In-flight use of mobile phones: passengers should not be misled
The European Commission harmonises technical requirements, but use of mobile phones still forbidden unless otherwise specified
The European Commission announced today that national licences for in-flight mobile communication, granted to individual airlines by the Member State in which they are registered, would now be recognised throughout the EU. "Harmonisation is always good news, both for airlines and their passengers," commented Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, AEA Secretary General. "However, we are seriously worried that the Commission's announcement might mislead passengers into believing that they can use their mobile phone on board any flight as from tomorrow."
Technology now exists, whereby passengers can safely use their mobile phones onboard aircraft specifically equipped with an onboard cellular network, connected to the ground via satellite. Some AEA member airlines are already offering this service, long called for by the business passenger community, and this facility is expected to become more widespread in the near future, depending on each individual airline's commercial policy; but so far it is still the exception, not the rule.
"Unless passengers are told, specifically, that they can use their mobile phone onboard a specific flight, they should follow the airline's safety instructions and switch it off from take-off to engine switch-off, lest it should interfere with navigation systems," Mr Schulte-Strathaus concluded.