Several new services and capabilities have been announced for both satellite and terrestrial connectivity, including those listed here.
MARKETPLACE
Improved Data ManagementCompany: Honeywell AerospaceProduct: Connectivity Software Suite
Honeywell’s new cabin connectivity monitoring and support software suite, branded Cabin Sentinel, is designed to give customers more control over inflight data usage to help reduce monthly connectivity costs. The suite allows customers to manage data, including content blocking, media prioritization, and notifications for data usage limits and coverage area updates.
Cabin Sentinel offers customer support via Microsoft Teams. According to Honeywell, the company’s GoDirect Router provides enhanced security features, including on-wing intrusion detection, alerting suspicious activities up to 50% earlier. Honeywell recently announced Cabin Sentinel’s inclusion in Dassault Aviation’s FalconConnect line for new and existing Dassault aircraft.
https://marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/honeywell-aerospace-0
L-Band Speed UpgradeCompany: InmarsatProduct: SwiftJetPrior to the closing of its acquisition by Viasat on May 31, Inmarsat announced that its newest commercial service, SwiftJet, will provide L-band connectivity at 2.6 Mbps—six times faster than current SwiftBroadband (SBB) service. SwiftJet is designed to provide stable inflight connectivity, including social media and video applications, that have previously been unavailable in the smaller jet market, Inmarsat said.
Credit: Inmarsat
For existing SBB customers, upgrades to the new service will not require a new externally mounted antenna. The new service also shares the same installation process as other Inmarsat L-band terminals. Viasat’s acquisition of Inmarsat portends increased coverage and capabilities once the companies are fully integrated.
https://marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/viasat-inc
Credit: Orbit Communications Systems
Small But MightyCompany: Orbit Communication SystemsProduct: Satcom TerminalOrbit Communication’s next-generation series of satellite communications terminals, AirTRx, offers broadband Ka-band connectivity in a 12-in. form factor. Designed for mid-size to large business jets, the AirTrx-30Ka features the lowest weight on tail and lowest power consumption of any similarly sized terminal available.
The Orbit terminal provides maximum speeds of 130 Mbps based on two line replaceable units and is compatible with LEO, MEO, HEO and GEO satellite networks, the company says.
https://marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/orbit-communication-systems-ltd
Credit: Iridium Communications
Narrowband Is BroadCompany: IridiumProduct: CertusIridium’s Certus 700 service offers some of the highest L-band data speeds available, at up to 704 Kbps, the satellite operator says. Certus is capable of supporting three simultaneous, high-quality voice lines, high-speed streaming and secondary data flows.
Certus is supported by the Iridium Next constellation of 66 cross-linked satellites in low Earth orbit. The Iridium constellation was upgraded from a legacy network of first-generation spacecraft to Iridium Next satellites in 2019.
Iridium has earlier selected Collins Aerospace, Gogo, Cobham, L3 and Thales as value added manufacturers for the design and production of Certus terminals. It named Collins, Honeywell, Skytrac, Avitek, Navicom Aviation and Gogo as service providers.
https://marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/iridium-satellite-communications
Plane And SimpleCompany: Satcom DirectProduct: Plane SimpleSatcom Direct’s (SD) Plane Simple antenna system features a unique dual dissimilar platform that allows customers to access two separate networks—Intelsat’s FlexExec Ku-band network and Inmarsat’s JX Ka-band network. The Plane Simple shipset consists of two LRUs, allowing for a cost-effective upgrade path.
Credit: Bill Carey
SD is developing a new flat-panel, electronically steered satcom antenna for small to mid-sized jets.
https://marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/satcom-direct
A New LEO ContenderCompany: Starlink AviationProduct: Ku-Band ConnectivityStarting this year, SpaceX’s Starlink service will begin delivering Ku-band connectivity for business aviation through its network of low Earth orbit satellites (LEO). Starlink Aviation promises data speeds up to 350 Mbps to each aircraft with a low latency of 20 ms.
Aircraft connect to the new LEO service via Starlink’s Aero Terminal, a low profile electronically steered phased-array antenna. Starlink offers unlimited data for each plan, with no long-term contracts.
https://marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/starlink-aviation
One Size Fits AllCompany: OneWebProduct: Built for all aircraft types, OneWeb offers inflight connectivity through its constellation of 648 low Earth orbit satellites. The Ku-band constellation delivers latency under 70 ms in every region, the company says. OneWeb’s terminals consist of four LRUs and can be replaced in under 30 min.
With the recent completion of OneWeb’s satellite constellation, it now meets the threshold for global broadband coverage, making it the second largest satellite constellation in the world.
https://marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/oneweb
Connections To-GoCompany: Gogo Business AviationProduct: AvanceGogo’s Avance platform is an all-in-one inflight connectivity ecosystem, offering a wide variety of controls for flight data and inflight WiFi, the company says. Avance comes packed with Iridium’s L-band voice service, engine trend monitoring and satellite broadband internet.
The Avance platform provides access to Gogo’s 3G, 4G and 5G terrestrial networks with support for third-party routers. Each service is made available through the Gogo Avance app, consolidating all information and control through a single point for the customer.
https://marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/gogo-llc
Air-To-Ground ConnectionCompany: SmartSky NetworksProduct: SmartSky LITECombining 5G and 4G LTE features, SmartSky LITE is an air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity solution designed specifically for smaller business aviation aircraft. The system utilizes the same Aircraft Base Radio (ABR) and FDQ Antenna as SmartSky’s flagship service.
Aircraft connect to the SmartSky system via a lightweight belly-mount antenna for small jets. As an option, customers can add Honeywell Forge analytics software to help reduce an aircraft’s carbon footprint and improve fuel efficiency.
SmartSky LITE has received supplemental type certifications (STC) for several business aircraft types, including the Bombardier Learjet 60. STCs for the Pilatus PC-12 and the Embraer Phenom 100 were in progress.
https://marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/smartsky-networks
