Imagine sitting comfortably on your flight. You have just had a relaxing glass of wine and are about to nod off till you reach your destination. A phone rings. The passenger sitting next to you takes his mobile phone out of his pocket, and starts to chat to a friend, negotiate a business deal or whatever! Welcome to the chattering class.
Like it or not, the prospect of using mobile phone on the planes is closer than ever. OnAir, a company backed by Airbus has technology that allows mobile phone calls without interfering with ground based networks. Ryanair, Europe’s largest low cost airline has announced plans to equip its entire fleet of Boeing 737s with this technology to enable passengers to make in-flight calls. Air France is to do the same with its Airbus A318 planes. It is only a matter of time before other airlines follow suit.
Why should airlines invest in this technology? They want a share of the phone call revenue. Ryanair’s reasoning is that this will keep its fares down.
Will people flock to airlines that offer in-flight calling? How much the passengers are likely to pay for the privilege of making a call even if the flight is cheap? Time will tell. Prices are likely to be on the higher side initially and they will come down in time.
Surveys conducted recently suggest that a vast majority of people approve the idea of an ability of making calls from the plane while only around 54% business and 40% leisure travellers are likely to switch their phones on as long as call prices are under $2.50 per minute. Interestingly Europeans are much warmer to the idea of in-flight calling than their American counterparts. United and Delta do not want it, yet!
The ability to make in-flight calls, and any airlines’ interest in this, is an interesting development. This is more so since Boeing recently scrapped Connexion, its impressive satellite based in-flight broadband service on its planes.
The Europeans are likely to give a formal go ahead to in-flight mobile calling soon by start issuing frequencies and guidelines to airlines.
I think that this service will more likely to be a success in short haul flights where people do not mind sitting next to a fellow passenger shouting into his mobile phone, however annoying it may be, as long it helps airlines subsidise their airfare.
So expect your chattering class air ticket in less than 6 months. Bon voyage!
Dan Sherman
http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/flying-by-the-chattering-class-62879.html
#1 by Concorde on July 6th, 2009
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Any advice for flight in Class charlie airspace?
Tomorrow or Sunday me and my instructor are going to fly into Class Charlie airspace. I fly out of non towered airport and I am not yet accustomed to ATC chatter. So anyone have any advice on flying in class C?
Regards
#2 by Techwing on July 6th, 2009
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You must establish two-way communication with ATC before entering Class C airspace. Two-way communication means that you talk to ATC and the response from ATC includes your call sign. You don’t need a clearance into Class C, but if ATC tells you to remain clear of the airspace, you must do so.
This applies to the USA.
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#3 by Ryan B on July 6th, 2009
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Two way radio communications as another Pilot stated earlier, meaning;
You need to call them.
They need to acknowledge your call.
at that point feel free to fly into their airspace. in the case of Class Bravo witch you will probably *Eventually* deal with as a Pilot, you must recieve clearence into the airspace, so they can’t just say Cessna 453Sierra Tango, standby. like they could say in Class charlie while allowing you to enter the airspace. A Class Bravo Controller has to say Cessna 453 Sierra Tango, Cleared into the Class Bravo airspace Squawk XXXX.
Typically it’s good advice to let the Charlie controller know your intentions though as with any ATC Enjoys knowledge of. I took a trip which required me to fly through Colorado springs Class Charlie and the call was as simple as…. Colorado Springs Approach Cessna 822 Romeo Alpha is 25 miles North of the Colorado Springs airport, we’d like to Transition the airspace North to South at Niner Thousand Five Hundred. They gave me a Squawk code and asked my destination for whatever reason, I let them know I was heading to Pueblo, and that was the end of discussion untill I exited and asked for a Frequency change, they gave me the class Echo controller who Gave me a Flight following and a Set of Vectors for a Visual to Pueblo =]. Controllers sound intimidating at first, but their job is to assist pilots and "Most" of them do that pretty well, Even for the guy and his cessna
.
Good luck on your flight, I’m sure you’ll do alright and it will be a good learning experience.
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#4 by skyman23 on July 6th, 2009
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Yes, though not requiring regulatory action, Class C airspace areas have a procedural Outer Area, normally 20 nm from the primary Class C airspace airport. So contact approach on the appropriate frequency at least within 20 nm. Also get the latest ATIS info as you will need it during communication. Here is a sample…"ABC approach, N1234 is North East of (whatever), at 3000 feet inbound, request full stop landing with information Z"… then normally the approach controller will give you a squak code and gives you headings and altitudes you should maintain before he/she hand you off to tower and tower to ground. It’s simple, just make sure you state your aircraft call sign, your position relative to a known land mark, altitude, ATIS info and your request upon initial contact.. Fly Safe.
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AIM 3-2-4 Note 4
#5 by Mark on July 6th, 2009
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Know your call sign.
Make an appointment to visit the control tower.
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#6 by Jack on July 6th, 2009
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Upon initial contact, tell them that you are a student pilot. It’s a little embarrassing, but it makes things so much easier. Take the whole thing one radio transmission at a time, and you’ll be fine. Also, remember to repeat one part, or all, of the controller’s message. If it is a long string of clearances and commands, and at the end he/she gives you the altimeter setting, just repeat that. Don’t be intimidated (until you get to Bravo).
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Extensive Airspace training;
Pilots license May 17th, 2009 at age seventeen
#7 by captsead0nkey on July 6th, 2009
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Aside from the Regualation standpoint.
Radio calls should be in this format
Who you are, (tail #, student pilot)
Where you are, (relation to the airport)
What you want to do.
With Atis info _____.
So ie.
YOU:" Regional Airport approach.. Cessna 1234 Bravo, 12 miles to the south, inbound for touch and go’s with Alpha"
Approach Control will tell you either
"Roger, Cessna 1234 Bravo , Stand-by" (which is established 2 way radio comm, and you are clear into class c airspace)
"Cessna 1234 Bravo, turn heading XXX contact tower 12X.X"
OR
"Cessna, 1234 Bravo, unable, remain outside class C airspace"
ATC then will say …
"Cessna 1234 Bravo, roger, proceed inbound,(some of the few sceniros). enter right base/downwind/left base runway xx…, clear for the option… cleared to land, full stop only….cleared short approach.. etc.".
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