Staying Connected Inflight
Qantas is evaluating new technology, which will allow customers to stay connected inflight. The technology will be evaluated on one Boeing 767 aircraft operating on Australian domestic routes from early 2007 over a three month period.
Qantas will be one of the first airlines in the world to evaluate the technology that will allow customers to make and receive emails and text messages via their own mobile phones or personal electronic devices such as Blackberry.
Qantas will work with customers to shape any final service as well as draw up a policy on using devices inflight.
About the evaluation partners
Qantas has teamed with Telstra, Panasonic Avionics Corporation and AeroMobile for the evaluation to examine potential solutions to allow communication devices to be used safely in-flight without interfering with the ground network.
Qantas and its partners are working with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Australian Communications and Media Authority and other agencies to ensure the system operates in accordance with Australian regulatory and legal requirements.