Aeronautical communications specialist SITA is heading a European team commissioned by the European Space Agency (ESA) to examine future in-flight communications requirements.
The study, investigating the in-flight business requirements for aeronautical high-speed multimedia satellite services (BRAHMSS), involves EADS (France), satellite manufacturer Astrium and Thomson-CSF.
BRAHMSS, which will examine communication requirements for passengers, cockpit and cabin crew over the next decade, is Europe's response to the in-flight multimedia services being developed by US companies including Boeing (Connexion), according to industry sources.
SITA started working on the nine-month project in early September and began surveying airlines on their future communications needs at the show.
Around 200 international airlines will be questioned on their future in-flight communications needs by early November, says Elizabeth Young, SITA director of passenger communication services.
The study is designed to define a service chain required to offer future aeronautical multimedia services needed by airlines. It will also produce preliminary design requirements for delivery of the services and could result in a demonstration phase, says Young.
• SITA will introduce a number of developments to its in-flight telephone services early next year. Passengers will be able to charge their in-flight telephone calls using SITA's Inmarsat-based satellite communication service to their cellular mobile phone accounts.
Ground-to-air calling will be added from the third quarter, while GSM call roaming, whereby the aircraft in-flight phone takes on the identity of a passenger's mobile phone will be introduced in the fourth quarter.
Longer-term, SITA is investigating technologies that will allow passengers to use cellular phones inside the aircraft cabin in flight.
Source: Flight International
