Airline Inflight WiFi

[Roller Merlin]

Inflight Wi-Fi: is Australia falling behind in air comms? (http://apcmag.com/inflight-wi-fi-is-australia-falling-behind-in-air-comms.htm)

You have to ask, why are the major airlines of the world moving on this, whilst here is has not even been discussed?

[Jay & Silent Bob]

When was the last time Qantas did anything to improve their product which wasn’t forced on them by competitors?

[industry insider]

I used the in flight wifi on a flight in the USA recently (JFK-SFO) it was brilliant, 6 hours for $12, caught up on all my email and messaged with my wife. I wish we had it here and on international flights.

[Loerie]

Ridiculous that Airlines have not yet caught up on this important revenue stream----which will also keep pax quiet and happy on long flights.I would have thought that the technology would be childs-play.A good alternative to those in-flight seat-back systems that never seem to work properly and always have to be "rebooted" for someone which then knocks out half the rows in the cheap seats.....:bored:

[Pharcarnell]

But Wifi means multiple TRANSMITTERS inside the cabin. Shock, Horror, we can't have that I hear DOTARS bleat.

[Icarus2001]

why are the major airlines of the world moving on this, whilst here is has not even been discussed?
Clearly you don't get out much. Not only has it "been discussed", Qantas ran a trial pico cell in 2007...

http://http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_312234

http://http://m.zdnet.com.au/acma-ok-s-in-flight-mobile-plans-339292668.htm

http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phones_on_aircraft

[vee1-rotate]

V Australia will have it implemented hopefully by the end of this year

[swh]

I used the in flight wifi on a flight in the USA recently (JFK-SFO) it was brilliant, 6 hours for $12, caught up on all my email and messaged with my wife. I wish we had it here and on international flights.

The technology required to have wifi over the land like mainland USA is very different than what is required over remote water or land areas. The technology used in the USA would not work in Australia due to the lack of ground infrastructure in "remote" areas of Australia (read within 400 km of a captain city).

Boeing tried to bring in universal data network for aircraft years ago, it was so unprofitable they closed it down.

Also wifi is not as safe as it seems, just recently during testing of an airborne wifi instillation onboard a 737, the screens in the cockpit went blank due to interference from the wifi.

[Loerie]

I recently flew American in the USA and read that certain Boeing products being used by AA have WiFi.
Am surprised to read about 'blank' screens up front supposedly caused by WiFi...
I would have thought that any interference would be sorted out by engineering long before it got to that stage.
And yes,I would think that long-haul between continents would pose a challenge,but did we not put some guys on the Moon some time ago?
Anyhow,if it could be got to work well and safely it would be a great system to have and add some revenue which would not be a mandatory thing like charging for luggage and to use the 'facilities'....

[fmcinop]

The V Australia Aerophone system by Panasonic is only for SMS text messaging from what I have read. I don't think it will do normal wi-fi??

[skybed]

a lot of companies would not allow their travelling excecs to log on to their network due to security concerns. this appears to be a major issue i have been told.:ok: