"Can You Hear Me Now?" Alas, Yes...
On the list of "Lamentable Firsts In Commercial Aviation
History," this one is definitely in the Top 20. Emirates announced
this week it is the first airline in the world to commercially
launch an inflight mobile telephone service... a move the carrier
says affords even greater convenience to passengers wishing to stay
connected while traveling.
The first authorized mobile phone call made from a commercial
flight was made Thursday at 30,000 feet en route to Casablanca,
onboard an Emirates Airbus A340-300 aircraft -- the first in the
airline’s fleet to be equipped with the AeroMobile
system.
The airline will be investing some $27 million to fit its fleet
with the AeroMobile system, which ensures that passenger mobile
phones operate at their absolute minimum power, thereby allowing
their safe use on the aircraft. A second Emirates aircraft, a
Boeing 777-300, has already been installed with the AeroMobile
system and will be in operation very shortly.
"All seats across our fleet are already equipped with in-seat
phones, as well as email and text messaging capabilities via the
in-seat entertainment system," said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed
Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and
Group. "As the world leader in innovation for our customers, we are
delighted to now offer them the choice of using their own mobile
phones to contact friends, family or colleagues while flying with
us.
"Our customers are already making more than 7,000 calls a month
from our in-seat phones, so we will be making life easier for those
for whom staying in touch has become an important part of their
everyday lives," Al-Maktoum added.
While
the new service will no doubt prove to be a boon for business
travelers, Emirates had less to say about how other passengers may
look upon the added noise from people talking loudly on their cell
phones while onboard a crowded airliner... a scenario that sends
shivers down the spines of many travelers, and that has kept cell phones off US
airliners for the foreseeable future.
Emirates did note the service will only be activated when the
aircraft is at cruising altitude, and the cabin crew will have full
control over the system -- including the ability to prevent voice
calls at certain times such as during night flights.
The number of calls that may be made at any one time is also
limited to a maximum of five or six calls, the same number as for
the current in-seat phones used regularly by Emirates’
passengers. In addition to calls, the service will also allow
passengers to send and receive text messages, with charges in line
with premium international roaming rates. Users will be billed on
their regular phone bills by their own service providers as with
any other roaming call.
Over the past 18 months, Emirates and AeroMobile have worked
closely with regulators and telecommunications providers across the
globe, fully completing rigorous testing and certification
processes.
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