European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has granted Airbus certification for the OnAir mobile telephone system across the whole A320 single-aisle family.
The approval makes Airbus the first aircraft maker to receive airworthiness certification for a cellphone system on complete family of aircraft, for both production and forward-fit installation. It covers A318, A319, A320 and A321, and follows the first individual certification that was awarded in June 2007 for a single A318.
With the approval, Airbus has made a significant step towards airline operation of the OnAir service that allows passengers to use BlackBerry-type devices and mobile phones to send and receive emails and text messages, and to make and receive voice calls. The OnAir service is being trialled by Air France and TAP Portugal and will also take to the air soon with Ryanair, bmi and China’s Shenzhen Airlines. Low-fare operator Ryanair is installing the capability in an initial tranche of about 30 Boeing 737s
OnAir, a joint venture between Airbus and SITA, is the service provider for a complete range of connectivity services. The onboard equipment is manufactured under Airbus KID-Systeme responsibility. Airbus is the first aircraft manufacturer to see an onboard cellphone system – comprising a “picocell” miniature cellular base station, leaky-feeder cabin antenna, control equipment and Inmarsat satcoms for the air-ground link – certificated aboard a complete family of aircraft for both production and retrofit installation.
Source: Flight International
