Aircell gets FAA approval for in-flight internet

So Aircell just nabbed itself the first and only approval from the FAA for air-to-ground mobile broadband for US domestic flights, meaning we're that much closer to in-flight internet. So far the approval just covers the Boeing 767-200, which means Aircell can start prepping equipment to cover the 767-200 fleet of American Airlines this year, but they're also prepping to cover the Airbus A320 fleet of Virgin America. Routes between LA, SF, NY and Miami are going to get priority treatment. Aircell's Joe Cruz was also quick to point out that this approval paves the way for future aircraft approvals, which certainly can't come soon enough.

[Via Phone Scoop]

[Warren @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:10PM]

What is this 'Internet' you speak of?

[w00t @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:23PM]

The thing you are using right now! :)

[Noz @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:30PM]

You mean that series of tubes?

[Chuckles McGee @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:12PM]

So you might not be able to (legally) talk on a cell phone in flight,but you can still bug the heck out of people by chatting with VoIP.

[Tony Rayo @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:19PM]

Well lots of planes already have phones (normally located in the middle of three seats) as well as an ethernet connection, so sadly VOIP noise wouldn't be new... hopefully cheaper than what is provided now though.

[Special_K @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:47PM]

@Tony Rayo: smoke a lot of crack? Ethernet connections on planes? Not on the last... three dozen planes I've been on in the past six months. People chatting up storms on Airfones? Hah! Surely you jest, good sir! At $3-5 per minute (not hour, mind you, minute, as in 60 seconds), no one ever uses those things, except to call SkyMall. Either way, I'm sure with Verizon working on getting cellphones in the air forthwith, VoIP will quite likely be blocked on this service- at least as a way for the FAA to entice them.

I, for one, am happy. The last time this whole internet-on-planes business was tried it was by Boeing, and it didn't do so hot. The difference here, as I understand it, is that it's entirely ground-to-air as opposed to satellite and radio-based. Much cheaper, and requires way less upfront capital.

[DT @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:43PM]

Virgin America only operates the Airbus A320 and A319.

[Tim @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:47PM]

Next stop, mile high club - solo aviators division.

[Ian @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:17AM]

NICE!!!!

[Andrew @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:49PM]

As noted above, Virgin America only flies Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. It has no plans to acquire or operate wide-body planes.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:50PM]

Now all we need is meals for those stranded on the Tarmac, pilots who aren't drunk and stewardesses with legs that stretch to infinity.

[kigamoosh @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:03AM]

with legs like those, who needs planes?

[Travis (stupid blog free) @ Apr 2nd 2008 6:50PM]

Virgin America has 767s? That's news to me...and probably Richard Branson, too.

I think their fleet is currently limited to A319s and A320s.

[Brian! @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:11PM]

Where can I buy a Sidekick? And is there a plan for this.

I am confused. Isn't there a T-Mobile customer service button somewhere on this site?

[T.J. @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:29PM]

Try the Engadget Mobile link. I'm pretty sure thats where T-Mobile is.

[chris @ Apr 2nd 2008 7:48PM]

Let's hope the service will be reasonably priced and not just reserved for upper class. Richard B you better be listening.

[one1082 @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:04PM]

Why no Dallas based routes? AA is huge here.

[DJ @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:16PM]

OK, cell phone usage in-flight is banned, but in-flight internet access is acceptable. Does that mean I can use my Skype phone in-flight?

[C.Eberle @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:45PM]

As a few have said before me, Virgin America only uses the A320 type. As far as 767 operators, that includes United, Continental, US Airways, American, and Delta (with one or two airlines I may have forgotten).

But don't expect this on all of the above ;)

[dosguy @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:59PM]

Yak on cellphone - become air rage victim.

[Ian @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:21AM]

i dono whether to be happy that something like that would happen or sad because someone would die.

[dosguy @ Apr 3rd 2008 10:04PM]

I would gladly post the bail and pay attorney's fees for the first person charged with tossing an ignorant cellphone yakker out at 30,000 feet.

[y3k.nik @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:54AM]

We all know its going to be 50$ an hour with a 20 mb data cap on the internet like this.

Even if someone decided to pay the $50, your call wont last more than 5 minutes anyways with VOIP.

As long as anything related to air travel remains in a price bracket that no one wants to (or cant afford to) pay for, this remains useless.

$2 Coffee on land if $6 on board, 10 minutes in air. I am sure their coffee heating expense is not $4 per cup per 10 minutes!

[Patrick @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:09PM]

Lufthansa flights had a broadband internet connection that cost 25 dollars. For long-distance flights, this was a minimal cost to the end user. Don't know why they canceled it, but my flight to Germany seemed a lot more enjoyable than my flight from Germany.