Even after WirelessG revealed that the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has allowed in-flight usage of cellphones, the authority says it prohibits the use of certain electronic devices, including cellphones on board.
According to WirelessG, the decision will allow passengers to use their cellphones as long as they are in-flight mode.
However, the SACAA says despite this, South African Airways (SAA) to date is the only airline that officially applied and received the requisite exemption to test this possibility. “The six-month exemption was granted to SAA in January this year,” it says.
No other airline has officially approached the SACAA for a similar exemption, hence this testing process is limited to SAA only at this stage, as is the monitoring conducted by the SACAA, it explains.
SACAA spokesperson, Kabelo Ledwaba, says one of the conditions of the exemption was that SAA would submit a detailed proposal as to how they would monitor the usage of cellphones in flight. “In addition, the SACAA would conduct its own monitoring.”
The testing phase commenced on 15 April this year, he says. “The initial testing phase is for six months and depending on the results of these tests, the SACAA may conclude the testing phase or may request further tests.”
According to Ledwaba, testing is on certain domestic routes, for each aircraft type in the SAA fleet and at certain specified times of the day.
“There will be onboard announcements advising passengers that testing will be conducted and guidelines on what the tests will entail.”
The SACAA acknowledges that technology advances rapidly. “It came as no surprise when airlines started showing an interest in testing the feasibility of using cellphones on board.”
Due to advances in technology and rigorous testing, airlines like Emirates and Malaysian Airlines offer in-flight cellphone services and numerous others, such as Cathay Pacific, are following suite.
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