Mobile phone call authorised on commercial flight

The world’s first authorised mobile phone call on a commercial flight took place yesterday on Emirates flight EK751 flying between Dubai and Casablanca. The call used equipment from AeroMobile and was approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the United Arab Emirates-based General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). aviation. Dubai-based Emirates says passengers will be asked to switch their mobiles to “silent” mode during flights. The airline’s cabin crew will be in full control of the mobile phone system, which allows calls and text messages, throughout flights. Currently there's only one aircraft - an Airbus A340-300 - that's using the system, although a second Emirates aircraft, a Boeing 777-300, has already been installed with the AeroMobile system and will be in operation soon. [AeroMobile press release]