Cellphone calls on Airbus, drunk dialing continues to know no bounds
Airbus SAS announced Tuesday that their super-jumbo model jet, the A380, would have the option of voice and data systems to support passenger cellphones and laptops. The addition of this equipment may increase the time needed to certify the 21st century Spruce Moose that is the A380, also the service will become a revenue opportunity for the helpless air travel industry with international calling costing upwards of $2.00 per minute, according to the systems provider OnAir. Perhaps more important however are the social implications. Etiquette is a big part of cellphone usage, and knowing when to take a call, when to put your handset on vibrate, and when to just dump people to voicemail is critical. If airline passengers are able to use their cellphones in the next couple years, we had better learn to put off those 45 minute "So what are you doing?" calls.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tom @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
Its spruse goose, jackass..
bigdeis @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
Yeah wasnt spruce moose from Ducktales or something like that?
cacophony @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
As if I needed another reason not to get on a plane with 600 other people...
hughdogg @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
I'm thinking the 'spruce moose' comments was an intentional pun, given the size of the A380. (At least I hope if was).
hn=mmm @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
You mean that you are'nt already able to make cell phone calls from planes already??!?
Hang on! Remember that so-called cell-phone call from a passenger on 9/11 ? From on board a plane ?
Smells fishy.
Just like the so called hijackers passports floating down from the wreakage of the towers, but the 'indestructable' black box being, well, destructed totally.
http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?noframes;read=53158
http://rense.com/general56/cellpp.htm
mike @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
Don't take this wrong, but I think you mean ...
"It's Spruce Goose, jackass.."
Jeez, some people don't have a clue.
Bud Landry @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
No, it is a play on words, Jackass. The Spruce Goose belonged to Howard Hughes. This freaking huge bloat of an airboat, with similar grace of the Spruce Goose, belongs to AirBus, and is being called a Moose, because it's the same, but different, you see.
quanta @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
The "Spruce Moose" was a giant luxury plane shaped like a moosehead featured in one episode of "Tale Spin". It was so large, it could not fly over the cliffs surrounding Cape Suzette. It was converted into a genteel nightclub, but it did achieve powered flight when it was hijacked by Owl Capone.
What can I say, I was an avid fan of Saturday morning cartoons...
bigdeis @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
good call quanta, I got my after-school cartoons mixed up, here in nyc Ducktales and Tale Spin used to be on back to back
(sorry fellow readers, this'll be my last completely off-topic post... for today)
south @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
'Spruce Goose' was the real airplane that barely flew, and 'Spruce Moose' was the name of Monty Burns' model plane in The Simpsons (the episode where he goes insane).
Brucee10 @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
I thought the Spruce Moose was also in the illegal drugs from Canada episode. Burns flew the plane 4 feet high for 6 feet. Then the F?r got mad at him. Priceless
Seth Brundle @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
Um, technically you can make cellphone calls and install broadband on all Boeings as well, the problem isnt that the manufacturers dont support it, the problem is the airlines dont want to pay for it.
Please note the 'conception' cabin pictures for the A380 also:
http://www.airbus.com/product/a380_comfort.asp
According to Airbus's marketing department, airlines will use the extra space for restaurants, malls, lounges, video arcades and kareoke bars!!!!!
When in reality, the reason why airlines are buying the Airbus is to cram every last heartbeat into the cabin to maximize revenue, and the inside will likely resemble to flying greyhound buses we enjoy today.
Would You Like Another? @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
The A380 is not designed to haul people from ATL to JFK. Its designed to haul folks (and a BIG BIG pile of freight) from JFK to HKG.
When you're out in the middle of the freakin' Pacific Ocean just try flipping open your cell phone and see how many cell sites you get! Hint: when you get "No Service", it isn't because the airlines are jamming your phone!
$2 per minute for a sat phone call is pretty competitive. Coupled with the rumored break through in cabin noise business types might actually be able to make decent calls using their cell phones.
I also expect the airlines to offer free booze if you're using your cell phone. Gotta keep the customer lubricated so they can keep on talking! :O)
I'll also further hazard cell phone usage will be free in business class but data services will be billed per KB. In first class they'll supply a flight attendant to kneel then bend over to just the right angle so you can rest your laptop comfortably on her back (and then charge triple because anyone flying first class JFK to HKG is going to be pissed if they aren't paying triple what anyone else is paying on the plane.)
crazyjamaican46 @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
Hey # 5 Your a FUCKIN ASSHOLE. There was no Fuckin conspiracy. Get a life than go over to popularmechanics.com you Fuckin loony. That Plane does look pretty tight though.
Joe Henson @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
I flew from London to Kuala Lumpur unknowing that my Phone was on in the over head locker.... When I arrived I had welcome to (insert country name) messages from nearly every country I flew over.
Yes you can make calls form Planes, they just don't like it incase of interference... also they are trying to work out a way of getting money out of us for the pleasure.
I suppose they have figured it out now!
Oh and I have Taxi and Tourist information numbers for a lot of cities now
jon @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
i've been on a couple of flights in which i was able to get enough reception to make out going calls. typically only 20mins after take off and before landing.
Charles @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
#5: The idea here is that they install a cell site on the plane. The cell site connects to the phone network via a wireless "backhaul". Right now on a plane you can sometimes connect to cell sites on the ground, but it is unreliable, & it causes excess interference on the network.
Carmi @ Dec 19th 2005 3:04AM
I think we should re-think this cells-in-the-air movement. Aircraft represent the last bastion of cell-free existence. The prospect is sitting next to a yakking, impolite moron for an entire flight makes me nauseous.
Ever notice how the ones who focus on the work and not on their toys actually get more work done?
Carmi
http://writteninc.blogspot.com