Two European airlines to get cellphone system
Two European airlines will allow passengers late next year to use their own cellphones on commercial
flights within western Europe, a Geneva-based technology firm said Tuesday.TAP Air Portugal and British
carrier bmi both have agreed to introduce OnAir's voice and text service for cellphones in separate
three-month trial runs, Chief Executive George Cooper said. The planes — which will be the first to allow
passengers to make and receive calls with their own cellphones while onboard — will give OnAir the chance
to assess its service ahead of its general release slated for 2007, he said. "With both airlines, initially there
will be a couple of airplanes — two or three airplanes — equipped with this system," Cooper told The
Associated Press from Germany. "During that three months, we'll all be evaluating how it's going, what the
usage is, how we handle the crew issues and so on." OnAir's system will be used by TAP on its Airbus 321
model and by bmi on its Airbus 320s, both single-aisle planes primarily used for flights within western
Europe. Users of mobile phones and other handheld wireless devices with roaming capability will be able
to make and receive calls using a base station within the airplane. They will be allowed to turn their phones
on after the plane reaches 10,000 feet, when other electronic devices such as portable music players and
laptops are permitted, Cooper said. Mobile phones are banned on existing aircraft for fear that they might
interfere with a plane's navigation system as they attempt to log on to terrestrial networks. OnAir's mobile communications system is based within the plane, which it says ensures that cellphones and other devices
operate at lower transmission power and thus avoid affecting avionics. The company hopes to clear all
regulatory hurdles for air traffic within Europe at some point next year. Cooper said the surcharge for
mobile phone use will be competitive with international roaming rates, at about $2.30-$2.50 per minute.
A text message should cost about 50 cents to send or receive. Airline bmi, a subsidiary of British Midland,
flies primarily to destinations in Britain and western Europe and is London Heathrow Airport's
second-largest flight operator. TAP, Portugal's state-owned airline, flies to 43 destinations in 25 countries.
ARRL Announces 2005 Toy Drive for Hurricane Victims
Patti Loveless, KD4WUJ has agreed to serve as honorary chairperson for the 2005 Toy Drive.
Send new unwrapped toys for children ages 1-14, to arrive prior to November 24 to:
ARRL Toy Drive, 1775 Moriah Woods Blvd, Suite 12, Memphis, TN 38117-7125 .
If you would like to send cash instead of a toy, send a check to
ARRL Toy Drive, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 .
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