| In early 2007, OnAir will arrive. OnAir is | | | | importantbusiness call and end up talking |
| aservice that uses satellite technology to | | | | longer than they expected. Or, a mom who |
| enable air travel passengers to use | | | | justwants to check on her children for a |
| wirelessdevices such as mobile phones, | | | | minute will end up having to chat witheach |
| Internet connections from computers | | | | one of them before she can hang up. |
| andBlackberries during a flight. The debate | | | | |
| over the use of wireless technologyduring | | | | It's no wonder that air travel passengers |
| flight has been going on for years, and now | | | | areconcerned that the use of mobile phones |
| that it's about to happen,the debate is | | | | will become an annoyance duringflights. They |
| likely to heat up. First of all, you should | | | | already are an annoyance down on the ground. |
| know that the first waveof this will not be | | | | Another concern someair travelers have will |
| happening on US flights. Airbus, the plane | | | | be the tension that all of this annoyance |
| manufacturer whois creating this technology, | | | | will create,perhaps making already jittery |
| is selling it to AirFrance. AirFrance is | | | | flyers more frustrated and pushing them over |
| expectedto have the service available to | | | | theedge. |
| passengers in early 2007. Whether | | | | |
| passengerswill have to pay for the service | | | | Some people are already nervous just about |
| like they pay for headphones for a movie | | | | flying.Add a cramped, overcrowded plane to |
| isnot known yet. Two other airlines, the | | | | the mix, the constant threat of terrorism,the |
| British airline bmi and TAP Air Portugal | | | | restrictions on what can be carried on, and |
| areboth considering using OnAir, but nothing | | | | now the addition of aninconsiderate mobile |
| has been finalized, yet. | | | | phone user sitting right next to that nervous |
| | | | flyer, andsomeone might just snap. |
| So what is the debate all about? Who wouldn't | | | | |
| wantthe convenience of using their cell phone | | | | What about Internet connection? |
| during a long flight, gettingimportant | | | | |
| e-mails on their Blackberry or having the | | | | Travelers aren't as adamantly against the use |
| luxury of surfing theInternet to pass the | | | | ofInternet connections for computers and |
| time? Apparently, lots of people and for some | | | | pda's such as Blackberrys. Those devicesare |
| very validreasons. | | | | quiet. Many passengers already use their |
| | | | laptop computers on a flight; it'sjust not |
| The Safety Consideration | | | | connected to the Internet when they use it. |
| | | | Being able to send andreceive e-mail messages |
| There has been an ongoing concern that the | | | | while on a flight could be convenient to most |
| use ofmobile phones (cell phones to us | | | | people,particularly business travelers. There |
| Americans) and other devices that use | | | | doesn't seem to be much of a debate overthese |
| wirelesstechnology could interfere with the | | | | devices as long as safety is not a concern. |
| plane's navigational equipment. | | | | |
| Recenttechnological advances in both | | | | What Can be Done? |
| navigational equipment and cell phone | | | | |
| technologyseem to negate this concern, but | | | | When should you start being concerned with |
| not everyone is convinced. There is | | | | thisissue? As of right now, US carriers don't |
| concernthat the navigational equipment on | | | | seem to be considering using OnAir orany |
| older planes may still be affected.The | | | | service like it. A report on MSN Travel said |
| MobilePhone Debate | | | | that the airlines that theyasked - AirTran, |
| | | | Spirit, and US Airways - all said that they |
| Okay, suppose the safety issue is taken care | | | | have heard theirpassengers say they don't |
| of andthere is no concern that wireless | | | | want mobile phones used on planes and are |
| communications technology will interfere | | | | againstadding the services. However, the |
| withthe plane's navigational equipment. What | | | | question is, if these services do catch on |
| objection is there to the use ofmobile | | | | inEurope and prove to be a money maker for |
| phone's during a flight? | | | | the carriers who use it, will the UScarriers |
| | | | jump on board? In an era of shrinking |
| Surveys have shown that the majority of | | | | profits, will they be able toresist? |
| airtravelers are against the use of mobile | | | | |
| phones on an airplane because it wouldbe | | | | So if the trial that AirFrance is giving |
| downright annoying to sit next to someone who | | | | OnAirproves to be successful and the |
| is receiving and making phonecalls for hours | | | | UScarriers jump on board, what can be done to |
| on a flight. They imagine being stuck between | | | | make sure that mobile phone usagedoes not |
| two incessanttalkers. | | | | become a problem on board? |
| | | | |
| Common sense would seem to tell you that | | | | One solution is to have no cell phone usage |
| peoplewouldn't really be so inconsiderate as | | | | times.Perhaps next to the little light above |
| to have hour's long conversations ontheir | | | | your seat that lets you know if you needto |
| mobile phone during a flight. But experience | | | | have your seat belt fastened or not, there |
| has shown us when it comesto mobile phones, | | | | could be another light that letsyou know if |
| most people loose their common sense. People | | | | it's the proper time to use your cell phone |
| will hold loudpersonal conversations in | | | | or not. Cell phone timecould be restricted on |
| restaurants and grocery stores and on buses. | | | | long flights and on flights that are |
| Theywill drive using a handheld mobile phone | | | | overnight when mostpeople would want to |
| even states where it has been madeillegal. So | | | | sleep. |
| does anyone really believe that people will | | | | |
| use common sense andconsideration during air | | | | Another solution is to give the crew the |
| travel? Not really. | | | | ability todisable the voice function on |
| | | | devices during restricted times. During |
| It's easy to see the scenario. Business | | | | thosetimes text messaging and e-mailing would |
| people whointend to be considerate will | | | | be allowed, but talking would bedisabled. |
| receive what they deem to be a very | | | | |