VoIP on Airlines

With the announcement of broadband internet services on airlines, some people speculated that voice over internet protocol (VoIP) calls would follow quickly. Congress has banned the use of cell phones during flights. However, there were other people (myself among them) that thought that VoIP would not be a strong alternative.

The reason for this is that, with the stringent flight regulations that are now in place, people would be hesitant about contravening any air rules. It seemed as though landing on some national security data base would be a heavy price to pay for using VoIP. Further, it would incur the wrath of fellow passenger who might want a peaceful flight without internet or cell phone chatter.

The people would thought VoIp would be a fringe development were wrong:

“…Just days after American Airlines made the big-deal announcement that it had rolled out in-flight internet on certain routes, hackers have found a way to use the service for voice-over-internet protocol calls, despite promises from the airline that its air-to-ground system, developed by Aircell, would block voice calls.”

link: Despite Airlines’ Promises, Customers Find a Way to Make VOIP Calls on Flights

It seems that, even with regulations restricting how the in-flight broadband is to be used, people will utilize VoIP. It seems being connected trumps flight regulations and privacy. And the ‘friendly skies’ might have more chatter than anticipated.

Catherine Forsythe