Post by corsair67 on Nov 10, 2006 14:41:34 GMT 12
For the sake of humanity, I hope this trial is not a success. 
From the Adelaide Advertiser.
Qantas ends flight ban on phones
Stuart Innes
November 10, 2006 01:15am.
QANTAS will let passengers use mobile phones in the air but only if it is sure the chat and chimes will not drive others to another airline
South Australian flights next year will be part of a trial to test if passengers want to make and receive calls, emails and text messages - or if they would just like some peace and quiet.
Qantas customer product and services group general manager Lesley Grant said yesterday the three-month trial of an end to one of modern flying's great taboos would be on a Boeing 767 on domestic routes.
"Qantas will be one of the first airlines in the world to offer this service," she said, noting increasing customer demand to use phones with the help of new technology that shields delicate aircraft electronics from phone interference and connects mobile handsets to a digital network via satellite.
She said the evaluation would include "the protocol concerning use of mobile phones in flight".
Use of the linking system is likely to cost passengers but charges are not finalised.
International airline Emirates will offer in-flight mobile phone calls on its fleet from January but the catch will be a call cost of about $5 a minute. Emirates' passengers will be asked to switch phones to silent or vibrate to avoid annoying others.
The airline's technology can block voice calls but allow text messaging while passengers sleep during overnight flights.
Singapore Airlines is considering introducing such services but state manager Matt Raos said his company was not sure it would be popular.
"We need to be sure about the social implications," he said. "When people get on the plane, it is one of the last bastions of being free of mobile phones."
Virgin Blue spokeswoman Amanda Bolger said the airline had no immediate plan for mobile phone services but would consider the option.
From the Adelaide Advertiser.
Qantas ends flight ban on phones
Stuart Innes
November 10, 2006 01:15am.
QANTAS will let passengers use mobile phones in the air but only if it is sure the chat and chimes will not drive others to another airline
South Australian flights next year will be part of a trial to test if passengers want to make and receive calls, emails and text messages - or if they would just like some peace and quiet.
Qantas customer product and services group general manager Lesley Grant said yesterday the three-month trial of an end to one of modern flying's great taboos would be on a Boeing 767 on domestic routes.
"Qantas will be one of the first airlines in the world to offer this service," she said, noting increasing customer demand to use phones with the help of new technology that shields delicate aircraft electronics from phone interference and connects mobile handsets to a digital network via satellite.
She said the evaluation would include "the protocol concerning use of mobile phones in flight".
Use of the linking system is likely to cost passengers but charges are not finalised.
International airline Emirates will offer in-flight mobile phone calls on its fleet from January but the catch will be a call cost of about $5 a minute. Emirates' passengers will be asked to switch phones to silent or vibrate to avoid annoying others.
The airline's technology can block voice calls but allow text messaging while passengers sleep during overnight flights.
Singapore Airlines is considering introducing such services but state manager Matt Raos said his company was not sure it would be popular.
"We need to be sure about the social implications," he said. "When people get on the plane, it is one of the last bastions of being free of mobile phones."
Virgin Blue spokeswoman Amanda Bolger said the airline had no immediate plan for mobile phone services but would consider the option.
