Ryanair - Mobile phones (MERGED)

[Self Loading Freight]

This just in:

Wednesday, 30th August 2006



"On behalf of Ryanair, I would like to extend an invitation to you to attend a Media Conference tomorrow Wednesday, 30th August 2006 at 10.00am in The City Club, London. (Venue: The City Club, 19 Old Broad Street, London EC2N LDS)

The Media Conference will be hosted by Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary and will announce details of Ryanair's new inflight mobile telephony service.

I do hope that you are able to attend or send a representative.

Kind regards.

xxxxxxx"


My predictions:

1. All calls to cost tuppence, provided they're booked online a month in advance to someone who only vaguely knows the person you really want to talk to
2. Calls made on the spot to cost twenty quid
3. Words longer than two syllables to cost 5p each extra. No sentence to be longer than five words
4. If you call someone in Paris, you'll be put through to someone in Normandy
5. Switchboard operators will only speak Basque
6. Want to buy a scratchcard?

R

[flybywire]

Hahahahahahahahaaa!!! That's funny!:E :E :E :ok:

[daz211]

thats right ryanair bring in new services for passengers
and you have to put them down for doing so
yes ryanair will make money from this but are you
so sad that you have to take the pi$$ out of all they do
maybe when you run a airline and make profits like
ryanair you can mock them but until that time
get on someone elses back:=
ryanair are not holding a gun to pax heads
saying use the phone are they its a choice
and could come in handy for some people

[Globaliser]

thats right ryanair bring in new services for passengers
and you have to put them down for doing so
yes ryanair will make money from this but are you
so sad that you have to take the pi$$ out of all they doFR does set itself up for it.

I think you have to bear in mind that any big organisation that has well-known idiosyncratic habits will get the p1ss taken. BA, VS and BAA all come in for their fair share of this, and more.

BTW, daz, do you always write in blank verse? ;)

[daz211]

yes :cool:

[EastMids]

Another reason to avoid Ryanair - having to listen to someone with an over-inflated sense of self-inportance yakking loudly into their mobile phone for most of the flight, in all probability competing for volume with the crew trying to sell duty free/scratch cards/train tickets/over-priced drinks and butties. No thank you, I hear enough of other people's mobile phones on the train - at least they have quiet coaches where those who don't want to be subjected to all that can sit.

Andy

[Slavedriver]

EastMids,
I have to agree with you on that. If an airline allows mobile phone use on their aircraft then I think that is a very good reason for me to stay well away from them. Maybe MOL will start selling earplugs too.

[daz211]

you do go over the top
many airlines have in seat phones i flew with AA
and didnt see anyone using them
I dont think that every passenger will be using
their phones maybe the odd one or two
phoning a friend to see if they left the iron on
and maybe a bussiness man giving arrival time
or something like that
but I have to say maybe text messages will be the problem
beep beep I hate that noise
maybe they should have to turn the sound off

but anyway do you realy think that BA and other
airlines wont follow ryanairs lead

guess that means you wont be flying anymore !

[Norks]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=402859&in_page_id=1770

[Red Snake]

And from the the BBC. Note Ryanair will make money from it via the roaming agreement. Unstoppable now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5298332.stm

[dwshimoda]

And from Ryanair:

RYANAIR ANNOUNCES IN FLIGHT MOBILE ACCESS FOR ALL PASSENGERS

New venture with communications pioneer OnAir will enable Ryanair’s 42M passengers to keep in touch on all flights

INFLIGHT PHONE SEAT SALE 1M SEATS - DIAL £9.99!



Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, and OnAir, the leading onboard passenger communications provider, today (30th Aug) announced a deal that will see Ryanair’s entire fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft fitted with OnAir’s onboard mobile communications solution. The announcement will make Ryanair the first European airline to offer Europe-wide mobile telephony services during flights across its entire fleet of aircraft to all passengers via their own mobile phones and smartphones.

The deal means that from mid 2007 (subject to relevant regulatory approval) Ryanair’s passengers will be able to call, text and e-mail using their mobile phones, BlackBerrys™ and Treos™ at rates which will mirror international roaming charges. OnAir intend to fit 50 Ryanair aircraft during the second half of 2007, with the remainder of the fleet receiving installations from early 2008 onwards. Mobile OnAir will be offered on all Ryanair flights across Ryanair’s network of more than 360 routes serving 23 countries across Europe. Ryanair will be the first European airline to offer this mobile telephony to all passengers on all of its 200 plus aircraft fleet.

Developed by inflight communications specialist OnAir, Mobile OnAir uses advanced lightweight onboard technology to allow passengers to make and receive calls, exchange SMS messages and connect to e-mail via satellite broadband links and a ground network to be supplied by OnAir’s telecoms infrastructure partner, Monaco Telecom.

OnAir’s solution allows mobile phone operators to charge passengers using Mobile OnAir at rates in line with current international roaming charges on passengers’ normal monthly bills. Ryanair will receive a commission from OnAir on call revenues generated by passengers on board its aircraft.

Announcing the new service initiative, Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said:

“This is another revolutionary passenger service initiative from Ryanair. In addition to offering our customers the lowest air fares and youngest fleet of aircraft, Ryanair will soon enable passengers to use their mobile phones and electronic communications devices in the air, just as they do on the ground. That means they will be able to pass on the good news to workmates, friends and family that they are travelling on another on-time flight with Europe’s most punctual airline.

“This is a win-win for Ryanair, OnAir and most importantly our customers. The revenues generated by onboard mobile telephony will reduce our costs and help us to keep offering the lowest fares in Europe while at the same time doubling the size of our operation over the next five years as we grow to carry 80M passengers annually by 2012. To celebrate this new service, we are offering 1M seats from the UK to Europe for just £9.99*. Passengers should dial up their low fare seats immediately on www.ryanair.com as fares this low will not last long”.

George Cooper, CEO of OnAir, added:

“We are delighted that Ryanair is to become the first carrier to install Mobile OnAir throughout its fleet. Not only is Ryanair one of the world’s most innovative airlines, but the deal is also a strong endorsement of the all round capability of our solution for both Boeing and Airbus aircraft”.

*taxes and charges excluded

[EastMids]

but anyway do you realy think that BA and other
airlines wont follow ryanairs lead
Ryanair's lead? Ha! Come on, the technology has been available for a while now, and I don't see any other airlines really making a go of it. The air phones were a different proposition - more complex to use because they required a credit card, expensive, and difficult for business users to expense. Ryanair are not leading with mobile phone use to be innovative, they're leading because they think they see an opportunity to make money. Don't believe anyone will use it? Well in that case why are Ryanair doing it - it isn't for passenger convenience, I assure you. Try the trains - people shouting on mobiles all the time. At least inter-city trains provide a quiet coach. I suspect Ryanair are not going to provide a quiet cabin segrated from the mobile enabled area!

guess that means you wont be flying anymore !
Not with Ryanair, that's for sure!

Andy

[Final 3 Greens]

I predict that it will consist of two beanz cans and 350km of string :}

Another reason to avoid Ryanair - having to listen to someone with an over-inflated sense of self-inportance yakking loudly into their mobile phone for most of the flight, in all probability competing for volume with the crew trying to sell duty free/scratch cards/train tickets/over-priced drinks and butties.

This is great - mega noise pollution just like being down the pub, all we need now is a few fights and it will be a great night out - perhaps they can offer a curry delivery service to meet you landside, so you can take it home in the normal manner.

[radeng]

I was told that ICAO were so concerned about air rage resulting from 'I'm in the plane' that at the recent meeting in Egypt, they were likely to recommend to authorities such as CAA not to allow it. Whether CAA (or anyone else) would listen is another matter......

[10secondsurvey]

I really must agree, with much of what has been said. The idea of sitting in a plane full of people yapping on mobiles, CUE: the Nokia tune - "I'm on the plane...(louder)..I SAID I'M ON THE PLANE, YES THE PLANE..(shouting)..P-L-A-N-E"

I actually enjoy the fact I can't be 'got' by anybody, either by E-mail or phone when I get on a flight.

I don't think it will be fun for the crew either.

[ContIgnt]

Can you imagine the increase in the number of air rage instances when this 'service' starts ?

I suppose the 'No Smoking' sign will be replaced with a 'No Phone' sign !?!?!?

[jimma]

The last thing I would want on a flight is a teenager sat next to me talking really loud into their mobile, something they are good at!

ContIgnt, you have my support for a "No-Phone" light!

[daz211]

I wonder if this thread we be so negative if
it was British Airways that was doing this
but then again they will be soon jump on
the idea as soon as they see the money
rolling in

and a point to remember its a service you dont have to use it
they wont make you call someone

its just another way of keeping the cost of flights down
you know them flights that cost £20 with tax inc

[MrBernoulli]

BA introducing stuff like this? I suppose its possible when those that worship at the shrine of the holy pound sign hear about possible profits. Long-haul B777 crews with rest seats amongst the passengers (only 16 of 43 B777s have bunks for flight deck crew) won't be impressed. I hope BALPA have got their finger on this pulse.:ugh:

[Xeque]

Guess who will not be traveling with Ryanair again?

Its bad enough - the two hour plus check in, Neanderthal man at security, the run through the rain to get on board, Neanderthal man's brother and sister (ex Majorca tour reps) as cabin crew and NOW ..... no peace during the flight with arseholes with (they think) funky ring tones loudly blathering inane banalities into their earhole extensions.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

Maybe Michael O’Leary has finally identified the level of cretin he wants as his customer. It certainly won’t be me the next time I’m visiting the UK.

Air rage - Bring it ON MOL!!!

[Tordan]

Some subway carriages here in Stockholm are, or will be, designated as mobile free zones due to plenty of complaints about having to listen to others conversations over the phone. Personally I find this ridiculous. Sure, I´d like to have a perfectly quiet ride on the bus, subway, airplane or whatever, but when I´m in a situation among other people I don´t go nuts if they talk to each other, if babies scream or couples discuss their dinner plans. Why does everbody get so pi$$ed about conversations that are taking place over a phone? Then at least you miss one half of the conversation. :}
How often do those that are miffed about some teen/salesperson talking on the phone actually ask them to please talk a bit less loudly? :cool:

The one thing I personally have against use of mobiles on an aircraft is if the safety announcements are (more) ignored or disturbed due someone talking, on the phone or to a co-traveller, period.

Oh, I´m seeing some and more ANR hearing protection for travellers, so there are solutions for those that like to listen to nothing. :)

[daz211]

I dont care what they do to keep flight costs down
and not charge me extra for fuel
they can put a slot in the lav and charge a pound
for using it as far as care

but when it comes down to it it was BA and other airlines
that took money from pax for extra fuel costs not RYR

what would you all have said if BA didnt charge for fuel
and ryanair had turned round an said we are going to
charge you on top of tax's and fee's for your fuel coz
its to much now
you would have had a field day
but guess what RYR did'nt did they

and are you telling me if RYR start making alot of money
from the mobile thing that other airlines wont look into it
lets see in a year or so who's right:hmm:

[antic81]

I just read this in the lunchtime paper myself, can't say I was overjoyed at the news.
I would hope that once this does find its way onto long haul, and make no mistake, it will find its way there pretty quickly, that some sort of restriction would be placed on the use of the service, I can just imagine how fun it would be trying to get some sleep down the back, at 2AM with some person on their phone all night and others ringing at close intervilles.

Well I guess it was only a matter of time, if not FR someone else was sure to do it sometime soon.:ugh:

[dwshimoda]

I wonder if this thread we be so negative if
it was British Airways that was doing this
but then again they will be soon jump on
the idea as soon as they see the money
rolling in

and a point to remember its a service you dont have to use it
they wont make you call someone

its just another way of keeping the cost of flights down
you know them flights that cost £20 with tax inc

It's nothing to do with which airline, it's the thought of having to listen to someone's conversation all the way through the flight. People on phones in public places have a tendency to speak quite loud. The ambient noise level inside a jet is considerable, and so these people will talk even louder than normal.

I don't want to listen to someone elses conversation whilst I'm flying thanks - I have enough of that in every day life. Without doubt, this will lead to an increase in air rage incidents.

DW.

[modtinbasher]

{quote}“This is another revolutionary passenger service initiative from Ryanair. In addition to offering our customers the lowest air fares and youngest fleet of aircraft, Ryanair will soon enable passengers to use their mobile phones and electronic communications devices in the air, just as they do on the ground. That means they will be able to pass on the good news to workmates, friends and family that they are travelling on another on-time flight with Europe’s most punctual airline.quote}

Undercover agent reveals that certain mobile suppliers are to be offering them totally free of charge but limited use of one free call only. The phone comes with its own prayer mat with a little pocket to safely hold the phone until required for use. Phone and prayer mat then self destructs (oooops)

[Self Loading Freight]

My colleague went to see O'Leary strut his stuff, and this is what he said...

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/0,39020330,39282036,00.htm

"Ryanair plans to allow passengers mobile access to voice and text communications on all of its flights from the middle of 2007.

The budget airline announced on Wednesday that it will partner with OnAir, an Airbus and Sita joint in-flight communications venture, which plans to fit the entire Ryanair fleet with technology called Mobile OnAir. Initially fifty aircraft will be equipped by mid-2007, with further installations following.

"There's clearly a trial element, but we don't have any concerns that people won't use it," said Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, at a press briefing in London. "If it doesn't work, clearly it'll come off the aircraft," O'Leary added.

Passengers will be charged to make and receive voice calls and SMS messages via satellite broadband links, and to use push email such as BlackBerry. The connection between the plane and ground is carried by satellite operator Inmarsat.

When asked about the cost of the service, Ryanair said that it would "mirror" international roaming charges, even on national flights. These roaming rates can vary wildly between operators and countries. Ryanair will charge operators a commission on call revenues..."

More on the site. Air France, BMI and TAP are also in the frame for trials next year.

R

[BaronChotzinoff]

Not only that, I daresay we'll have poseur mobile phone users pacing up and down the aisles as they talk, staring blandly through anyone whose dignity it seems attractive to filch, in true alpha male style the same way they do on Waterloo Station concourse.

[daz211]

AIR FRANCE, TAP, BMI !

10 second and the others quick open a thread and slag
off above airlines!

or you can just add then to you
" I WILL NEVER FLY THEM AGAIN" list :eek:

[aidanf]

While I'm far from delighted to hear this news, I must say that I find it rather strange to repeatedly hear cries of 'I don't want to listen to other people's conversations!!!' - does this mean that on every flight taken, everyone's been perfectly quiet ... and know conversations have taken place among fellow passengers? Come on, ambient noise level is quite high in the metal tube already, but it's not just from the engines or the air-recycling!

[BEagle]

Ryanair alone is bad enough - but Ryanair with the added joy of mobile phones?...........:eek:

[fyrefli]

So, what happens when the pico cell goes tech and all the phones on the aircraft suddenly switch to max power trying to contact the cells on the ground?

I've seen this asked on other threads but I've not seen it answered.

Cheers,

Rich.

P.S. To those asking, I believe some research was done into why people found mobile phone conversations so particularly annoying and the answer was that it was precisely because only one end of the conversation could be heard.

[10secondsurvey]

Daz,

This would put me off any airline. I fly a great deal on business, and the only respite I ever get, is when I'm on the plane. This is also true of E-mails. I know many travellers like myself, who find the one good chance they can get to clear their E-mail inbox is a long flight.

The idea of being in a plane surrounded by morons yelling on their mobile "I'm on the plane", would put me off flying with any airline.

So, get off your high horse about Ryanair, Daz, I would avoid any airline which offered this service, whether it be BA, Virgin or BMI.

But let us think about this carefully. The likes of BA, i have no doubt have already explored this, and are aware of the problems that could ensue on board, and realise it is not a good idea. Recently BA cancelled installation of the Boeing Connexion system for in-air internet access. I have no doubt this was based on customer feedback.

MOL is introducing this purely as a profit centre, not as a 'service'. I very much doubt we will see major airlines taking it on.

On a final point, I've seen you state many times that phone call revenue will produce cheaper fares. No it won't. It will keep MOL's pockets full. The same would also be true of your idea for coin slot lav's, just more profit for Ryanair. No passenger benefit whatsoever, despite what the Ryanair spin machine may be saying. Haven't you seen through the Ryanair spin yet?

[ChristiaanJ]

... conversations taking place among fellow passengers...I speak from experience in the TGV (high speed train).
Conversations between passengers are normally between people sitting next to each other. Barely intelligible in the next row, and beyond that they blend into the ambient noise level, as on aircraft (note I said conversations, not a screaming baby).
Bleating cell phones (with them funky ring tones) pierce right through the ambient noise and can be heard through most of the carriage / cabin. And I don't need to describe the habit of carrying on LOUD conversations on cellphones, even you must have experienced those. Again they tend to pierce right through the ambient noise for at least several rows.
I hope security will still allow me to take a box of those old-fashioned waxed earplugs on board. But maybe they look too much like small sticks of dynamite?

[ChristiaanJ]

So, what happens when the pico cell goes tech and all the phones on the aircraft suddenly switch to max power trying to contact the cells on the ground?
I've seen this asked on other threads but I've not seen it answered.I can think of several reasons why normally it would be a non-event. Until there is a dud one among the lot that starts spitting broadband noise and harmonics all over the place.

[FLR-PSA]

What crazy hypocrisy!

The Ryanair staff are particularly stringent on the use of mobile phones. I was once asked to turn mine off as I was sending a text whilst waiting on the aircraft steps at PSA. The hosty pointed out to me that "it may interfere with aircraft systems". Likewise on finals to Stansted last year a guy in the seat in front of me got a royal rocketing from the hosty for typing a text, again the same line was quoted: "it may interfere with aircraft systems". And they’re right, it may do just that.

But from 2007 it doesn't matter if it interferes with aircraft systems, because it will be a profitable interference.

At the very least GSM signals DO produce an awful sound in the crews headsets if transmitting on high power close to the flight deck, this could result in a missed, or worse still a misunderstood ATC transmission and for this reason alone mobile phones should not be used on board.

[inveritas]

Of course Ryanair will not use these systems if they interfere with security.

The system will have future capability to transmit acars data over GSM/GPRS links. Also SMS data systems are being adapted to carry ACARS data.

[CVTDog]

Simple questions for a newbie.
Why are mobile phones banned from being on in aircraft ?
Does "flightsafe" mode mean nothing (why call it "safe")
Does the Capt and FO know if a phone is on on theirr aircraft (I accidentally left mine on in the flight bag the other week)
How can the aircraft use "mobile phone" connections and not interfere with the a/c ?
(barbed question) why can CC used THEIR phones as we are about to land ? - witnessed twice on a FlyBe and BMI Baby flight to ALC from BHX

[10secondsurvey]

CVTDog,

I had experience last year flying with Iberia from Barcelona, and just after take off, the CC announced that they believed someone had left their mobile phone switched on, as it was interfering with cockpit instruments. They actually got everyone to check their phones were switched off, and said they may need to return to the airport if the problem was not rectified.

I'm no technical expert, but I guess they wouldn't have done that for no good reason.

I guess the OnAir system gets around that by virtue of the way it works (maybe?)

I've a feeling if you search pprune, you will probably find a technical discussion of this has probably been done to death many times.

Here is one such previous thread;

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=237110&highlight=mobile+phone+interference

[Gouabafla]

AIR FRANCE, TAP, BMI !

10 second and the others quick open a thread and slag
off above airlines!

Now, why would we do that Daz? We've got a perfectly good thread to talk about the use of mobiles here.

I've flown with Ryan Air a number of times and if they were the cheapest option to get somewhere I had to go, then I would probably still use them. However, if I had the choice of Ryan Air allowing infllight telephony and any other airline - I would choose the other, even if I had to pay a little more.

Most of my flying is with AF and I will be very disappointed if they start to allow the use of mobiles during flight. For the most part, I fly to places where there isn't much choice of airline, so I guess I'll be stuck with it. I can't say that I look forward to the idea of an eight hour flight down to Kinshasa with everyone yacking into their phones. Humph!

[manintheback]

Just a thought. A number of people have been fined/jailed for using mobiles on a plane on the grounds it was dangerous. This suggests it is not. Expect their convictions to be appealed rather soon. And on any aircraft going forward, if its safe on Ryanair, the argument must be its safe on any other plane?.

[lgw_warrior]

Xeque-"Neanderthal man's brother and sister (ex Majorca tour reps) as cabin crew" thats a little out of order dont you think,fair enough Ryanair doesnt suit you as a passenger,but to many who are looking for cheap travel it does.but to start insulting people who are just trying to do there job is a little harsh.All the Ryanair crew that i have met have been extremely nice AND profesional,in fact a lot of the crew who have come from eastern europe are extremely well qualified!so please Xeque,before you start insulting someones daughter/son/girlfriend/boyfriend/brother/sister or wife,have a think about what your saying.

lgw_warrior

[PAXboy]

ContIgntI suppose the 'No Smoking' sign will be replaced with a 'No Phone' sign !?!?!?Yes, is the answer. In (yet) another thread on mobiles a few weeks back, I posted the statement that manufacturers are doing exactly that now. FR are not the only ones to try inflight comms and some have already stopped doing Wi-Fi. The other week Boeing announced the closure of it's Connexion (spelling?) division as not enough carriers had taken it up.

[Tigger4Me]

More on the overhead 'No Mobile' sign here (http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,39020336,39280555,00.htm).

[jabird]

"Maybe MOL will start selling earplugs too."

I doubt it, not enough margins in that. I'm sure they could do a good line in noise cancelling headphones though, especially if they can be attached to mobile/mp3 players.

Presumably they will start providing in-flight charging facilities too - with guaranteed very expensive surcharges?

[Globaliser]

I wonder if this thread we be so negative if
it was British Airways that was doing thisIf you were around when one of the predecessors of this thread was up, you would have seen that - yes! - it was just as negative, for all the same reasons, when discussed in the context of the possibility of BA doing it.

[Globaliser]

A number of people have been fined/jailed for using mobiles on a plane on the grounds it was dangerous. This suggests it is not.Is it really so difficult for people to understand the safety difference between using a phone on an aircraft that's equipped with a picocell, and using a phone on an unmodified aircraft? Do people really have so little understanding of what a mobile phone does, and how it works?

[Tigger4Me]

There is one thing that I'm not sure of Globaliser. Do I take it that a mobile phone is able to adjust the output power of a signal in accordance to the proximity of the receiving station? So a closely located picocell would draw a weaker signal than a more distant cellular mast. If that is so then I didn't realise that a cell phone had that capability. That would make sense as then when on the ground it would only locate the nearest mast rather than bang out a signal at max strength only to possibly be picked up at several masts.

[Globaliser]

There is one thing that I'm not sure of Globaliser. Do I take it that a mobile phone is able to adjust the output power of a signal in accordance to the proximity of the receiving station? So a closely located picocell would draw a weaker signal than a more distant cellular mast. If that is so then I didn't realise that a cell phone had that capability. That would make sense as then when on the ground it would only locate the nearest mast rather than bang out a signal at max strength only to possibly be picked up at several masts.That's exactly it. With a picocell on board, the handset will only transmit at its minimum power, thus minimising the possibility of RF interference. It's therefore restricted to a tiny fraction of full power.

If the picocell is not there, then the handsets tend to pump out at full whack, which can be about 2W IIRC.

[ChristiaanJ]

... Do people really have so little understanding of what a mobile phone does, and how it works?Even less than that.....
About all the average person knows is that cell phones do not work everywhere. The hows and whys and wherefores are totally beyond her/him.

[slim_slag]

Go on then Globaliser, tell us how it works. What is the peak output of a mobile phone when

1) being turned on and handshaking with the network
2) being "called" by a network
3) in a call
4) being turned off and logging off the network

If on a plane either with or without a picocell. Does a mobile phone start off at max power and work down to an optimum level, or min power and work up to an optimum level?

[derekl]

Not only does the cellular base station control the power output of the phone's radio transmitter, it is also possible to trace the position of a phone.

The system knows which cell the phone is in: but it also knows which sector of the cell it is in. You'll have noticed the cells have multiple antennae pointing in specific directions -- these are sectors.

As the power setting used by the phone transmitter is set by the base (as the signal from the phone weakens, it cranks up the power), it follows that the distance from the base can be approximated. So the vector (sector) and distance (power) are known.

Add to that the fact that the phone, although only in communication with one cell, may be visible and known to others, you can triangulate the phone's position.

Such evidence has been used in court (the Soham murders, for example).

[Flybywyre]

and a point to remember its a service you dont have to use it
they wont make you call someone
Correct. But unfortunately you are going to be sitting near to some Chav / Cretin / Pykie / Wayne & Chardonay from Essex who will be using it and you will then have to put up with listening to their mindless crap.
I would pay EXTRA to be on a plane that DOES NOT allow mobile phone calls.
FBW

[Xeque]

So you would have me compare them to (say) Singapore Air or Thai Inter or even good old BA cabin crew. Or Emirates or Gulf Air or (even) Air Asia which is my local equivalent of Easyjet or Ryanair. Chalk and cheese mate - I stand by what I said.

[FLR-PSA]

That's exactly it. With a picocell on board, the handset will only transmit at its minimum power, thus minimising the possibility of RF interference. It's therefore restricted to a tiny fraction of full power.
If the picocell is not there, then the handsets tend to pump out at full whack, which can be about 2W IIRC.
Not at all true. The handset MAY transmit at its minimum power BUT only once established on the onboard PICO Cell. But it may also transmit at its full power If:
- The onboard Pico cell fails
- The onboard Pico cell is unable to offer a connection to a handset because it's full bandwidth is occupied by other handsets
- The underlying network refuses access to the handset (say because the customer is pay-as-go and not allowed to roam)
- The customer has the "manual network" search option selected which forces the handset to do a full power search for all nearby cellsites.
- Data enabled devices such as the blackberry don't transmit on GSM, they use 2.5G or GPRS which by default uses a higher transmission power to increase reliability and decrease data corruption.
- Finally, the uplink from the pico will be provided by a sat network, countless factors can affect the performance of this link too and if it fails or degrades handsets will increase their power automatically to search for an alternative cellsite.

Any and all of the above occur in ground based situations every hour of the day, so they will happen in the air too, and when 200 handsets start transmitting noise at full power the first people to hear it will be the boys on the FD, then the CC will hear it using the interphone, the pax will hear it over the PA and that’s before we start discussing the unproven allegations that they will also interfere with other, more critical aircraft systems.
FLR

[daz211]

for all the people on this thread that said they
would never travel on an airline that let pax
use mobile phones

here is another one to add to your
" I will never travel that airline " list

QANTAS

they have also announced today they are going to do it !

shame realy for all the people who have said on here they
would not use an airline if they had mobile use
soon they will have to get the bus or start walking :D

I hate to say it but i told you so !:ok:

[10secondsurvey]

Quantas are going to install it in one domestic 767 during early 2007, for a 3 month trial.

And yes, I would do my best to avoid it.

On one level it sounds really good for business travellers, as many are addicted to their blackberries, but most people I know who fly a lot on business really crave the ability NOT to be E-mailed or Phoned on the plane.

A bad idea. Let's see how the trials go..(excluding Ryanair)

[daz211]

yes lets see
before you do a total u-turn and say well your not that fussed
I mean its only been what 2 days and already we have heard
RYANAIR AIR, AIR FRANCE, BMI, TAP and QANTAS
saying the same thing and someone on here had said that
they would very much dout if major airlines would follow
ryanairs lead

[The late XV105]

Apologies if this is a duplicate of today's news that I've missed.

After all the talk and rumour in previous threads, please, Dear Lord may the price quite literally be sky high if this gets approval. Not looking forwards to "Pardon, I'm ON THE PLANE" one bit on my twice monthly flights between STN and NYO.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5298332.stm

[Gnirren]

Queue in-ear headphones and ipod.

This does not however protect you from the wonderful interruptions from passengers "Uh... are you a PILOT??". Flying home in uniform is just great ;) And the all-time fav joke, "hehe, shouldn't you be sitting in the front, hehe".

Wow, funn-y man.

[reverserunlocked]

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/4650/1144917domjoly150pase3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'M ON RYANAIR!!!!
WHAT?
NAW, IT'S CRAP!!!

[Hirsutesme]

Ryanair...for the upwardly mobile:hmm:

[Globaliser]

Discussion here (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=241457), too.

[BaronChotzinoff]

Queue in-ear headphones and ipod.
This does not however protect you from the wonderful interruptions from passengers "Uh... are you a PILOT??". Flying home in uniform is just great ;) And the all-time fav joke, "hehe, shouldn't you be sitting in the front, hehe".
Wow, funn-y man.
Yes, there's lots of situations which "celebrated wits" inevitably seize upon to crack that wholly original gag:

Holding a violin case: "Are you on the fiddle?" :ok:

Riding a unicycle: "Someone's nicked half of your bike!" :D

Taking an empty pushchair somewhere, or cycling to school with your kid's bike fixed to yours to pick them up: "'Scuse me, I think your littl'un's fell off/out!" :ugh:

I sympathise!

[essexboy]

I understand that one of the engineers that designed the system is now a Ryanair Captain. At least he will know which CB to pull.:ok:

[10secondsurvey]

Daz


I'm not about to do a U-turn. When I say let's see how the trials go, I fully expect very few airlines to adopt this. On paper it sounds really good, but when you think through the reality involved for both pax and crew, it is truly a nightmare scenario.

I said Ryanair excepted, as I fully expect them to implement this if it is profitable. Customer service will not come into the decision making process for Ryanair.

And yes, I would do my very best to avoid aircraft with this on board.