Survey Results Released on Availability of Public Wi-Fi Hotspots at General Aviation Airport FBOs
Results show a majority of smaller general aviation airports currently do not offer public wireless internet access.
Fairborn, OH (PRWEB) November 28, 2006 -- Sky-Nets, Ltd., which provides the general aviation community with free public wireless Internet access, has announced the results of their survey regarding the availability of public Wi-Fi hotspots among Fixed-Based Operators (FBOs), which essentially make up the airport terminals and waiting areas for those who fly by general aviation.
The survey of 380 FBOs throughout the United States shows:
- Overall, 65% of FBOs currently provide public Wi-Fi access
- 73% of these FBOs are at larger airports
- 45% of these FBOs are at smaller airports
The size of the airports is based upon the aircraft activity for general aviation transit and local activity as reported by FAA Airport Data. For the survey, Sky-Nets defined larger airports to have 30,000 or more applicable aircraft activity and smaller airports are those that have less than that amount.
"The results show a majority, or 55%, of FBOs in smaller airports currently do not offer public wireless Internet access," said Eric Geier, Founder and President of Sky-Nets. "Although smaller airports may receive less aircraft activity and visitors, it doesn't mean general aviation and corporate pilots and passengers aren't in need of the convenient service. There're many benefits. For example, pilots can quickly check weather conditions and use flight planning tools with their own mobile devices, such as laptops and PDAs, and access e-mail and perform other on-line functions for personal and business related communications."
Along with other research and from expertise in the wireless arena, Sky-Nets came to some conclusions to why FBOs, particularly whose in smaller airports, have been slow to "unwire:"
- FBOs have a fairly small profit margin and don't want to spend the time or money.
- Like most consumers, FBOs may not have the understanding of wireless networking and don't know how to properly setup a Wi-Fi hotspot.
- FBO generally lack knowledge of Wi-Fi security and the legal aspects of offering public wireless Internet access.
To address the many issues Sky-Nets found, they developed the Sky-Nets Wi-Fi Hotspot Network which offers FBOs free pre-configured hotspot equipment with installation instructions and tips, which is funded via sponsorships.
"FBOs need to offer public Wi-Fi access in order to support those visitors using Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices, which are becoming increasingly popular. Even the average consumer and self-proclaimed computer illiterates are looking for Wi-Fi just about everywhere they go. Along with the traditional devices (laptops and PDAs), many other gadgets are currently or soon to be Wi-Fi-equipped, such as mobile phones, gaming devices like the PSP (PlayStation Portable), digital cameras, and MP3 players, just to name a few," Eric Geier concludes.
About Sky-Nets:
Sky-Nets, Ltd. owns and operates the Sky-Nets Wi-Fi Hotspot Network, which serves the general aviation community with free public wireless Internet access at Fixed-Base Operators (FBOs). Being sponsor-funded enables Sky-Nets to provide pre-configured hotspot equipment and other services to participating FBOs at no charge and creates a unique media outlet for general aviation companies or organizations.
Sky-Nets was created in 2006 by Eric Geier, a wireless networking and computing consultant and author. Eric is author of several books including "Wi-Fi Hotspots: Setting Up Public Wireless Internet Access" published by Cisco Press.
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