal devices in the cockpit
Bart Jansen, USA TODAY 9:28p.m. EST January 14, 2013
http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2013/01/14/pilot-electronics/1833313/
It’s akin to not texting while driving, airline safety expert and former pilot John Cox says.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mobile phone may cause false alarm in plane
Relaxations in restrictions on the use of electronic devices on flights may have to wait for a long time.
Take-off and landing are the most critical phases of flight, says VTT’s technology director Jussi Paakkari. Restrictions based on the fact that electronic devices can cause interference with the machine’s own equipment, such as navigation and control systems.
Uncertainties with the not yet seem to be of such restrictions are based at least in part conjecture.
“According to my knowledge there is no unambiguous evidence – probably the only doubts, which is considered sufficient to justify the regulation,”
“Device irradiances are still such that the number of mobile phone happens to be on top and conveniently placed in the machine, they can interfere with the machine’s own devices,”
“Warning systems may generate unnecessary warnings. Though they do not endanger themselves, they interfere with the work of the pilots.”
Lifting of restrictions of use of electronic devices interests airlines because competition for customers is fierce.
“In general, passengers follow instructions very well, but the exceptions, of course, is,”
In some airline flights can already use a mobile phone also in other than the flight mode.
“These are operated by a base station, the transmission power of mobile phones and the consequent interference effect will be very small, and can not own a cell phone to talk to the machine. Again, there is no such restriction, the mobile phone can be used only with a high enough that it does not search for terrestrial base stations.”
Source: http://www.3t.fi/artikkeli/uutiset/teknologia/kannykka_voi_aiheuttaa_koneessa_turhan_halytyksen
Tomi Engdahl says:
WLANs on boats:
New Grace-Viking ship has 260 base station wireless LAN free of charge for passengers use.
Business passengers is reserved for higher-priority network that cost money to use.
Viking Line’s IT manager René Engman says that the connection with the satellite-based services capable of around 1-3 Mbps data transfer speed. Free service is limited to about 500 kilobits per second.
The ship’s internal use is also a 3G and 4G connectivity, based on the mobile network.
Source: http://www.3t.fi/artikkeli/uutiset/teknologia/laivan_tietoverkot_uudistuvat_viking_gracella
Tomi Engdahl says:
Aircraft fixed entertainment devices will soon be replaced by mobile devices in new Finnair’s Airbus A350 aircraft.
Finnair has studied bringing network connectivity to wide-body aircraft for many years.
“Under the current Airbus internet connection there is doubts on usability. We wonder, however, is currently limited experiment “, the airline’s chief operating officer says Ville Iho.
Demand for Internet access are increased by the fact that more and more of the airline to provide the service, including low-cost airline Norwegian.
“A350 is the latest machines, internet access available. Satellite system is in more developed. ”
Finnair plans to down screens for passengers in place of borrowed or rented tablets.
“We would like to go in this direction, but the manufacturers product development has been slow.”
Source: http://www.3t.fi/artikkeli/uutiset/talous/finnairin_lentoemanta_tarjoilee_kohta_tabletteja
Tomi says:
Finnair will begin with the Airbus A330 airliner wireless network to provide. Both scheduled and charter flights flying OH-LTT machine is starting tomorrow on a wireless network.
The network is free to use scheduled flights to business travelers and leisure flights comfort for passengers who use the Finnair borrowed by HP tablet.
Other users will pay: Billing will be done on the basis of the completed data table. 3 MB of transfer costs $ 5. 30 MB costs $ 40.
For example, a video streaming is not allowed due heavy bandwidth needs. Internet access will be available via satellite.
The trial will last for two months. After that Finnair will make decisions on the continuation of the experiment (stop it or expand to more planes).
Source: http://www.itviikko.fi/uutiset/2013/03/19/finnairille-ilmainen-wlan–lainaat-tabletin-tai-maksat/20134160/7?rss=8
Tomi Engdahl says:
Turning Off IPhone Critical to Pilots Citing Interference
http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-15/turning-off-iphone-critical-to-pilots-citing-interference.html
The regional airliner was climbing past 9,000 feet when its compasses went haywire, leading pilots several miles off course until a flight attendant persuaded a passenger in row 9 to switch off an Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPhone.
“The timing of the cellphone being turned off coincided with the moment where our heading problem was solved,” the unidentified co-pilot told NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System about the 2011 incident. The plane landed safely.
Public figures from U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill to actor Alec Baldwin have bristled at what they say are excessive rules restricting use of tablets, smartphones, laptops and other devices during flights.
More than a decade of pilot reports and scientific studies tell a different story. Government and airline reporting systems have logged dozens of cases in which passenger electronics were suspected of interfering with navigation, radios and other aviation equipment.
The FAA in January appointed an advisory committee from the airline and technology industries to recommend whether or how to broaden electronics use in planes.
Even Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL), which argued for relaxed rules, told the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration its pilots and mechanics reported 27 suspected incidents of passenger electronics causing aircraft malfunctions from 2010 to 2012. Atlanta-based Delta said it couldn’t verify there was interference in any of those cases.
Delta said in its filing that it welcomes more electronics use because that’s what its passengers wanted. United Continental Holdings Inc. said it preferred no changes because they’d be difficult for flight attendants to enforce.
Passengers’ use of technology and wireless services “is growing by leaps and bounds” and should be expanded as long as it is safe, the Consumer Electronics Association, an Arlington, Virginia-based trade group, said in its filing to the FAA last year.
Inflight Wi-Fi
The potential risks from personal electronic devices are increasing as the U.S. aviation system transitions to satellite-based navigation, according to the FAA. In order to improve efficiency, planes will fly closer together using GPS technology.
As a result, interference from electronics “cannot be tolerated,” the agency said last year.
While sticking with its prohibitions on use during some phases of flight, the FAA starting in 2010 issued guidelines allowing broader use of personal electronics.
Following techniques suggested by RTCA Inc., a Washington-based non-profit that advises the FAA on technology, airlines have been able to install Wi-Fi networks allowing passengers to browse the Web in flight.
Four in 10 airline passengers surveyed in December by groups including the CEA said they want to be able to use electronic devices in all phases of flight. Thirty percent of passengers in that same study said they’d accidentally left on a device during a flight.
Restrictions on U.S. commercial aircraft began in 1966 after research found some portable radios interfered with navigation equipment, according to the FAA’s request last year for comments on whether it should change existing rules.
In one 2004 test, a now-discontinued Samsung Electronics Co. (005930)wireless phone model’s signal was powerful enough to blot out global-positioning satellites, according to NASA.
While incidents haven’t led to any commercial accidents and and are difficult to recreate afterward, they continue to pile up.
Damaged devices have transmitted on frequencies they weren’t designed for, according to David Carson, an associate technical fellow at Boeing who has participated in industry evaluations of electronics.
If those radio waves reach an antenna used for navigation, communication or some other purpose, it may distort the signal it’s supposed to receive.
Inflight Wi-Fi systems are safe in part because devices connect to them at low power levels, according to Carson, who was co-chairman of an RTCA panel that produced testing standards.
Airlines such as Delta and Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK) have used the FAA guidelines to allow their pilots to carry Apple iPads to replace paper charts and manuals. McCaskill and others have used that as an example of why passengers should be allowed to use tablet computers during landing and takeoff.
there’s no guarantee passengers will put the devices into airplane mode or the devices haven’t been damaged, he said.
“Something a passenger brings in, you don’t know if it fell in a mud puddle or they put a bigger battery in,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Web Surfing during flights requires patience
Net a plane can be costly and also requires a lot of patience. The connection is often slow and jerky way.
“Roses came to check the availability and user experience. Twigs were mostly on your connection speed, as well as the inconvenience of logging, “says Finnair’s entertainment services Jouni Oksanen says.
Price range is large airlines, the service will cost about 10-40 euros flight.
Finnair’s experiment, the price was approximately euro per megabyte.
Finnair has not yet made a decision whether to import the service to existing machines.
“The pilot results should be analyzed further before decisions. Airbus A350 aircraft will be an internet connection configurations. ”
On intercontinental flights are selling a service, at least Germany’s Lufthansa and United Airlines yhdysvaltainen part of flying.
The most advanced is a Norwegian low-cost airline Norwegian, which is a satellite-based Internet access and wireless network in 60 aircrafts (company has total 75 planes).
Finnair’s spring in the pilot was using OnAir internet service that runs on 1500 MHz L-band satellite frequencies. Connecting to a maximum speed of about 864 kilobits per second.
Inmarsat satellite company’s services cover almost the entire planet.
SITA is a multinational company OnAir service is available 16 airlines around the world.
Coming Airbus A350 aircraft will be equipped with a newer Ku-band satellite technology, which brings According to Oksanen, faster connections. The maximum speed is a theoretical 50 megabits per second.
Source: http://www.3t.fi/artikkeli/uutiset/teknologia/nettisurffailu_lennoilla_vaatii_karsivallisyytta
the facebook guy says:
Like the info. Nice to read about this. Thanks
Eulalia says:
I constantly emailed this webpage post page to all my associates, since if like to read it then my contacts will too.
Tomi says:
Gogo Announces its Next Generation In-Flight Internet Technology for North America
New Service Expected to Increase Speeds by more than Six Times Current Performance
http://gogoair.mediaroom.com/2013-09-11-Gogo-Announces-its-Next-Generation-In-Flight-Internet-Technology-for-North-America
The new service – called Gogo GTO, or Ground to Orbit – is a proprietary hybrid technology that combines the best aspects of existing satellite technologies with Gogo’s Air to Ground (ATG) cellular network. The technology will use satellite for receive only (transmission to the plane) and Gogo’s Air to Ground network for the return link (transmission to the ground). Virgin America will be the launch partner of the new service, which is expected to be available in the second half of 2014.
“Because we are a Silicon Valley-based airline, Virgin America guests expect a fully connected in–flight experience that enables them to remain productive even at 35,000 feet,” said President and CEO of Virgin America David Cush. “We were proud to be the first to offer Gogo’s ATG-4 product last year and we are pleased to be the launch partner for GTO, which will be another leap forward in terms of speed and performance of in–flight Wi-Fi for our guests.”
About Gogo
Gogo is the global leader of in-flight connectivity and wireless in-flight digital entertainment solutions. Using Gogo’s exclusive products and services, passengers with Wi-Fi enabled devices can get online on nearly 2,000 Gogo equipped commercial aircraft. In-flight connectivity partners include American Airlines, Air Canada, AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America. In-flight entertainment partners include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Scoot and US Airways. In addition to its commercial airline business, Gogo has more than 6,500 business aircraft outfitted with its communications services.
Tomi Engdahl says:
F.A.A. Nears New Rules on Devices
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/23/technology/faa-nears-new-rules-on-devices.html?ref=global-home&_r=1&
The rules on when to turn off electronic devices on airplanes have long been a sour, and sometimes contentious, point for travelers. But faced with a surge of electronics on airplanes and under pressure from a growing number of tech-savvy — and increasingly tech-dependent — passengers, the Federal Aviation Administration recognized that change was inevitable.
This week, an F.A.A. advisory panel will meet to complete its recommendations to relax most of the restrictions. The guidelines are expected to allow reading e-books or other publications, listening to podcasts, and watching videos, according to several of the panel’s members who requested anonymity because they could not comment on the recommendations. The ban on sending and receiving e-mails and text messages or using Wi-Fi during takeoff or landing is expected to remain in place, as is the prohibition on making phone calls throughout the flight, the panel members said.
The panel will recommend its new policy to the F.A.A. by the end of the month and it will most likely go into effect next year.
For many passengers, the ban has been a source of frustration.
Last year, the F.A.A. created the advisory panel of industry experts to update the rule. It was supposed to report back in July but requested an extension until the end of September to sort out some technical materials, an indication of just how complicated the deliberation has been.
“This is like shooting at a moving target,” said Douglas Kidd, the head of the National Association of Airline Passengers and a member of the advisory committee looking into all these issues. “We have to make sure the planes can handle this. But there’s a lot of pressure on the F.A.A. because passengers are very attached to their devices.”
The panel wants to be able to present a single policy from “gate to gate” that would apply to all airlines, and all types of airplanes, according to several of its members who requested anonymity because the discussions were private. Instead of testing devices, the F.A.A. will ask that the airlines certify that their planes can tolerate interferences — something they have done when installing Wi-Fi on board, for instance. Once that is done, the airlines can allow electronic devices, perhaps by next year.
The review has not included mobile voice communications, which are prohibited by the telecommunications regulators at the Federal Communications Commission because they interfere with transmissions between cell towers on the ground.
More than two billion portable electronic devices will be sold this year, according to the research firm Gartner. Air travelers own a disproportionately large share of these devices, particularly smartphones and tablets, whose use is growing at the fastest rate.
Today’s most popular devices, aviation experts said, use so little power that they are unable to interfere with a plane’s aeronautics.
Flight attendants and safety advocates are concerned that laptops and tablets could turn into dangerous projectiles if a flight encounters turbulence while landing or a pilot decides to abort takeoff and suddenly brakes.
The F.A.A. does not ban the devices, but it requires airlines to prove they do not pose a flight risk. Since that would mean testing thousands of types of devices, with more introduced each month, the airlines have simply banned their use during takeoff and landing.
The effort to regulate electronics on planes began in the late 1950s, when studies found that portable FM radio sets caused interference with very-high frequency omnirange systems, known as VORs, common navigation systems.
The rule has been updated repeatedly over the years as technology evolved, and it now permits the use of devices above 10,000 feet, where potential interference with flight systems is deemed to be less hazardous.
A 2005 study by Jay J. Ely, a NASA researcher, predicted that the “unprecedented age of personal connectivity” would lead to a surge in electronic devices that are always on, constantly emitting data, and “would certainly impact the safety and security of air travel.”
The report cites several government studies conducted in the 1990s that found that some devices, operated under certain conditions, interfered with plane systems.
Pilots have also reported several episodes they suspected were caused by interference from passenger devices.
Tomi Engdahl says:
FAA Panel Endorses Wi-Fi as Safe
Report Suggests Lifting Restrictions on Hand-Held Devices Under 10,000 Feet
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303643304579109881458388274.html
An FAA advisory committee has concluded passengers can safely use hand-held electronic devices, including those connected to onboard Wi-Fi systems, during all portions of flights on nearly all U.S. airliners, according to one of the group’s leaders.
The committee’s report and its more than two dozen recommendations, which haven’t yet been released by the Federal Aviation Administration, go further than industry officials previously suggested in recommending lifting current restrictions on such devices under 10,000 feet.
The panel determined that no matter what applications the devices are running or what wireless-transmission mode they are in, “the vast majority” of aircraft “are going to be just fine” from a safety standpoint, according to a senior Amazon.com Inc. official who headed the group’s technical subcommittee.
Nearly all airline fleets “already have been so dramatically improved and aircraft are so resilient” to electronic interference
Only normal, ground-based cellular connections—whether used for voice or data—should remain off-limits, according to the committee’s recommendations. That isn’t due to safety concerns, but because of long-standing Federal Communications Commission rules prohibiting airborne cellular service. Those rules, in turn, stem from concerns about interfering with communications systems on the ground. Mr. Misener said the committee urged the FAA to work with the FCC to reassess those restrictions.
If the FAA follows the committee’s recommendations, fliers could potentially access email and the Internet during all phases of flight—but only through an airline’s onboard Wi-Fi system, which usually requires a fee to use, and not through their own cellular data service.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Disruptions: How the F.A.A., Finally, Caught Up to an Always-On Society
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/disruptions-as-society-changes-a-brighter-future-for-devices-on-planes/
“Please power down your electronic devices for takeoff.”
Millions of people have heard this command, but I couldn’t help wondering how a $70 Kindle, which has the electronic innards of a glorified calculator, could make a $100 million plane fall from the sky?
Not long after that flight, I wrote a column with the headline, “Fliers Must Turn Off Devices, but It’s Not Clear Why.” Within minutes, the e-mails questioning the ban on electronics during takeoffs and landings started pouring into my in-box. The column received 257 comments and was shared thousands of times on social media. Other Americans, it seemed, were as perplexed as me.
The New York Times employed EMT Labs, an independent testing facility in Mountain View, Calif., to see if a Kindle actually gave off enough electromagnetic emissions to affect a plane. The findings: An Amazon Kindle emitted less than 30 microvolts per meter when in use. That is only 0.00003 of a volt. A Boeing 747 must withstand 200 volts per square meter. That is millions of Kindles packed into each square meter of the plane. Still, the F.A.A. said “No.”
But then something started to change: society.
we saw how much people had come to depend on electronic devices.
And we also saw how slowly government — comically, at times — adapts to technology.
Last week, a 28-member panel set up last year to revise policies for electronics on airplanes recommended that the F.A.A. change the rule, allowing passengers to use their devices from gate to gate, including takeoff, taxiing and landing. Cellphone calls will still banned. People will probably be asked to turn their gadgets to “airplane mode” when they fly.
“There were a couple of cases decades ago where there were interferences noticed to some avionics, typically very old avionics, from devices like FM radios, or TV receivers with vacuum tubes,” Mr. Misener said. “There were instances where a plane would fly through a radar beam or a TV signal and see interference, and as a result, both the F.A.A. and the international community adopted rules that planes had to be resilient to those interferences.”
As a result, he said, they also unwittingly protected planes from future electronics.
Today’s devices, Mr. Misener said, produce barely external electricity. “The opportunities for interference are tiny,” he said. “Aircraft don’t have avionics that operate on the same bands as portable devices, therefore the equipment is resilient to interference.”
“If people are being told to do things because it keeps the public safe, there needs to be solid scientific data that supports that, and clearly that was not the case with this prohibition,” Ms. McCaskill said.
There is, however, one caveat to all this: people on the committee have warned that the F.A.A. might still take another year or more to carry out the rule.
Tomi says:
United States allows a wider use of mobile devices for flights
n the U.S. airline passengers will soon be more extensively used for mobile devices, says the aviation authority. Less stringent rules will take most of the U.S. airlines in force at the end of the year.
n the future, the United States for passengers to read downloaded e-books, play games, and watch videos through the flight of the aircraft taxiing, takeoff and landing time. Telephone calls can not be made during flight.
Recommendations adopted the Committee heard and First-passengers, cabin crew, aircraft manufacturers, and mobile technology experts.
For Europe flights mobile devices must be switched off during taxiing, takeoff and landing time.
Source: http://www.3t.fi/artikkeli/uutiset/teknologia/yhdysvallat_sallii_mobiililaitteiden_laajemman_kayton_lennoilla
Tomi Engdahl says:
Europe will follow the U.S. in – dismantle the device ban on flights
Smartphones and tablets including flights during takeoff and landing be permitted in Europe. The European Aviation Safety Agency is ready to table a bill. So far, mobile phones, will still be closed.
The United States intends to allow phones and smart phones on planes to take off and landing. Phone calls from the plane would continue not to call, but the equipment must be in airplane mode.
The European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the United States followed closely the studies, says Pekka Henttu air traffic safety equivalent Trafi.
“The United States will be to follow the law for a period of time to the extent deemed necessary,” says Henttu.
Henttu points out that, while allowing the use of smart phones is a work in progress, then the law’s entry into force passengers must comply with the current practice. Mobile phones and other electronic devices must be closed off and landing.
Source: http://www.tietokone.fi/artikkeli/uutiset/eurooppa_seuraa_usa_ta_purkaa_laitekieltoa_lennoilla
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon does FAA victory lap, offers 1-day Kindle discounts
http://www.geekwire.com/2013/amazon-celebrates-faa-victory-oneday-kindle-discounts/
Amazon was one of the winners in the FAA’s decision last week to allow electronic gadgets to be used during all phases of flight.
The company is celebrating (or capitalizing) on the decision today with a special one-day promotion
Tomi says:
FLIGHTMARE! In flight cell calling debuts, dealing heavy blow to quality of life
HELLO! Yes! I’m on the PLANE!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/09/flight_horror_gogo_enables_inflight_mobile_calling/
Flying cattle class on most carriers is usually an unpleasant business but it’s about to get a lot worse thanks to Gogo, which has figured out a way to let passengers make calls and texts from their mobiles while in flight.
Gogo already provides in-flight Wi-Fi for flights using a network of ground stations that an aircraft can use to get reasonable data transmission rates while flying overhead. The company has also recently introduced Gogo GTO (ground to orbit), which enables satellite linkups as well.
Now the company has developed a free application for Android and iPhone users to install on smartphones that will let people make calls and send and receive text messages. Calls are routed through the plane’s Wi-Fi system and then routed to the smartphone’s service provider.
“Gogo Text & Talk is just one more way Gogo is keeping airline passengers connected to their lives on the ground,”
“The great part about this technology is that it doesn’t require us to install anything new to an aircraft and we can bundle it with or without connectivity,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
EASA allows use of Electronic Devices on board
http://www.easa.europa.eu/communications/press-releases/EASA-press-release.php?id=125
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will publish by the end of November 2013 guidance which will extend to all phases of flight the possibility to use personal electronic devices (PED) such as tablets, smartphones, e-readers and mp3 players as long as the devices are in ‘Flight Mode’ or ‘Airplane Mode’. Current EASA guidance allows the use of PED on aircraft, except during taxiing, take-off and landing. Bulky PED such as laptop computers will need to be stowed during taxiing, take-off and landing.
“This is a major step in the process of expanding the freedom to use personal electronic devices on-board aircraft without compromise in safety” said Patrick Ky, EASA Executive Director.
The changes above will be applicable to aircraft operated by European airlines. With the new guidance an airline, following its own assessment, will be able to allow passengers to use their PED in ‘Flight Mode’ during all phases of flight.
Tomi Engdahl says:
First the Yanks, now us: In-flight mobe use WON’T kill us all, say Eurocrats
Flight mode can now be used as advertised, confirm glorious pen-pushers
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/11/14/plane_safety_eurocrats_say_yes_to_electronic_device_use_during_takeoff_and_landing/
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is to ease the rules limiting the use of electronic devices in aircraft passenger cabins.
Phones, tablets, ebook readers, MP3 players – all the kit we’re currently told to turn off during taxiing, take-off and landing will, the agency said yesterday, be allowed to stay on provided their Wi-Fi, cellular and Bluetooth radios, if they have them, are disabled.
The new regulations, which will be detailed before the month is out, apply only to European airlines, and clearly only in airspace where the EASA has jurisdiction.
Airlines can choose to maintain limits on device use during taxiing, take-off and landing, but it’s hard to imagine them doing so. Perhaps Ryanair will impose (yet more) fees on gadget use during these flight stages.
Then there’s the inevitable flight mode issue: how long before the EASA admits that a fair few devices are always left trying to ping networks because their owners forget
There remains very little, if any hard evidence that communicating devices actually adversely affect aircraft systems.
Most reports conclude that they “may” do so, but no one can be sure.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Europe allows in-flight 3G and 4G broadband
Passengers will get mobile Internet access, but they’ll have to pay roaming charges
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/print/9244046/Europe_allows_in_flight_3G_and_4G_broadband
The European Commission gave airlines permission to offer their passengers Internet access via 3G and 4G connections so they can send emails and surf the Web while in flight.
“This means that from now onwards, spectrum for 3G (UMTS) and 4G (LTE) communications may be used above an altitude of 3,000 meters. Until now only 2G (GSM) has been permissible on-board aircraft flying in the E.U.,” the Commission said in a news release on Thursday. To enable this, new rules have been adopted for aircraft flying over the European Union.
The Commission’s announcement follows a decision by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which said on Wednesday that it will allow the use of personal electronics such as tablets, smartphones and e-readers during all phases of a flight. The rules will apply to all devices except bulky ones like laptops, which still need to be stowed during take-off, landing and taxiing, EASA said.
The agency will issue guidance on in-flight use of devices and the use of mobile broadband connections by the end of November.
The moves come in response to increasing demands from passengers, who have shown more interest in writing text messages and emails than in making voice calls, the Commission said, adding that the amount of data transmitted on board already exceeds voice traffic.
Airlines will remain in charge of the services they choose to offer on board, according to the Commission.
Tomi Engdahl says:
FCC To Consider Cellphone Use On Planes
http://news.slashdot.org/story/13/11/21/2317217/fcc-to-consider-cellphone-use-on-planes
“The Federal Communications Commission is expected to propose allowing passengers to use their cellphones on airplanes. While phone use would still be restricted during takeoff and landing, the proposal would lift an FCC ban on airborne calls and cellular data use by passengers once a flight reaches 10,000 feet.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
U.S. to Consider Cellphone Use on Planes
Proposal Would Allow for Calls Above 10,000 Feet
http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702303653004579212210178774516-lMyQjAxMTAzMDIwMTEyNDEyWj
The Federal Communications Commission said it will soon propose allowing passengers to use their cellphones on airplanes, setting up a debate that will pit the technically possible against the socially tolerable.
While cellphone use would still be restricted during takeoff and landing, the proposal would lift an FCC ban on airborne calls and cellular-data use by passengers once a flight reaches 10,000 feet.
That would remove a regulatory hurdle to in-flight calls, but it would be up to the airlines themselves whether to allow them. Airlines have said they would approach the matter cautiously because of strong objections from their customers. The carriers also would have to install equipment on their planes to communicate with cellphone towers on the ground.
The Federal Aviation Administration said last month that it would allow expanded use of electronic devices during flights. Technical concerns about the airborne use of gadgets have faded. But the debate about the social merits of allowing people to make phone calls with a captive audience in the close confines of an airplane cabin promises to be vigorous.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Everything you need to know about in-flight cellphone rules
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/11/21/everything-you-need-to-know-about-in-flight-cell-phone-rules/?clsrd
It’s been a whirlwind month for air travelers. On Oct. 31, the Federal Aviation Administration relaxed a longstanding ban on in-flight electronics. Then, Europe expanded passenger access to 3G and 4G data services on aircraft. Now, it seems the Federal Communications Commission may be ready to allow phone calls from cruising altitudes.
The combination of new rules and cross-cutting jurisdictions is pretty confusing. What exactly am I going to be allowed to do on a plane? How does that technology even work? To help, we’ve put together some answers we hope will help.
What can I do with my phone right now?
For the moment, the range of activities is still pretty limited. You can use your personal electronics — music players, tablets, e-readers and so on — during all phases of flight, but that comes with several caveats. First, not all airlines support the relaxed rule. That’s because each carrier has to go through a separate government approval process.
Second, even though you can use your smartphone during takeoff and landing, you can’t use it to surf the Internet or make actual phone calls. You can play offline games with it. You can open up your e-reader app and catch up on your novel. But anything that requires an active cellular connection is strictly verboten. You must keep your phones (and tablets) on airplane mode during the whole flight.
Wait. But didn’t you just say the FCC is allowing in-flight calls?
Not quite. The FCC has said that the issue may be discussed at its next open meeting. In other words, it’s thinking about thinking about it. If the rule actually passes — which seems likely given everything else that’s happened in aviation recently — then airlines will be allowed to start offering wireless services at 10,000 feet and up.
FAA, FCC, whatever. How is all this going to work?
Most likely, the system will look a lot like what Europe has. (Shock: Europe is ahead of us.) Air travelers over there have had access to in-flight data ever since 2008. Granted, you could only surf on 2G speeds until last week. But still!
Europe calls its technology MCA, or Mobile Communications On-board Aircraft. Every plane that supports it is equipped with a base station that creates a mini cellular network called a picocell. All the wireless signals from your phone or tablet get collected by the base station, then transmitted to a commercial communications satellite. The satellite then beams those transmissions down to Earth, where they link up with terrestrial networks and continue on their way like normal.
Sounds great. What’s the catch?
It’s pretty costly. As long as you’re on the picocell, your cellular provider charges you at international roaming rates. These extra fees go toward paying for the satellite connection and other costs.
What about signal interference? Won’t this crash the plane?
Well, planes haven’t started falling out of the sky in Europe yet, so I think we’re okay
Tomi Engdahl says:
Electronic devices can be left on a plane now, throughout the flight, decided to EU Aviation Safety Agency today, Monday.
Devices need to be in flight mode.
Commission Vice-President responsible for transport Siim Kallas has asked EASA to speed up the evaluation of the safety in the transmitting mode of electronic devices in aircraft. The new guidelines will likely be published next year.
“We all want to stay up-to-date we travel, but safety is most important.”
“Next, we want to find out how to join the network inside plane would be possible. This review will take time, and it must be evidence-based. We look forward to the next year to give the EU new instructions in the transmit mode of electronic devices in the use of European airlines’ planes.”
Electronic equipment up to now have had to be switched off during taxiing, takeoff and landing.
Source: http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/sen+kuin+hiplaat+kannykkaasi+heti+lentokoneessa/a953083
Tomi Engdahl says:
Southwest Airlines Offering In-Flight iMessaging for $2 Per Day
http://www.macrumors.com/2013/12/11/southwest-airlines-offering-in-flight-imessaging-for-2-per-day/
Southwest Airlines is offering passengers the ability to send and receive iMessages from their iOS devices in-flight for $2 per day. In-flight Wi-Fi access for all applications is available for $8 per device per day.
In-flight Wi-Fi is not yet available on all Southwest flights, but the airline has a Wi-Fi finder on its website so flyers can check if their aircraft will support the service.
Tomi Engdahl says:
FCC vote opens door to end ban on in-flight calls
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57615473-94/fcc-vote-opens-door-to-end-ban-on-in-flight-calls/
Measure passes by a 3-2 vote, paving the way for lifting the ban. Ultimately though, the Transportation Department gets final say.
The Federal Communications Commission took the first step toward removing regulations that ban phone calls while in flight. But FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler emphasized that the Department of Transportation, which oversees the Federal Aviation Administration, will have the final say.
At the FCC’s monthly open meeting Thursday, the agency voted 3-2 to approve a measure that will open up for public comment a proposal that will lift the technical ban on in-flight cell phone use.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Anthony Foxx: DOT will consider banning cell phone calls on planes
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/cellphones-on-airplanes-anthony-foxx-101086.html
The FCC took a step Thursday toward allowing cellphone calls in the air — but not before the Transportation Department announced it will consider using its own authority to ban them.
The move sets up a future sought by many members of Congress and the traveling public: Airline passengers could use their cellphones to text and access data during air travel but not to annoy their seatmates with hours of yapping.
We believe USDOT’s role, as part of our Aviation Consumer Protection Authority, is to determine if allowing these calls is fair to consumers. USDOT will now begin a process that will look at the possibility of banning these in-flight calls,” Foxx said in a statement emailed to POLITICO. “As part of that process, USDOT will give stakeholders and the public significant opportunity to comment.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
JetBlue launches high-speed wi-fi during flights
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/blog/tourism-central/os-jetblue-high-speed-wi-fi-20131212,0,43438.story
JetBlue is adding high-speed wireless internet to some of its flights, with plans to let customers test the service for free through June.
The airline, which is the third-busiest carrier at Orlando International Airport, said its “Fly-Fi” system launched Thursday on three planes. JetBlue said it expects to have five planes with the wi-fi service by the end of the year, and more than 140 aircraft by the end of 2014.
During the beta period rollout, JetBlue will offer free basic web browsing, called Simply Surf, on Fly-Fi equipped aircraft through June 2014. The airline will also offer a live video streaming high-bandwidth plan called Fly-Fi Plus for applications like streaming movies. It costs $9 per hour.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Calls on flights have been theoretically possible – the airline , ” we are not going to enforce”
The United States has recently looked at mobile phone calls allow the flights. Imaginative travelers may already have flights to catch to phone calls – albeit only on -line connection.
Call the proliferation of flights is still by no means clear , even if the media authority to grant the permit. U.S. airline JetBlue is considering a ban on internet phone calls , the news service Idgns says. And other airlines line is the more permissive .
However, JetBlue says that the company does not intend to control, but each case will be taken into account customers’ complaints .
” We have heard from many customers and most of them do not want to voice or video calls, flights ,” the company informed .
“So far, we do not accept customers a VoIP phone calls during a flight . ”
Technically, make VoIP calls Gogo ‘s service in an airplane through the LAN would be possible , but JetBlue has set its network blocking VoIP calls.
Airline networks it is possible to watch videos, so in theory the voice or video calls to other phones through it is possible.
Source: http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/puhelut+lennoilla+ovat+jo+teoriassa+mahdollisia++lentoyhtio+quotemme+aio+valvoaquot/a954592
Tomi Engdahl says:
British Airways now allows electronics use during takeoff and landing
http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/19/british-airways-allow-electronics-use/
Following the wave of US airlines that changed policy after the FAA reassessed the rules, British Airways is letting passengers keep their electronic devices switched on for the entirety of their flight.
According to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, there’s still no text and no calls allowed, and Brits will still be ordered to put wireless devices into flight mode, although the changes (which start today) apparently don’t include laptops. “The easing of restrictions will provide an average of 30 minutes additional personal screen time,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Snowden leak journo leaks next leak: NSA, GCHQ dying to snoop on your gadgets mid-flight
Greenwald blasts US, UK during hacker confab speech
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/12/27/greenwald_30c3/
Top-secret documents leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden have been plastered across our screens and front-pages for months by Glenn Greenwald and his team.
In a keynote speech to this year’s Chaos Communication Congress in Hamburg, Germany, Greenwald claimed NSA and GCHQ analysts are infuriated that they cannot easily track or monitor airline passengers’ smartphones and other electronic gadgets mid-flight – implying that may be about to change.
Conveniently, US comms watchdog the FCC has given a thumbs up to in-flight mobile broadband, and the European Aviation Safety Agency is relaxing its rules on the use of electronics before and during flights – in theory, granting spies a direct pathway to personal computers and handhelds tens of thousands of feet above ground.
Greenwald then turned his ire onto the NSA and GCHQ’s long-running quest for total awareness of the world’s communications networks:
One of the stories we’re working on now – I used to get in trouble at the Guardian for pre-announcing my stories, but I’m not at the Guardian so I’m just going to do it anyway – the NSA and GCHQ are being driven crazy by this idea that you can go on an airplane and use certain cellphone devices or internet services and be away from their prying eyes for a few hours at a time.
They are obsessed with finding ways to invade the systems of online, onboard internet services and mobile phone services, because the very idea that human beings can communicate even for a few moments without them being able to collect and store and analyze and monitor what it is that we’re saying is simply intolerable.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dear Mr. Wheeler: Americans pour their hearts out over in-flight cellphones
As the FCC’s official comment period begins, hundreds of people have already weighed in
http://www.itworld.com/mobile-wireless/400262/dear-mr-wheeler-americans-pour-their-hearts-out-over-flight-cellphones
Like a nearby cellphone user with an annoying way of saying, “Helllloooo!” recently confirmed FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has already hit a nerve.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s proposal to allow cellular services on airliners, advanced less than a month after Wheeler’s confirmation in late October, had drawn more than 400 brickbats from wary citizens even before the official comment period began with its publication in the Federal Register on Wednesday. Submissions that came before the comment period still count.
Unlike most FCC issues, which tend to draw highly technical and legal arguments, the in-flight cellphone concept has kindled the passions — and penmanship — of many ordinary Americans.
The FCC banned cellphones on planes in 1991 to prevent transmissions from the air from interfering with cellular networks on the ground, which weren’t designed to handle calls from planes.
What the agency is now proposing is to let passengers use their cellphones if there’s a miniature cell tower on the plane. It would be up to airlines to decide whether passengers could use their phones for voice calls or just for texting and data services.
Tomi Engdahl says:
United Airline to Intro In-Flight Movie Service Starting in April Exclusively for Apple iDevices
http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2014/03/united-airline-to-intro-in-flight-movies-starting-in-april-exclusively-for-apple-idevices.html
Starting this April, United Airlines will roll out a new personal device entertainment system onboard select aircraft for Apple’s iPhone and iPad running iOS 7 exclusively at launch time.