News : Airlines cleared for mobile phone use during flights.

[Anonymous]

Headline: Airlines cleared for mobile phone use during flights.

Excerpt from the link :

"The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) says electronic devices such as mobile phones can be left switched on during flights.

EASA says that electronic devices do not pose a safety risk.

The announcement clears the way for airlines to permit the use of mobile phones, once they have conducted their own safety reviews.

Currently airline passengers have to switch devices to flight mode and make calls from the airport terminal."

"The agency said each airline would still have to go through an assessment process, ensuring aircraft systems are not affected by the signals from portable electronic devices before establishing their own rules for their operation.

As a result there could be a delay in implementing the new rules at some airlines.

It also says that airlines may opt for different policies on the use of mobile devices."

My thoughts :

I remember some chat about this a few months ago and now with this news it looks like the green light has been given. 

Source : BBC News.

Read more here : Airlines cleared for mobile phone use during flights

[gemz4the1]

I'm still a bit confused with this.

I don't see the urgency in using your mobile phone whilst you are flying.

It is impossible to tell if it will ever be completely safe to use it anyway.

I'd rather be safe that sorry so I can wait until I land to use my phone.

[Anonymous]

Interesting @Anonymous I wonder what O2 signal strength will be like at 38000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean?

Gerry

[Bambino]

It won't be O2 at 38,000 ft. @Anonymous If you want a bit of sticker shock, these are the current tariffs on, for example, Virgin in-flight costs at the moment: 

http://help.virginmedia.com/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1003&PARTITION_ID=1&secureFlag=false&CMD=VIEW_ARTICLE&ARTICLE_ID=33034&TOPIC_ID=2065

I expect this will change over time as as all the airlines adopt the use of in-flight calls, and to confuse matters even more, this link contradicts the other I posted:

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/the-virgin-experience/in-flight-connectivity/mobile-phones.html

And here's another related article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10630975/Which-airlines-allow-in-flight-mobile-use.html

[Cleoriff]

In that case @Bambino ...my phone will remain off....and in my bag..

Q: Are these rates covered by the EU roaming regulation caps?
A: No, these rates aren’t covered by these regulations.

Yes...I think we can see that!

EDIT...these comments above are related to the first Virgin link

[Bambino]

They're also not going to be able to introduce 'quiet cabins' like they have 'quiet cars' on trains, so you're bound to get a Dom Jolly on the flight shouting down the phone when the connection goes bad. Personally, I would like to see internet access so you can surf the web and send emails, but phone calls? No. I wouldn't want anyone listening in on my phone conversation, nor me theirs.

[gemz4the1]

I agree @Bambino - I would rather have cheaper internet. 

[Anonymous]

@Bambino Thanks for those useful links. To be honest I don't know why I am worried as the likelihood of my needing to use a mobile phone in mid-air is virtually zero.
Gerry

[Cleoriff]

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@Bambino wrote:

They're also not going to be able to introduce 'quiet cabins' like they have 'quiet cars' on trains, so you're bound to get a Dom Jolly on the flight shouting down the phone when the connection goes bad. Personally, I would like to see internet access so you can surf the web and send emails, but phone calls? No. I wouldn't want anyone listening in on my phone conversation, nor me theirs.

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Oh I agree with this totally...an absolute hatred of mine when having to listen to folk shouting into their mobiles when I am quietly going about my business.....

Sometimes I think they are trying to prove to everyone what busy, exciting and dynamic lives they lead

[Beenherebefore]

The one annoyance is that most, if not all, people talk much louder on a mobile phone than when they use a landline phone.....why is that ?