Call for in-flight communications to be monitored

Airline Industry Information, July 15, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Permission to monitor dubious in-flight e-mail and mobile phone use has been sought by federal law enforcement officers in the US.

Concerns that terrorists could use such technology to organise attacks have been voiced, with worries highlighted following the bomb attacks on London on 7 July 2005. A congressional subcommittee is said to have been told that attacks could be launched from a broadband service or air-to-ground cell. The US Justice Department has emphasised that steps must be taken to reduce risks to public safety and national security if the in-flight ban on mobile devices is lifted. It has called for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enable law enforcement officers to monitor in-flight communications and has requested the ability to end or redirect any concerning calls.

In 2004 the FCC started to review the 1991 ban on in-flight mobile phones as demand for wireless communication is increasing and new technologies are being developed. Broadband is not yet offered by domestic airlines in the US, but United Airlines is testing a Wi-Fi service and broadband is reportedly available on some foreign carrier flights.

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