System and method for providing wireless services to aircraft passengers

In an airline communications network facilitating wireless communications for an aircraft, a method for wireless roaming between disparate wireless networks comprising the steps of:

• establishing a roaming relationship between a first wireless network and the airline communications network;
• establishing a roaming relationship between a second wireless network and the airline communications network;
• at a first location, registering a subscriber unit for use on a mobile network, the subscriber unit being homed at the first wireless network and roaming on the mobile network;
• transporting the mobile network and the subscriber unit to a second location via aircraft;
• registering the subscriber unit for use on the second wireless communications system as a roaming device;
• and
• routing subscriber unit communications through the airline communications system.

An airline communications system comprising:

• an airline network including:
• a reservation system including a database storing passenger and flight information, the reservation system including logic for provisioning a subscriber unit and defining at least one location-based event;
• a first interface to an external network;
• and
• a home location register tracking a location of the subscriber unit;
• and
• an aircraft communications system including a wireless base station facilitating radio communication with the provisioned subscriber unit and a second interface to the external network,
• wherein the home location register includes logic for detecting the subscriber unit's movement into the location associated with the location-based event, and executing the location-based event.