Southwest Airlines tests Internet in the skies
Are you tired of being asked to put away or turn off your wireless devices before takeoff? Well there may be hope.
Southwest Airlines is experimenting with a new system that would let passengers use wireless laptops and smart phones to access the Internet during flights. Right now, it’s just offered on one plane, but could be expanded to a few others within a month.
Where it goes from there is up to the Federal Aviation Administration. But this is one that the airlines are sure to watch with a keen eye as they continue to scramble for ways to add revenues.
Me? I like to sleep on the plane. I’ve always thought of that time as a nice little break from the world of texting, cell phone calls and Web browsing. But it’s not hard to imagine flights filled with row after row of happy laptop users, all tuned into the net.
Tim has covered a wide range of topics, including tourism, crime, aviation and gambling, since becoming a reporter in 1990. The Oklahoma native joined the Post-Dispatch in 2007 after spending nine years in Orlando. In his spare time, he's often exploring one virtual world or another. He can be reached at tbarker@post-dispatch.com. 
