Singapore | February 19, 2014–
Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, welcomes another important milestone in the GX Aviation timeline as Air China and Honeywell Aerospace sign a Memorandum of Understanding to install and test GX Aviation on Air China’s A330 aircraft, expected in the second quarter of 2015.
Inmarsat GX Aviation enables the next generation of high-speed global broadband in-flight connectivity services. It will deliver consistent, reliable, high-speed and high-capacity communications for both passenger connectivity and aircraft operations, and will enable airlines to deploy new types of connectivity applications that were previously not possible.
Inmarsat will provide GX Aviation through its fleet of three wholly-owned and operated Ka-band satellites and its dedicated, fully redundant ground network. The first of three Inmarsat-5 satellites was successfully launched in December 2013 and the remaining two are set to be in place by the end of 2014.
“We are pleased that Air China has chosen to install the GX Aviation system on their aircraft. Air China has led the movement into passenger connectivity in China with their earlier installation of Inmarsat SwiftBroadband and now GX Aviation allows them to continue that leadership and take the passenger experience to a new level,” said Bill Peltola, Inmarsat Vice President, Aviation. “This agreement gives Air China the opportunity to stay at the forefront of a highly competitive market in Asia.”
Inmarsat’s fleet of three high-throughput satellites will offer a unique combination of seamless global Ka-band coverage from a single operator, consistent performance of up to 50Mbps, and the network reliability for which Inmarsat is renowned. In addition to passenger communications, GX Aviation services will be able to support real-time TV and live feeds from the internet. It will offer airlines the next generation of connectivity with ample capacity for future growth.
The testing programme agreed between Honeywell and Air China is the latest in a series of significant steps, which confirms that GX Aviation is on track to deliver global availability for commercial airlines in the first half of 2015.
- GX Aviation reaches key milestone to offer passengers the freedom to stay connected to high-speed, in-flight Wi-Fi virtually anywhere around the globe
Phoenix and London | February 7, 2014–
The goal of delivering ‘home equivalent’ high-speed, consistent wireless internet connectivity for passengers and pilots on aircraft came a step closer today. In a joint announcement, Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT.L) confirmed that they have finalised the critical design review (CDR) of the GX Aviation aircraft avionics on schedule. It is anticipated that product certifications will be achieved later this year, followed by product introduction which is expected during the first half of 2015.
Targeting both passenger aircraft and business jets, GX Aviation is the first, truly global, high-speed, in-flight connectivity service that will provide data rates to the aircraft of up to 50Mbps. Using GX Aviation, passengers will be able to do everything from real-time social media updates and emails to live-streaming TV, all while in flight, and from virtually anywhere in the world, over both land and sea.
Completing the CDR marks the final development review for the GX Aviation aircraft avionics programme. Inmarsat and Honeywell engineers completed the evaluation on schedule and executed a comprehensive audit of the system design, engineering model hardware and programme.
Completion of this major milestone follows the successful launch of Inmarsat-5 F1 – the first of three Ka-band satellites – from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Russia on 8th December 2013. The second and third satellites are scheduled to launch later this year, providing full global coverage by the end of 2014.
“Successful completion of our final design review is one more milestone along our path to product introduction in the first half of 2015,” said Jack Jacobs, vice president of Marketing, Honeywell Safety and Information Systems. “We are on track to bring a new level of high-speed, in-fight connectivity to consumers and airlines around the world, regardless of whether it is a domestic or international flight. In addition, we are actively working with several air transport and business aviation manufacturers to provide GX Aviation and to enable a truly connected aircraft from gate to gate and from ground to over 12,000 meters.”
“A comprehensive team from both Inmarsat and Honeywell has completed its analysis of every aspect of Honeywell’s satcom system to ensure it meets all our design criteria. We are confident that the Honeywell avionics, like the rest of the GX Aviation programme, will be ready for service launch in 2015. GX Aviation will bring a new dawn in aircraft connectivity, providing high-speed broadband connectivity for all user requirements throughout the flight,” said Miranda Mills, president, Inmarsat Aviation.
During the process, Inmarsat’s team reviewed the final functional specifications of hardware designs, and the results of engineering units tests. These reviews will enable the continued progress of the GX Aviation programme through product certification in 2014, product launch and global entry into service for commercial, business aviation and government customers in the first half of 2015.
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- Aircell will offer GX Aviation satellite airtime to the business aviation market
Las Vegas, NV [NBAA 2013] | October 22, 2013– Aircell (NASDAQ: GOGO), a leading provider of in-flight connectivity equipment and services to the business aviation market, announces that it has been appointed by Honeywell Aerospace as a distribution partner and airtime reseller for GX Aviation (GX), Inmarsat’s emerging Ka-band satellite service in the business aviation market.
The first globally-available, high-speed broadband service, GX Aviation will offer unprecedented bandwidth and online performance to the aeronautical market. GX Aviation is scheduled to enter service in early 2015.
The agreement was signed with Honeywell, which is the designated business aviation reseller and hardware provider for GX Aviation.
“Honeywell’s high-speed Ka-band connectivity solutions will support the growth trajectory in consumer electronics enabling more and more flexible cabin capabilities,” said Mike Edmonds, Vice President, Marketing and Product Management of Aerospace Services at Honeywell Aerospace. “Honeywell and Aircell will work together to offer airtime for business jet travelers through truly global, consistent and high-speed connectivity.”
John Wade, Aircell’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, said, “We’re pleased to be selected to offer this important new service to the business aviation market. Aircell already offers one of the most comprehensive in-flight connectivity portfolios in the industry, and offering GX Aviation services is a very logical addition.”
Announcement Expands Aircell’s Suite of Services
Adding the GX Aviation service to its portfolio will expand Aircell’s product and service offering and further support its mission to meet any business aircraft’s need for communications, connectivity and entertainment, regardless of aircraft type or geography.
A number of unique Aircell features will be available to GX Aviation customers. One example is the company’s new Gogo Text & Talk service – which allows passengers to call and text via Wi-Fi in flight, using their own smartphones and mobile numbers. Customers will also be able to receive a single monthly invoice for all their Aircell in-flight services.
Aircell will announce specific GX Aviation monthly service plans and rates at a later date.
- GX Aviation will enable business aviation aircraft to offer passengers access to unprecedented broadband speeds, data rates and bandwidth
NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, Las Vegas Nevada | October 22, 2013 – Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the world’s leading provider of mobile satellite communications services and Honeywell Aerospace have announced the aeronautical satellite communications solution provider, Satcom1, as a distribution partner to deliver GX Aviation to VIP, government and business aircraft across the globe.
With GX, business aircraft owners and operators will have global, high speed and reliable broadband connectivity through Inmarsat’s wholly owned and operated Ka-band satellites and ground networks.
The formal agreement is between Satcom1 and Honeywell, the designated business aviation reseller for Inmarsat’s GX Aviation Ka-band connectivity services.
Miranda Mills, Inmarsat President, Aviation, said: “It’s an exciting time to be a part of the in-flight connectivity market. GX will offer operators the first high-speed, globally available and reliable in-flight global connectivity service. The operational and cost benefits to aircraft operators will be significant. With its strong background in aeronautical satellite communications, Satcom1 is the ideal partner to promote the benefits of GX to business aviation operators around the globe.”
The combined GX Aviation network and hardware is scheduled to be commercially available in early 2015, providing high speed broadband services with complete global coverage for all aircraft requirements, both in the cockpit and the cabin.
- GX Aviation remains on track for service entry in early 2015
NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, Las Vegas Nevada | October 22, 2013– Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the world’s leading provider of mobile satellite communications services, and Honeywell Aerospace have announced Aircell, Gogo’s (NASDAQ: GOGO) business aviation subsidiary, as a GX Aviation distribution partner for the business aviation market. Aircell is already an Inmarsat SwiftBroadband distribution partner.
The formal GX agreement is between Aircell and Honeywell, the designated business aviation reseller for Inmarsat’s ground-breaking Ka-band connectivity services.
“GX Aviation is rapidly gathering momentum and everything is coming into place. The first satellite is scheduled to be available to support a launch as early as December this year. The development of the ground infrastructure is progressing as planned and Honeywell is moving ahead with the airborne terminals,” said Miranda Mills, Inmarsat President, Aviation. “With the addition of Aircell to our list of distribution partners, we have signed up all the major inflight connectivity service providers and we are already having very positive discussions with aircraft owners and operators.”
Using Ka-band technology, GX Aviation will be the first globally available high-speed broadband network. It will offer the unique combination of global coverage from a single operator, consistent higher performance with true broadband speeds, and the network reliability for which Inmarsat is renowned.
John Wade, Aircell’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, said, “We’re pleased to be selected to offer this important new service to the business aviation market. Aircell already offers one of the most comprehensive in-flight connectivity portfolios in the industry, and offering GX Aviation service is a very logical addition.”
The first of the Inmarsat-5 satellites which will make up the GX constellation is currently in final preparation for shipment at Boeing’s El Segundo satellite manufacturing facility. It will be traveling to Kazakhstan in the next few weeks. GX Aviation is scheduled to enter service in early 2015.