In-flight Connectivity, Technology Vital to the Realization and Enforcement of New Rights

WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, National Airline Passenger Rights Advocate and Executive Director of FlyersRights.org, Kate Hanni announced the launch of a new application that will empower passengers by providing real time data on the status of their flights via GPS.  Hanni also expressed concern impact of a proposed ban on cellular communications and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in the House version of the pending Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation that could curtail the rights of passengers to use new technologies while on board commercial aircraft.

"It is essential that airline passengers are empowered with the latest applications and in-flight technology to ensure that the airlines are accountable and full compliance with the new 3 Hour Tarmac Rule, going into effect today at the Department of Transportation," said Hanni.  "Passengers in the U.S. should be allowed to avail themselves of in-flight connectivity and technology to capture, record, and transmit information vital to the enforcement of their new rights."  

With the new application, available on FlyersRights.org website, the GPS component of the iPhone will be able to pinpoint a passenger's location and the passenger will confirm location.

The passenger will be able to input their airline and flight information into a centralized database and update their status in terms of delays or cancellations while in flight.  Passengers will also be able to take photos, video and audio recordings and attach them to the record in real time.

The House of Representatives version of the FAA bill, passed last year, contains language that would ban the usage of cellular communications and VoIP on commercial aircraft in U.S. airspace.  The recently passed Senate version of the FAA legislation contains no ban.  Currently, 20 international air carriers, flying to 72 nations around the world are equipped with in-flight cellular service -- with over 2.3 million passengers a month flying on aircraft with the service.    

"The enforcement and protection of rights of people around the globe have become increasingly dependent upon the transmission of data and images in real time thanks to cellular technology," added Hanni.  "Rather than ban it outright, Congress should allow the FAA and the FCC to evaluate the use of in-flight voice service and connectivity as a valuable tool for passengers in the U.S. taking into account potential benefits to consumers and the real world experience of its deployment throughout the rest of the world."

SOURCE Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights

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http://www.flyersrights.com