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In Flight Communications May  2006

The history of in-flight communications has been one of overnight revolution rather than evolution. Back in 1936, a Deutsche Lufthansa brochure advised passengers of a possible first in commercial aviation: "If you are travelling on business or wish to announce your arrival to friends, you may send a wireless message from the plane. The operator will promptly transmit the text you give him."

For the next 65 years or so, little or no real progress was apparent, apart from the in-seat phone, which often has limited range and suffers from high call charges. Although the service is still offered by many airlines, the writing was on the wall in 2002, when American Airlines removed handsets from its 650-strong domestic fleet after discovering an average of just three calls a day were made from each aircraft.

Fast forward four years and emerging technology has made the pace of change truly revolutionary. Passengers flying with Singapore Airlines from Singapore to London and Sydney, for example, can plug-in their wireless-enabled laptops to an in-seat power supply and using broadband, surf the web and send and receive e-mails. The service is provided through Connexion by Boeing, launched in May 2004, which has also installed its high-speed wireless internet system on aircraft flown by Lufthansa, SAS, ANA and Japan Airlines, with China Airlines, Korean Air, Asiana and El Al planning to sign up. Alternatively, Seattle-based Tenzing offers e-mail, instant messaging and internet access on 900 aircraft worldwide, its customers including Cathay Pacific.

The initial and potential long-term success of the Boeing system, ergo that of its rivals, is confirmed in a survey conducted by Boeing in conjunction with Burke Research. Culled from 3,200 global responses last year, this claimed Connexion is changing travel behaviour, with 83% of respondents saying its availability will impact on their future travel plans and choice of carrier.

While Boeing has been a major force in triggering the new communications age, European rival Airbus is something of a Johnnie Come Lately. Its OnAir equipment, developed in partnership with SITA, a leading provider of air transport communications, was launched in February 2005, but will not get airborne until early next year. The debut will be aboard an Airbus A318, followed by a six-month trial period on short-haul flights, during which passengers will be able to use GPRS-enabled devices to send and receive e-mails and SMS messages.

So far, so good. What better than a fellow passenger tapping away on a keyboard rather than swapping tales about the trials and tribulations of a road warrior? But, sadly or not, depending on your tolerance levels, peace and quiet at 35,000ft should not be taken for granted.

Both Airbus and Boeing are working to allow passengers to use their mobile phones in flight, finding little substance in the argument that they interfere with aircraft navigation systems – hitherto the consolation for those already irritated to the point of hypertension by cellphone addicts on trains and buses.

Not that such travellers need despair just yet. A survey by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and the National Consumers League in 2005 revealed that 63% of respondents were against the use of mobiles in the air.
Furthermore, 78% believed chattering on a cellphone in the close quarters of an aircraft could lead to increased passenger unruliness and interfere with attendants’ ability to maintain order.

The airlines are fully aware of the possible furore. British Airways, for example, has delayed the introduction of the latest communications technology while it continues to assess what passengers really require.

“We are getting a mixed response, with many business travellers confirming the use of a mobile would be great for them but not necessarily for fellow passengers,” says a BA spokesman. “We also have to consider some customers want to sleep uninterrupted, particularly on night flights."

Patrick Roux, Air France head of marketing, agrees. "We have always shared the full benefits of the latest technology with passengers," he says, "while endeavouring to preserve the flight as a haven of peace and well being."

Pity the airline marketing executives tasked with achieving that balance.

Who offers what

Connexion by Boeing
Delivers real-time, high-speed connectivity, using a network of satellites and ground
stations. This gives travellers access to the internet and to personal and business e-mail
accounts, including attachments. Using a laptop or hand-held device, hook up is made either wirelessly or through a standard Ethernet connection. Boeing has established roaming agreements with leading telecommunications and wireless service providers worldwide. Typically, SIA charges US$9.95 for one hour’s use of the system, US$26.95 for 24 hours.

OnAir
The service will allow passengers to use their cellphones and GPRS-enabled devices such as BlackBerry and Treo for voice and data transmission in flight. The system uses a
picocell aboard the aircraft to communicate with satellites and ground stations, and OnAir is working to establish roaming agreements. Costs vary, but mobile calls will be charged to the user’s home account.

Live TV in the sky
Singapore Airlines introduced live TV on international flights in July 2005. Passengers on Boeing 747 flights between London and Singapore and Singapore and Sydney can watch BBC World, EuroNews, Eurosportsnews and MSNBC/CNBC, using their wireless-enabled laptops. The service is to be rolled out across the 747 fleet. LiveTV provides real-time transmissions to Frontier Airlines, and Australian budget carrier Virgin Blue has announced it will introduce the system fleet-wide from autumn this year, with India’s Jet Airways another potential customer.