Aviation expert slams in-flight phone plans

The use of mobile phones on planes would not be welcomed by passengers despite the convenience they appear to offer, an aviation expert has claimed.

Last week communications watchdog Ofcom revealed proposals to permit airlines to install base stations on their aircraft, which would allow passengers to use their mobiles in-flight.

However, according to Lawrence Price, director of aviation strategy for Mott MacDonald, the use of mobiles is actually far more likely to enervate customers than please then.

He said: "[On planes] you have hitherto been able to escape from the dreaded mobile phone. Instead of: 'I'm on the train' we'll have: 'I'm on the plane'. I think it is actually quite nice to be away from it for a while, particularly when you're going long haul.

"Someone bleating into a phone for two hours is not what I want if I'm paying reasonable money to go in one of the better cabins on an aeroplane. So maybe you're going to need quiet areas."

Under Ofcom's plans passengers would be able to use their mobiles once a plane has ascended to 3,000ft or higher.

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