Using cell phones in flight

In December 2007, Air France began a 6-month test allowing e-mail and text-messaging service to cell phones while in flight (no voice calls yet). Only one Airbus A318 plane is testing the program, and no one will know ahead of time if it will be used on their flight.

The service works only with GSM cell phones. Calls will be billed directly to users by their own providers at “international roaming rates.”

New “No mobile” lights will be installed next to the “No smoking” signs aboard the equipped planes.

Qantas Airways is testing on domestic flights in Australia, and JetBlue Airways is testing on domestic flights in America. Ryanair, British Midland Airways (bmi), Portugal’s TAP, Royal Jordanian Airlines, China’s Shenzhen Airlines and India’s Kingfisher Airlines all plan to begin using the cell service sometime in 2008.