OFTCOM, the UK office of telecommunications, has issued a 45-page discussion paper on the introduction of mobile service on aircraft with the closing date for responses 23 June. Oftcom does allude to the fact that the ultimate responsibility is held by the CAA as a question of aircraft safety. The paper goes into in some detail the legal and technical aspects concerning the introduction of mobile phones on public scheduled flights. It also mentions, thankfully, the human factor. At the end of the day are we to have ”quiet zones” on aircraft? Are there to be large signs (under the no smoking ones) forbidding the use of mobiles in the washrooms?. Is phoning banned when the fasten seat belts sign goes on? See Air France above.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/telecoms/reports/aircraft/aircraft