AP
Posted: 2007-06-19 14:38:30
PARIS (June 19) - European planemaker Airbus said Tuesday it had received the go ahead from European aviation authorities for an onboard mobile phone system.
Passengers will be able to make and receive calls in addition to being able to send and receive e-mails and text messages once the system is in place, Airbus said.
In a statement, Airbus said it was the first aircraft maker to win approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency for its GSM on-board system. Passengers will be able to make and receive calls in addition to being able to send and receive e-mails and text messages once the system is in place, Airbus said.
Cabin crew can easily manage the service and have the option of selecting a "voice-off" mode which only allows SMS text messaging and e-mail services, Airbus also noted.
OnAir, a joint venture between Airbus and SITA, will act as the service provider for a range of connectivity services.
Initially the service will be available on Airbus' single-aisle planes for short-haul flights in western Europe, following the granting of airworthiness certification.
"This certification is Airbus' first response to the growing market demand for on-board connectivity," Rainer von Borstel, Airbus senior vice president for cabin and cargo customization, said in the statement.
"It paves the way for the subsequent worldwide deployment of cell phone services and Internet based services across all Airbus aircraft types," he added.
The announcement came as Airbus is pulling in plane orders at the Paris Air Show this week in a boost to the struggling planemaker and its parent company European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.
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