After the Mexican government lifted a ban on using cellphones on board flights last month, Mexico's largest airline, Aeromexico, said it will let passengers make calls on all its planes.The eight year ban was quashed after the Mexican Communications and Transport Secretariat discussed the topic with engineers, pilots, safety consultants, passengers and flight crews.
The result: Mexico is now setting global standards for the use of cellphones in aeroplanes.
For safety reasons, Aeromexico said their flight crew can halt calls if necessary and cellphones will connect to their own special onboard network, thus not interfering with pilot communication.
There are suggestions that British Airways could follow suit with a trial of voice calls using the OnAir mobile communication system installed on its transatlantic Airbus A318s.
And there is also interest from budget airlines like Europe's Ryanair, who have said they are good to go, and giants like the Dubai-based Emirates airline are already allowing cellular phone calls.
It may only be a matter of time before using a cellphone on a plane is as common as using one on any other form of transport. Maybe wifi for your laptop will be next too? Wifly?!
1 comments:
So now we have to put up with mindless phone calls (usually in loud voices)on flights. I guess trying to sleep will be useless! There should be some places where you can be phone-free and this should be one of them!
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