"Can You Hear Me Now?" Alas, Yes...

On the list of "Lamentable Firsts In Commercial Aviation History," this one is definitely in the Top 20. Emirates announced this week it is the first airline in the world to commercially launch an inflight mobile telephone service... a move the carrier says affords even greater convenience to passengers wishing to stay connected while traveling.

The first authorized mobile phone call made from a commercial flight was made Thursday at 30,000 feet en route to Casablanca, onboard an Emirates Airbus A340-300 aircraft -- the first in the airline’s fleet to be equipped with the AeroMobile system.

The airline will be investing some $27 million to fit its fleet with the AeroMobile system, which ensures that passenger mobile phones operate at their absolute minimum power, thereby allowing their safe use on the aircraft. A second Emirates aircraft, a Boeing 777-300, has already been installed with the AeroMobile system and will be in operation very shortly.

"All seats across our fleet are already equipped with in-seat phones, as well as email and text messaging capabilities via the in-seat entertainment system," said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group. "As the world leader in innovation for our customers, we are delighted to now offer them the choice of using their own mobile phones to contact friends, family or colleagues while flying with us.

"Our customers are already making more than 7,000 calls a month from our in-seat phones, so we will be making life easier for those for whom staying in touch has become an important part of their everyday lives," Al-Maktoum added.

While the new service will no doubt prove to be a boon for business travelers, Emirates had less to say about how other passengers may look upon the added noise from people talking loudly on their cell phones while onboard a crowded airliner... a scenario that sends shivers down the spines of many travelers, and that has kept cell phones off US airliners for the foreseeable future.

Emirates did note the service will only be activated when the aircraft is at cruising altitude, and the cabin crew will have full control over the system -- including the ability to prevent voice calls at certain times such as during night flights.

The number of calls that may be made at any one time is also limited to a maximum of five or six calls, the same number as for the current in-seat phones used regularly by Emirates’ passengers. In addition to calls, the service will also allow passengers to send and receive text messages, with charges in line with premium international roaming rates. Users will be billed on their regular phone bills by their own service providers as with any other roaming call.

Over the past 18 months, Emirates and AeroMobile have worked closely with regulators and telecommunications providers across the globe, fully completing rigorous testing and certification processes.

FMI: www.emirates.com, www.aeromobile.net