AeroMobile statement on FCC WT Docket No. 04-435 “FCC terminates proceeding on the use of cellular phones onboard aircraft”

As anticipated, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has terminated its notice of proposed rulemaking concerning the “Amendment of the Commission’s Rules to Facilitate the Use of Cellular Telephones and Other Wireless Devices Aboard Airborne Aircraft”.  The result is that the FCC prohibition for use of mobile (cellular) phones on airborne aircraft in US airspace will remain unchanged in the near term.

This does not impact AeroMobile, our customers or our business development plans as the US market demand has been expected to emerge later than other parts of the world.  AeroMobile has received considerable interest in its services from airlines globally (including in the USA) and has already received regulatory approvals for operation of its system in the airspace of 30 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.  Further, the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) has published a European wide decision that allows the safe use of in flight mobile phones on specially equipped aircraft in a way that provides no adverse radiofrequency interference to ground communications networks. Certification approval from national aviation authorities is also required for the installation and operation of such systems from an airworthiness perspective as is the case for any aircraft system.

The CEPT Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) has undertaken extensive work and analysis of this subject since July 2004, culminating in its report and decision on 1 st Dec 2006.  The CEPT report demonstrates that using mobile phones on an aircraft equipped with a pico cell system such as the AeroMobile system causes no harmful interference to ground networks when operating above 3000 meters (10,000 feet). AeroMobile’s pico cell system does not interfere with aircraft systems or ground networks because it ensures that the transmission power of all mobile phones on the aircraft is either controlled to operate at the absolute minimum power level, or de-activated. Due to the CEPT’s minimum altitude requirement and to ensure that aviation safety requirements are fully met, passengers will only be able to use their phones on pico cell equipped aircraft during the cruise phase of flight above 3,000 meters.

The FCC’s closure of their current review is stated to be due to a lack of data on whether the use of cell phones onboard will interfere with networks on the ground. Further, the FCC confirms that they are prepared to re-open the proceedings when data is available and the market shows interest. The fact of the matter is that significant data is available, and this has been recognised by the CEPT through their decision.

AeroMobile believes that there is no fundamental reason why a pico-cell system such as the AeroMobile system, which controls all mobile devices onboard an aircraft and fulfills the CEPT decision requirements, should not be approved in the USA, as no adverse interference to ground based systems would occur.