Surf the web while flying?

I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering if
there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size, portable
antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that I can use to
surf the web while cruising at the flight levels. The new cellphones won't
work at altitude. If there is a device like I desire, will it work over the
ocean or only over the continental US?

Thanks,
D.

Capt.Doug wrote:
I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering
if there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size,
portable antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that
I can use to surf the web while cruising at the flight levels. The
new cellphones won't work at altitude. If there is a device like I
desire, will it work over the ocean or only over the continental US?


Why not just get a nice DVD player and watch Titanic? That way you can time
the collision with the ship's sinking. What kind of skies are creating with
electronics when pilots like you want to surf the web when you're supposed
to be flying an airplane. Get a boat!

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 02:10:39 GMT, "Capt.Doug"
wrote in ::

I'm wondering if
there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size, portable
antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that I can use to
surf the web while cruising at the flight levels.

Teledesic is/was Bill's solution:
http://www.computerreview.com/profile/teledes.htm
http://www.tnunn.demon.co.uk/spire/f...teledesic.html
http://www.hoovers.com/free/co/facts...tml?COID=48111
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/...teledesic.html

"Capt.Doug" wrote in message ...
I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering if
there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size, portable
antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that I can use to
surf the web while cruising at the flight levels. The new cellphones won't
work at altitude. If there is a device like I desire, will it work over the
ocean or only over the continental US?

Now this is pretty wild. The one thing I never imagined on a long flight is
my captain surfing the Web. Just keep away from the adult sites as we
need both hands always readily available!

---------

Teledesic is gone...


Larry Dighera wrote:
On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 02:10:39 GMT, "Capt.Doug"
wrote in ::


I'm wondering if
there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size, portable
antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that I can use to
surf the web while cruising at the flight levels.


Teledesic is/was Bill's solution:
http://www.computerreview.com/profile/teledes.htm
http://www.tnunn.demon.co.uk/spire/f...teledesic.html
http://www.hoovers.com/free/co/facts...tml?COID=48111
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/...teledesic.html

I would be more interested in a real-time-weather-goody for Europe...
like wxworx for the US.


Capt.Doug wrote:
I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering if
there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size, portable
antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that I can use to
surf the web while cruising at the flight levels. The new cellphones won't
work at altitude. If there is a device like I desire, will it work over the
ocean or only over the continental US?

Thanks,
D.

Well, no, not when on downwind, base, or final.

NoPoliticsHere wrote:

"Capt.Doug" wrote in message ...

I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering if
there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size, portable
antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that I can use to
surf the web while cruising at the flight levels. The new cellphones won't
work at altitude. If there is a device like I desire, will it work over the
ocean or only over the continental US?


Now this is pretty wild. The one thing I never imagined on a long flight is
my captain surfing the Web. Just keep away from the adult sites as we
need both hands always readily available!

---------
If you think that, with no inflight web surfing currently available,
pilot's eyes, ears, hands, and feet remain solidly affixed to to the
controls 100% of the time while airborne, you are mistaken. You may be
surprised to learn that during long, boring cruise operations,
newspapers, magazines, and books are read by all involved.
Conversations take place that have *nothing* to do with the flight at
hand! Believe it or not, some will open up a personal DVD player and
watch a movie, or listen to music on their iPod.

The fact is, a professional, experienced flight crew member is able to
safely divide his/her attention between the task at hand, and other
entertaining activities that help to pass the time. I don't believe
that inflight web surfing would pose any greater diversion than a
spirited debate on politics. The added safety benefit from instant
access to unlimited data and information would be a tremendous plus, in
my mind.

Happy Flying!
Scott Skylane

"Schmoe" wrote in message
t...
Capt.Doug wrote:
I usually don't read the posts about electronics, so please excuse my
ignorance if this subject has been visited previously. I'm wondering
if there is a device similar to a handheld GPS receiver (same size,
portable antenna that suction cups to a window, battery powered) that
I can use to surf the web while cruising at the flight levels. The
new cellphones won't work at altitude. If there is a device like I
desire, will it work over the ocean or only over the continental US?


Why not just get a nice DVD player and watch Titanic? That way you can
time
the collision with the ship's sinking. What kind of skies are creating
with
electronics when pilots like you want to surf the web when you're supposed
to be flying an airplane. Get a boat!


A little slack here? Could be the poster wanted to get duats, or download
current weather radars, or one of a number of other valid purposes.Certainly
no worse than fiddling with a GPS, and I don't see anyone crucifying people
for that.
--
Jim in NC


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"Scott Skylane" wrote in message
...
NoPoliticsHere wrote:

---------
If you think that, with no inflight web surfing currently available,
pilot's eyes, ears, hands, and feet remain solidly affixed to to the
controls 100% of the time while airborne, you are mistaken. You may be
surprised to learn that during long, boring cruise operations, newspapers,
magazines, and books are read by all involved. Conversations take place
that have *nothing* to do with the flight at hand! Believe it or not,
some will open up a personal DVD player and watch a movie, or listen to
music on their iPod.

The fact is, a professional, experienced flight crew member is able to
safely divide his/her attention between the task at hand, and other
entertaining activities that help to pass the time. I don't believe that
inflight web surfing would pose any greater diversion than a spirited
debate on politics. The added safety benefit from instant access to
unlimited data and information would be a tremendous plus, in my mind.


I thought that even under IFR rules, crew was still supposed to be looking
out for other traffic???

Or how about looking out for each other.... there was that case of an Egypt
Air flight where the crew was bitching about working conditions or something
in the back while a disgruntled Co-pilot praised Allah and then pointed the
nose into the ocean.