Wi-Fi is coming...

An in-flight Wi-Fi system is currently being installed on 3 x A333's - G-VLUV, G-VINE and G-VGEM.

This is ONLY in the initial stages of installation, testing and certification. It will form part of a trial later this year, and if successful will be appearing on more aircraft throughout the fleet.

An in-flight Wi-Fi system is currently being installed on 3 x A333's - G-VLUV, G-VINE and G-VGEM.

This is ONLY in the initial stages of installation, testing and certification. It will form part of a trial later this year, and if successful will be appearing on more aircraft throughout the fleet.

y) y)

Excellent news - thanks

David

One thing that interests me - if we're all told to disable WiFi etc on all devices "as these may affect aircraft systems" - what has changed that means this won't happen now?

And, yes, this does vary by airline. But generally, most will ask you to turn off completely for takeoff and landing, and engage flight safe for during the flight.

One thing that interests me - if we're all told to disable WiFi etc on all devices "as these may affect aircraft systems" - what has changed that means this won't happen now?

And, yes, this does vary by airline. But generally, most will ask you to turn off completely for takeoff and landing, and engage flight safe for during the flight.

Isn't it for the purposes of phone signal, rather than Wi-Fi signal?

If you've ever had a phone near a speaker and heard the horrid noise it makes while searching for a signal, you'll know why. Hearing that noise in a pilot's headphones whilst trying to take instruction from ATC is not very easy to do..

I could of course be completely wrong but it's what I always presumed!

One thing that interests me - if we're all told to disable WiFi etc on all devices "as these may affect aircraft systems" - what has changed that means this won't happen now?

And, yes, this does vary by airline. But generally, most will ask you to turn off completely for takeoff and landing, and engage flight safe for during the flight.

Isn't it for the purposes of phone signal, rather than Wi-Fi signal?

If you've ever had a phone near a speaker and heard the horrid noise it makes while searching for a signal, you'll know why. Hearing that noise in a pilot's headphones whilst trying to take instruction from ATC is not very easy to do..

I could of course be completely wrong but it's what I always presumed!

Don't think so - the phone signal is one thing, true, but specific reference is made to WiFi enabled devices (laptops, ipads and the like).

I'm sure all safety aspects are being considered, I'm just interested in the apparent change...

On Emirates the wifi is enabled a little while after take off and is shut down before landing. So those specific times are wifi free.

Perhaps if wifi is endless they will consider allowing AVOD from gate until disembarkation like BA.

Perhaps if wifi is endless they will consider allowing AVOD from gate until disembarkation like BA.

This is already under consideration

wifi on flights from UK>USA would be a dream come true!

Btw: i filled in a survey yesterday where they said they are planning on renting out ipads onboard:

Btw: i filled in a survey yesterday where they said they are planning on renting out ipads onboard:

I read that as renting out for a trip rather than necessarily on board, so maybe set up and delivered before the flight.

Back o/t, what can you do with the wifi? Presumably it's going to be limited to email and a bit of browsing rather than streaming Lovefilm?

Back o/t, what can you do with the wifi? Presumably it's going to be limited to email and a bit of browsing rather than streaming Lovefilm?

There was a Skype conversation going on on my 380 from DXB to LHR last week. And very interesting it was too. ): ): ): ): ):

PS and you can also "chat" to your VF/FB chum pjh as I did from just west of India a few weeks ago!!!!!

Back o/t, what can you do with the wifi? Presumably it's going to be limited to email and a bit of browsing rather than streaming Lovefilm?

There was a Skype conversation going on on my 380 from DXB to LHR last week. And very interesting it was too. ): ): ): ): ):

PS and you can also "chat" to your VF/FB chum pjh as I did from just west of India a few weeks ago!!!!!

Indeed you did.

Let's hope then that VS tend toward the EK rather that East Coast Main Line end of the spectrum in terms of service provision...

[Darren Wheeler]

Next big question will be cost and what speed up/down.

[Darren Wheeler]

Next big question will be cost and what speed up/down.

One thing that interests me - if we're all told to disable WiFi etc on all devices "as these may affect aircraft systems" - what has changed that means this won't happen now?

And, yes, this does vary by airline. But generally, most will ask you to turn off completely for takeoff and landing, and engage flight safe for during the flight.

One of the main fears has been if phones cannot connect to a mast they will start blasting out seriously strong signals to try and find one. If the "mast" is only a few feet away then the signal strength needed would be reduced dramtically.

Stillredhot, many thanks for your insights, I can't wait for the days of unlimited wifi and avod from gate to disembarkation!

I really hope that Virgin still invest in entertainment despite the difficult financial situation.

As someone in the industry, I think it is wrong that the system is energised before the seat belt signs are off. Passengers really should not be wearing headsets during this phase of flight - if they are heads down, whether that is in the AVOD system or glued to Facebook, if something goes wrong, they may not respond so quickly to crew instruction. Why do people need connectivity at this stage of the flight anyway?

Which is exactly why I think the CAA have tried to encourage us to be focussed throughout the take off landing and taxy stage. I will be and if you are focussed on your device will have no hesitation in trampling you in an emergency evacuation.

From one who keeps his shoes on until belts off after departure and has them back on one hour before landing and is a private pilot. An airliner is not your living room.

WIFI - don't want it
It's good being offline

Next big question will be cost and what speed up/down.

I expect expensive, and slow! JetBlue / Virgin America / etc all use ground to air stations, which give fairly decent speeds at a reasonable cost, but trans-continental airlines have to use satellite based systems. There are several satellite bands available depending upon the provider. I don't think Virgin have announced who they are using, but they've had an existing deal with Panasonic Avionics for a while (see here), and they use Ku-band satellites.

I read an article recently (link) that estimated Ku-band internet needing to cost around 20 cents per mb to break even. Bandwidth wise it's similar to a 3G connection (shared across the plane), but with a much higher latency (as you need to bounce the signal up to the satellite and back, rather than to the ground).

Await with excitement the install of of a dial-up modem in 2021 on the MAN-LGW fleet.

Please ban VOIP etc - having once sat on an airport coach where someone was shouting into a laptop (not a headset - literally shouting at the keyboard) "can you hear me? I'm on the way to the airport", I can't bear to think what it would be like putting up with this for 8 hours in a confined space.

Is there to be no refuge from emails? Not sure this is a good thing really.

wifi on flights from UK>USA would be a dream come true!

I think you need to get out more

Btw: i filled in a survey yesterday where they said they are planning on renting out ipads onboard:

I read that as renting out for a trip rather than necessarily on board, so maybe set up and delivered before the flight.

Himself got that survey. Did anyone notice in the section where they asked 'would you consider paying £x for this service?' - if you answered no, they came back with the same question, but for a lower price?!