for December 3, 2007
IFExpress is sponsored in part
by:
IFExpress is available via the web at:
http://www.airfax.com/airfax/ifexpress/
Hot Topic: A New Connectivity Era Begins - Soon!
Hopefully
this month or very early in 2008, American Airlines will begin the
modification their fleet of fifteen transcontinental Boeing 767-200
wide-bodies, into one of their maintenance and overhaul hangars in Kansas
City, to begin the retrofit and certification (among other improvements) of
the AirCell Broadband Air-To-Ground connectivity service (via ground-based
cell towers). We know the AirCell hardware is on dock, however, American
assures us that there are many so new features and upgrades to be added the
schedule is quite fluid at this time. The American plane currently features
167 total seats (9 First Class, 30 Business Class, and 128 Economy). When
the freshly updated planes roll out they will have one more seat but much
more in the way of passenger amenities - specifically, 3 Wi-Fi (a/b/g)
access points, 3 new antenna’s (1 top, 2 bottom), and new AirCell radios
that will give passengers the ability to get on the Internet and, among
other features, get their email. We think there will be much more for the
tekkies and trekkies when logged on. While details from AirCell are slim,
IFExpress expects: email, web surfing, intranet features like downloads,
audio and video downloads, seat-to-seat chat, games, and airline
specials…all this via a new American Airlines portal. AirCell has told us
that passengers will be able to sign up prior to flying or on the plane.
Further, they will also control the pricing, and while officials have not
nailed numbers publicly, they have assured us in the past that charges will
be consistent with roaming Wi-Fi fees... obviously with some premium for
this level of service. Use your laptop, Smartphone (no voice folks and no
VOIP), Blackberry, International Phone or Internet appliance/game device and
you can turn that wasted flight time into hours filled with work (ugh) or
infotainment. We also expect porn filters and other surprises but we are
taking a wait-and-see attitude toward features. Hopefully, there will be a
Press flight (hint) and we can report to our readers then.. One thing is for
sure, this is a compelling service. While testing the development network in
a business jet, we found the net surfing experience identical to our DSL
line with no lags or delays. Be sure you get a window seat, though, head
down time is challenging in bumpy weather - Urp! We advise our readers to
sign up for AirCell’s notification service (below) and to check American
Airlines press releases as the in-service date gets closer. American
Airlines may wait till they have a critical mass of planes before
advertising the service; however, we urge to ask your boarding agents if the
service is working early next year on your 2008, AA B767-200 flights. As
predictions go, this is gonna be big, VERY BIG!
IFExpress is sponsored in part
by:
Hawaiian Airlines choose
Airbus A350 XWB and A330 aircraft for long-haul fleet
12/3/2007 9:36:58 PM
Panasonic Avionics Selected by
Air Austral to Enhance Passenger Travel Experience
12/3/2007 9:35:58 PM
IFExpress is sponsored in part
by:
China walks
political tightrope for 160-plane deal with Airbus
LA Times
Onboard a
behemoth
LA Times
Airbus mulls
plants in US, Russia
AFP
Boeing sees
no need to counter threat of Airbus A350 -- yet
Seattle P-I
Plane for
Boeing exec almost done — in Yakima
Seattle Times
Qatar
Airways installs next generation 'Multiplex in the Sky' system
Business Intelligence Middle East
IFExpress is sponsored in part
by:
WAEA
Technology Committee Meeting
1/22/2008 - 1/23/2008
Aircraft Interiors Expo - Hamburg
4/1/2008 - 4/3/2008
8th
Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2008)
5/20/2008 - 5/22/2008
Aircraft Interiors Expo - Americas
9/9/2008 - 9/11/2008
Aircraft Interiors Expo - Asia
9/22/2008 - 9/25/2008
IFExpress is sponsored in part
by:
