The friendlier skies: how technology is changing air travel for better and worse – The Verge

A software update grounded hundreds of flights over the weekend

2015-08-17T12:15:26-04:00

A problematic FAA software update led to almost 1,000 flight delays and cancellations on Saturday in the Washington, DC area. The outage lasted from 11AM ET until about 4PM ET. It directly affected flights at Baltimore-Washington International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, and Dulles International airports, which in turn affected flights around the country.

The update was meant to enhance the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) computer system used by flight controllers to handle route requests and changes. Those new features have been rolled back in the meantime.

If you're having trouble grasping how big of an outage this was, …

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iPad app issue grounds ‘a few dozen’ American Airlines flights

2015-04-28T22:47:40-04:00

Multiple American Airlines flights were thrown into chaos tonight as an app issue with the on-board iPads used by pilots made it impossible to take off. Affected flights appeared to include AA2413, AA2276, AA1654, AA235, and AA128. Attempts to reach American Airlines directly were not initially successful, but the company confirmed the issue to passenger Bill Jacaruso via Twitter.

The issue affected "a few dozen" flights

"Some flights are experiencing an issue with a software application on pilot iPads," American Airlines spokesperson Andrea Huguely later told The Verge. "In some cases, the flight has had to return to the gate to access a Wi …

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United Airlines iOS update lets passengers watch TV and movies directly through its app

2014-05-08T09:41:52-04:00

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Airlines increasingly warming to tablets as an alternative to the traditional seat-mounted screens. After an update to its iOS app today, United Airlines allows users to watch in-flight entertainment from an iPhone or iPad, a feature it first promised in February. While there aren't many new details, a previous press release promised around 150 movies and 200 TV shows, roughly the same number listed for its seat-back entertainment system. Content is delivered over the Wi-Fi network, but it doesn't look like you'll need to pay in order to get access.

United's Android app doesn't have the feature yet, but it's been promised for later this yea …

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Gogo is bringing peak internet speeds of over 70Mbps to international flights

2014-04-08T05:00:01-04:00

In-flight internet service provider Gogo just revealed a new technology that is expected to deliver peak speeds of over 70Mbps. The new technology is called 2Ku, named for its two Ku-band satellite antennas. The 70Mbps peak speeds are a considerable improvement compared to the 9.8Mbps speeds available today and the 3.1Mbps speeds Gogo was offering to commercial aircraft passengers five years ago. Gogo's Chief Technology officer Anand Chari says in a statement that the company anticipates peak speeds of more than 100Mbps when new spot beam satellite technologies become available.

2Ku will also employ specialized satellite antennas designed t …

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Virgin America announces social network to help you make business contacts in the sky

2014-02-11T19:54:30-05:00

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As Virgin Atlantic begins testing Google Glass as a check-in tool, its American counterpart has announced the launch of a custom social network designed to connect passengers in flight. Virgin America and Here On Biz, a location-aware social app centered on business connections, have collaborated to make the app work at 35,000 feet by leveraging Gogo's in-flight Wi-Fi network and an API that calculates an aircraft's location in the sky. Those using the app will be able to message others on their flight, at their destination, or other Virgin America planes; Here On Biz uses LinkedIn for contact and login information.

"This partnership allows …

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New FAA rule keeps pilots from using personal electronics in the cockpit

2014-02-11T19:02:24-05:00

via images.dailytech.com

While recent changes to Federal Aviation Administration laws meant airline passengers could use their personal electronic devices more freely during all phases of a flight, it's done just the opposite within the cockpit. A new rule that goes into effect two months from now means pilots can no longer use electronics devices like cell phones, tablets, or computers for "personal use," reports The Wall Street Journal. Those devices can still be used in order to conduct their job, the FAA says, something that's now very clearly spelled out in the new requirements.

Electronic devices for work still OK

The new rule is an expansion of one enacted in …

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Virgin Atlantic using Google Glass, Sony smartwatches for London passenger check-in

2014-02-10T21:43:38-05:00

Glass At The Gate (virgin atlantic)

Virgin Atlantic has begun a six-week test aimed at giving its employees more information about some passengers as they enter the London Heathrow airport. The program, which is currently designed only to aid customer-service staff attending to upper-class passengers, uses Google Glass and Sony's SmartWatch 2 to serve up information about passengers and their destinations:

From the minute Upper Class passengers step out of their chauffeured limousine at Heathrow's T3 and are greeted by name, Virgin Atlantic staff wearing the technology will start the check-in process. At the same time, staff will be able to update passengers on their latest f …

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FCC takes first step towards allowing in-flight cellphone use, calling for public comment

2013-12-12T16:21:00-05:00

Delta Airlines (STOCK)

The FCC has voted to take public comment on a proposal to lift the ban on cellphones, with a final decision to be made later, Financial Times reports. The commission voted 3 to 2 in favor of allowing comments and opening the door to allowing cell use, taking public and expert opinion into account for a second vote. That decision could reverse a policy from the 1990s, taking into account new tests and changes in technology, but as the almost evenly split vote this time suggests, the proposal has been controversial. FCC Chair Tom Wheeler himself has said he'd prefer to fly without hearing phone calls, and the Department of Transportation could …

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Virgin America now lets you use electronics during takeoff and landing

2013-11-22T06:02:01-05:00

Virgin America

Turning off your cellphone or gadgets during a flight is almost over. Virgin America is now allowing passengers to use most personal electronics on all phases of flights on its aircraft. It's the latest US airline to do so, leaving Frontier Airlines as the last major holdout.

Cleared for all categories of flight

Virgin America has also gone a step further with its gate-to-gate support. The airline says its Airbus A320-family aircraft is the first to be cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for personal-electronics usage during all categories of flight. Virgin America's engineers have tested personal device usage during all catego …

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Southwest Airlines now lets you use electronics during takeoff and landing

2013-11-20T20:11:10-05:00

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The days of having to turn off your cellphone when boarding a flight are nearly done. Southwest Airlines just became the latest US carrier to allow personal electronics use during all phases of flight. It's the seventh major US airline to do so.

Though Southwest seems quite happy about the decision - taking the opportunity to advertise its inflight Wi-Fi services - the company cautions that not every personal electronic device can be used. "Bulky laptops and devices larger than a tablet must be stowed during taxi, takeoff, and landing," the airline warns.

An announcement worth the wait: Customers can now stay connected from gate to gate! M …

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