South African Airways will appeal to the Civil Aviation Authority of South Africa to allow mobile phones use in Flight Mode, as well as allowing mobile phone calls and WiFi connections via the installation of a server on SAA aircraft.

SAA had requested once that customers be allowed to use mobile phones in Flight Mode, but the request was denied, according to Sarah Uys, manager of corporate communications at SAA.

Uys further explained that “The use of cellphones and the Internet through wireless technology on board aircraft in SA is regulated by the SA CAA, it has taken the view that our legislation does not allow the use of such technology, while in flight, and thus it is illegal to make use of cellphones and other unapproved transmitting devices. SAA was the first local airline to apply for our customers to use the ‘flight mode' of some cellphones, but we were turned down.”

The FCC, USA's communications regulator, has already approved in-flight calls from mobile phones, and many countries allow them as well.

[via ITWeb]