British airlines can now apply for the wavelengths required to make calls ‘in the air’

Passengers who often are made to shout: “Hello! am on the plane!” could well join cramped legroom & bad food on the current list of in-flight annoyances since airlines moved closer to letting the usage of cell phones on board. Ofcom, the communications regulator, gave the go-ahead for British aircraft for installing systems, which will let passengers make calls as well as send text messages.

The go-ahead means that British airlines can now apply for the wavelengths that are required to make calls ‘in the air’. On-board base stations (picocells) that would be switched on - at a height of 10,000ft - will let licensed aircraft link up via satellite with mobile operators.

Air passengers would have to pay a roaming charge and would also be billed by their phone firms as normal. They would not be permitted to make use of their phones during take-off & landing, too. The airlines BMI & Ryanair, which are planning to install the new technology, welcomed the proposed move.

A couple of hurdles do remain. For example, other European regulators must still agree to the plan. However, Ryanair stated the majority of them had agreed. Also, the European Aviation Safety Agency needs to approve in-flight equipment for establishing the connectivity.

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