Malaysia Airlines to allow cell phones on flights

[Coventina]

Source: International Herald-Tribune

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia Airlines on Tuesday unveiled a new service allowing passengers to make and receive calls on their mobile phones while in air on some routes.

Passengers can also send and receive text messages, and use their Blackberry-type devices to send and receive e-mails, Malaysia Airlines, or MAS, said in a statement.

It said the airline teamed up with AeroMobile, a British company, to become the first Asian carrier to offer in-flight mobile phone and data services via satellite with passengers using their own equipment.

Customers can now safely use their mobile phone or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) during the flight without affecting the aircraft systems and ground telecommunication networks, the statement said.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/04/business/AS-Malaysia-Phones-in-Flights.php

---

And so begins the added air-travel horror of being next to someone arguing with their ex about child custody for hours on end....

I hope I never have to get on a plane again. As much as I want to see more of the world, it just doesn't seem worth it anymore.

[David__77]

1. How does that work? Cell towers are still in range?

Weird.

[Coventina]

2. Per the article, a British company is providing satellite service. eom

[TomInTib]

3. They must have some hellacious towers.

I have three cell phones, and I cannot get a signal at 30,000 feet. I always give it a try, just out of curiosity.

[question everything]

4. Skip that airline

that is, if I ever need to fly to Malaysia. I cannot imagine having non stop chatter during a - what, 20 hours - flight.

Earlier this year we flew from California to Minnesota. It was around 5:00 pm and I observed how quiet and pleasant the flight was. Perhaps because the end of the day, many were relaxed and formed conversations with their neighbors, but all in subdued tones. And I remember thinking then how different it would have been had cell phones were allowed.

I know that the FAA voted against it but we need to stay diligent.