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Hello, can you hear me? I'm on the plane

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Published Date: 22 March 2008
By ALASTAIR DALTON
TRANSPORT CORRESPONDENT
JUST when you thought air travel could not get any worse, the moment has finally arrived when passengers can make in-flight calls on their mobile phones.
After a series of unfulfilled aviation industry claims about its imminent introduction, passengers aboard an Emirates aircraft have become the first to speak to people on the ground using their personal handsets.

Already-hassled travellers might balk at the prospect, but manufacturers predict it will soon become an everyday part of air travel.

The milestone took place at 30,000ft during flight EK751 between Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Casablanca in Morocco on Thursday.

It happened on a specially equipped Airbus A340-300 – with Emirates just beating rivals Air France to the feat.

The French flag-carrier plans to follow suit by June after launching text-only mobile phone trials in December – nine months later than planned.

Ryanair has delayed such a promised move until summer. Qantas passengers are also able to send and receive text messages, with Bmi and Portuguese airline TAP expected to start trials by June.

Emirates, whose network includes daily Glasgow-Dubai flights, plans to spend £14 million on equipping its fleet to enable in-flight calls.

This ensures passengers' phones operate at minimum transmitting power so they do not interfere with aircraft equipment.

However, introduction of the system has been delayed by the need for approval from telecommunications regulators in each country an aircraft flies over. Ofcom in Britain is still considering the issue.

The system would be switched off during take-off and landing to prevent possible interference with mobile networks on the ground.

Emirates said the system would be activated once the aircraft reached 20,000ft, with crew announcing mobile phones could be switched on. Passengers would receive a text message telling them to switch their phones to silent mode to avoid disturbing others.

The airline said staff would have full control over the system to prevent calls during night flights, and only six calls could be made at the same time.

The airline said charges would be in line with "premium international roaming rates".

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, the chairman and chief executive of Emirates, said: "We are delighted to now offer (passengers] the choice of using their own mobile phones to contact friends, family or colleagues while flying with us."

Bjorn-Taale Sandberg, the chief executive of AeroMobile, which is providing the equipment, said: "We are delighted to join Emirates in delivering a genuine world first."


Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 21 March 2008 9:27 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Evia,

22/03/2008 00:44:43
God help us. Is there nowhere we can escape the things. There is nothing worse than having your ears subjected to loud, dull conversations.

I never use my mobile for social calls - it should be my slave, not my master. If people want to use their mobiles on trains, plane, buses etc there should be a special sound-proof compartment.
2

Continental,

22/03/2008 01:19:16
I can't imagine anything worse on long haul flight than listening to innane cell phone chat or the endless clicking of texting. On board a flight was one of the few places we could escape from it...no longer.
3

Jason,

Japan 22/03/2008 01:19:29
So them calls on 9-11...
4

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 22/03/2008 01:38:20
1 Evia, we meet again!

"GOD" being your 'key word'!

Get what I am getting at,?

NO,?

Let me explain!

Somewhere in the 'BIBLE' it is said,

"Every Man will have a number printed on their Head"

Get it,?

This prediction has come TRUE!

YES! your mobile Number!

How 'Freaky' is that,?

Better Start Believing, 'HUH'!!

Anyone clarify where this is in our Bible,?

It was my 'Sunday School' Stuff, to which I was sent to, but how can I remember now,?
5

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 22/03/2008 01:41:14
And all this on Easter Weekend!
6

GalacticCannibal,

Murrieta, CA........Hillary for Pres....Barack Hus 22/03/2008 03:02:08
4
Charles Linskaill,
Edinburgh
--------------------------------
Hey Dude
Sounds like U live in a world of Magic . But I would defend to the death you right to do that.

GC
7

GalacticCannibal,

Murrieta 22/03/2008 03:07:38
1
Evia,
22/03/2008 ------------------

Hey Dude ,
I don't know what U mean.
But here in the States once the plane reaches a flight level of 10,000 feet, the Captain gives all passengers the go ahead, to use their cell phones.

Explain Ur problem with that.

GC

8

Is it only me?,

Azerbaijan (for now) 22/03/2008 04:12:14
As a Skywards Gold frequent flyer doing regular trips from Dubai to Perth and Glasgow, this is my worst nightmare.
9

,

22/03/2008 05:39:14
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
10

Sinead,

Tanunda 22/03/2008 05:53:05
Hi! its me I'm in the supermarket, guess what, milk has gone up 10c litre!First the muzak and now these dimwitted mobile users, mindless talk!!
11

muffin,

livingston 22/03/2008 07:20:49
''only six calls could be made at the same time.''
''Passengers would receive a text message telling them to switch their phones to silent mode''
''prevent calls during night flights''
Tell me - who is going to regulate all these conditions? The stewardesses? You're having a laugh. Can you imagine 6 or even 8 stewardesses trying to control 200+ passengers who all want to use their phones at the same time, with half of these forgetting or not even bothering to switch to silent mode. Take into account the fact that on European trips to the Med where at least half the passengers will have taken alcohol, the only outcome will be arguments and chaos all the way to Majorca or wherever.
Ban phones from all flights - end of story.
12

,

22/03/2008 07:42:25
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
13

donald,

glasgow 22/03/2008 07:58:27
'Allo? Consume the evidence. Swally yer miniatures when approaching Embra & Loathing customs.
14

Gdgy,

dudny 22/03/2008 08:19:16
Oh sh*t - more inane prattle!

Even now, when the plane stops taxiing you can hear teh mobs being put on all through the plane and for what purpose - so that people can tell people who dont' need to know unimportant inaccurate info about their ETA or what food they had on board...

The ones with the hands free are the best - ask them if they all right when they wander around apparently tlaking to themselves - it winds them right up!
15

Jock ex 45Cdo RM,

THORNHILL 22/03/2008 08:41:42
We fly to Dubai then Jo'burg tomorrow. Last time with
U A Emirates!!
16

Political Exile,

SW France 22/03/2008 08:55:00
Worry not fellow posters!

There will be an initial "I'm on the plane' surge that will soon be followed by a drop in use as the consumers get their first 'AeroMobile' charges in the other operators section of their invoice. I, like many other international travellers, have suffered from the "premium international roaming rates" for years.
17

tamasha,

Blairgowrie 22/03/2008 08:56:31
Re 16.

Totally agree with you Jock. A pity as it's a great airline to fly with, but not now!!!
18

Buckfastleigh,

Buckfast in Glorious Devon - no snow today! 22/03/2008 09:25:19
So how do we prevent crazed zealots from activating their electronic devices on aircraft at high altitude? I just hope someone has thought of this! l'll continue to look up hoping nothing will fall out of the sky, sipping my lovely tonic wine and sleep it all off.
19

Buckfastleigh,

the Abbey 22/03/2008 09:29:56
Why not take your girlfriend on a flight of fancy and just leave your mobile toy behind? I would certainly be cheaper than the additional fare.

Otherwise I'd prefer to talk to myself thanks, without the need of my premium rate electronic tag.
20

Griffe,

22/03/2008 10:50:56
Who are all these sad people? How can they afford to be permanently on the phone? Company mobile phones? When will someone come up with the technology to enable them to make & receive calls when they are asleep?
21

Loki - The Scourge of the Schemies,

EH1 22/03/2008 11:25:23
I have had my own solution to the problem of mobile telephones. It is a small electronic wonder box purchased for a few dollars in Hong Kong some 7 or 8 years ago and which terminates all mobile 'phone connections within a fairly short range. It provides me with no end of amusement. I understand that modern 'zappers'look identical to some of the latest handsets.
22

Geraldine Firequeen,

Nelson 22/03/2008 11:29:51
What's to stop a 'detonate that bomb now' call? I don't understand it, and am shocked at Ryanair. Those of us who are nervous about flying have yet another thing to worry about.
23

Loki - The Scourge of the Schemies,

EH1 22/03/2008 11:35:48
#21 Griffe
Who are all these sad people?

They are often people seeking to cast an aura of importance to cover their own inadequacies and wretched lifestyles.
I do not own such a device but, from an early time, realised that just about everyone would eventually be frequently howling into these appalling devices as technology drove handset prices down. I therefore invested fairly heavily in the service providers and am, as they say, laughing all the way to the bank. Each new 'bolt-on' is more music to my ears.
24

JT,

22/03/2008 11:58:43
OMG! this is really a scary thought, its bad enough when you have a screaming brat on board (even on a domestic flight) but to have the wittering masses "Im on the plane!". This is a big mistake as the airlines will suffer from more air rage incidents and who could blame them. The only good thing that will come of that will be when these morons get their bills after their two weeks in the sun hee hee!
25

Horrible Cankers at the Cyber Shebeen,

22/03/2008 12:10:51
Strewth....being a non driver all I hear is "Aye..ahm oan the bus"...or "ahm oan the train"...or "Ahm still oan the bus".."Still oan the train"....now it'l be..
"Aye..ahm oan the plane".."ahm still oan the plane"...

Thankfully I dont fly either.. too paranoid to sit next to people waving mobile phones in the air...
26

Paul S.,

Mauricetown, NJ, USA 22/03/2008 13:20:40
#11

"Only Americans will take this for granted."

A stupid generalization. I'm an American and I consider public cell phone conversations to be an invasion of my right to privacy. I never use mine in public, or even take it with me into a public location.

And I am not the only person to be like that. Far from it.

There are even laws over here about cell phones. You can be arrested for driving while talking on one. In some locations like New York and other cities you can be arrested if you use it either sendng or receiving in a theatre. I've heard cell phone users on both trains and buses "shushed" at by other riders.

In actual fact, most consider public cell phone conversations to be the height of social arrogance.

Please, don't simply spout something off the top of your head about Americans — or anybody. It's just too easy to then not be taken seriously by people with more experience.
27

Liz Edmond,

Dunbar 22/03/2008 13:44:36
Don't know what the problem is with Emirates allowing the use of cell phones as they already have satellite phones for every passenger to chat to whoever they want!
28

Buckfastleigh,

sitting outside in the sunshine 22/03/2008 13:58:23
Yes you guessed it. No mobile phone is best but otherwise have it permanently switched off BUT, if you must, do consult it every 6 hours or so privily (unless you are expecting a baby or other urgent call).

The days when I heard on the Leeds to Edininburg train some loudmouthed Englishman ostentatiously telling his wife he would be late and then immediately after reassuring his love that he would join her at Durham for the business have long gone. I kid you not, this dialogue went on back and forth for 25 minutes!

Every poser apart, the American knows the beauty of silence and phylosophical concentration.

Why let the pilot and everyone else on the plane know your business defies belief. Perhaps your location matters to someone of a more sinister nature.
29

Bluevoice,

Dubai 22/03/2008 14:01:02
Fly Emirates!
30

Graeme,

Guangzou 22/03/2008 14:25:58
What’s wrong with all you people above this post? Why do you think the airlines are doing this? Cash and a lot of it. Business people will move in droves to the airlines that provide this service. Like most in this region I travel tens of thousands of miles a year. The first airline that does this has my allegiance. We are not all on holiday you know!
31

belzebub,

edinburgh 22/03/2008 15:10:39
So what is the story behind all these gung ho calls from the hijacked planes on 9/11 ?

Informed people said at the time that these calls were not possible so how were they made if the planes at that time were not rigged up with this new equipment ?

If the American government faked these calls to feed their political agenda who is to say what else they faked on that day allong with the dire warning of weapons of mass imagination.
32

archie23,

london 22/03/2008 15:17:06
What are mobile phones ? Using a Philips Dictaphone 328k I still dictate my messages to my secretary who rather kindly relays them for me. She is well rewarded for her efforts and has managed to keep my clients onside.
33

scotsman102,

Spring TX 22/03/2008 15:22:30
#7 - You cannot use your cell phone in the US once the cabin door is closed. At 10,000 feet, you are permitted to use other electronics i.e. I-Pod, Laptop etc.
34

luigi oregano,

the wild west 22/03/2008 16:35:29
Roger Waters is right about the alien anthropologists.
35

cmw,

22/03/2008 16:43:11
Great.. No escape from them now..
Plus I reckon people will probably see it as a novelty to use them when up in the air I can see (or) hear it now.. 'HELLO I AM ON THE PLANE..
YES ON THE PLANE... UP IN THE AIR...
WHAT? YES I AM UP IN THE AIR... I CAN SEE LOTS OF CLOUDS AND BLUE SKY'
:-|
Will have to do my stare if they do that..
36

Evia,

22/03/2008 17:25:20
3 Jason

Come up with something sensible next time. 9-11 was a totally different situation.

4 Charles Linskaill

I don't remember reading that particular bit in the Bible but I guess I can figure out what you mean. I've seen so many people with their mobiles almost permanently glued to their ears, which are permanently attached to their heads,hence the number on their heads.

7 GalacticCannibal

I thought the problem was quite obvious. Having my ear drums constantly assaulted by stupid, loud conversations is most unpleasant. I don't subject others to this and expect the same courtesy from them.

25 JT Your first sentence is spot on. We do have enough to contend with when there are screaming brats on the plane. Fortunately I have occasionally been on a flight where there were some very well-behaved children but these flight have been too few.

My mobile is usually switched off but I frequently check for urgent message. Very few people have my number and things will stay that way.

I have a call blocker attached to my home phone and only wanted calls come through. Life can be bliss when one isn't a slave of the phone.
37

Loki - The Scourge of the Schemies,

EH1 22/03/2008 18:57:49
#36 Roger is right on EVERYTHING!
38

Loki - The Scourge of the Schemies,

22/03/2008 18:59:19
#32 The first airline that does this has my allegiance.

Then you should hope we are not on the same flights. I have the technology!
39

Agent 99,

22/03/2008 21:45:51
[36] Luigi: Brilliant. Spot on.
40

GalacticCannibal,

Murrieta, CA....Bye Bye Bush -Cheney..u. evil lead 22/03/2008 22:02:24
Hey Dudes ,

I was wrong about the use of cell phone once the plane takes off.

#7
GalacticCannibal,
Murrieta
---------------------------------------------------

The Dude on #35 is CORRECT
#35
scotsman102,
Spring TX.

I ain't the POPE U know infallible !!!

GC
41

Kitti Kat,

22/03/2008 23:48:15
agree with nox. 1 & 2. Yes, it is permitted to use the cell phones on planes here but I wish someone would ban them on planes. I had to endure a long winded man yakking on his phone during a flight and would have given anything to shove that phone down his throat. Everyone around him heard his conversation . Even though the flight attendant asked him to lower his voice, it did no good. C3ell phones have theri place but should not be used when other people might be attempting to nap or just plain relax during a flight.
42

Rabhairt,

Cannons Creek Australia 23/03/2008 03:49:21
Number 4 Charles, that is in the Book Of Revelations and goes something like this...THA DAY SHALL COME WHEN MANKIND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BUY,SELL OR CONDUCT BUSINESS WITHOUT THE SIGN OF THE BEAST ON HIS FOREHEAD OR HAND. thw way a lot of people see this is that the BAR CODE is what it means, already in Japan a chip has been developed that holds all your personal information, drivers license, passport, credit cards etc etc and can be placd under the skin. SWIPE YOUR CARD SIR ?????????????????? WOUDN'T IT BE FUNNY IF SOMEBODY SLAPPED YOUR FACE AND PUT A HUNDRED QUID IN YOUR BANK.
43

Andean Bogtrotter,

Elgin 23/03/2008 11:56:40
Why don't airlines do like the TGV does in France and have a special compartment where people can use their phones away from the rest of the partners? Either that on introduce a premiun Cellphone Class (Between Business and Steerage) where those who wish to be able to use cellphones can pay extra for the priviledge.
44

Shandog,

wishing I were in Scotland 23/03/2008 17:04:11
Charles said:
Somewhere in the 'BIBLE' it is said,

"Every Man will have a number printed on their Head"

Get it,?

This prediction has come TRUE!

YES! your mobile Number!

How 'Freaky' is that,?

Better Start Believing, 'HUH'!!

Anyone clarify where this is in our Bible,?

It was my 'Sunday School' Stuff, to which I was sent to, but how can I remember now,?

It is in Revelations chapter 13 verses 15-18
"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or IN their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Personally, until they have proven it doesn't cause brain tumors (it uses the same frequency as a microwave oven)I won't use one. Not to mention, it is just plain rude!
45

sheri,

usa 23/03/2008 17:44:27
that has got to be the dumbest thing i have ever heard. people can now use cell phones but not computers.. hmmm...
46

why can't I use my own name???,

musselburgh 24/03/2008 08:32:37
Loki post #22

WHERE can I get one of those gadgets, without going to HK? The plebs on LRT buses and the suits on the east lothian rail line to Edinburgh do my box in with their drivel! Post a link where to get these things! I want one!!!
47

Paul Carline,

Scotland 24/03/2008 09:07:07
re #38

how was it "totally different" on 9/11? It was claimed that several passengers on Flight 93 made calls using their mobile phones. In fact, it was these alleged calls which were supposed to prove that the planes had been hijacked by Islamic terrorists.

We have known for some time that the calls were faked. This "world first" technology in 2008 just proves it.

And just for the record: Ted Olson - whose wife Barbara supposedly made a long cellphone call to her husband - recently admitted that he'd lied. There was no call.

Just one of the thousands of lies we've been told about 9/11.

48

Buckfastleigh,

up in the air 26/03/2008 07:42:56
What next? Airline personal massage?

Trust Virgin they are bound to market that and a mobile blow by blow TV reality show to put Big Brovver in da shade.

Sorry I meant Airline personal Message.

 

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