IP: SKY HIGH E-MAIL? NOT SO FAST: Edupage, May 14, 2001

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> During the recent Inflight Passenger Entertainment and
> Communications conference in London, telecom companies unveiled
> plans to make a host of Internet and wireless services, including
> e-mail, available during flights. These services may not be
> offered in the United States, since U.S. airlines have yet to
> announce plans to build such systems. In addition, the Federal
> Aviation Administration has yet to certify the safety of in-flight
> wireless systems. Tenzing Communications is conducting a trial of
> 802.11 wireless local area network technology with Scandinavian
> Airlines. The system could allow travelers to use an 802.11b PC
> card in their laptops to access Web content and write and receive
> e-mail messages during a flight. However, wireless systems pose a
> major danger for airlines since wireless transmissions could
> interfere with a plane's navigation controls. The FAA prohibits
> the use of wireless devices during flights for this reason.
> While United Airlines and American Airlines say they both plan to
> offer in-flight Web content, they declined to discuss the
> technology they will use.
> (Wired News, 11 May 2001)



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