UK-based charter operator Acropolis Aviation has received EASA approval for an upgraded IFEC system on board its flagship ACJ319, G-NOAH. The system, which delivers download speeds of 432 kilobytes per second, is provided by Rockwell Collins’s Skybox cabin solution. With one terabyte of onboard storage capacity (equivalent to approximately 400 feature films) Skybox streams DRM-protected films to any iOS device brought on board. Alternatively, DRM-approved films can be accessed on iPad Airs encased in Aspinal white leather, which are now offered to passengers flying on this aircraft.
Acropolis has also introduced Satcom Direct’s SkyTicket billing system. This allows Acropolis to easily marry the charter booking up with its unique flight number so that it can identify which client has used the internet, enabling recharging to be made accordingly.
The wi-fi upgrade was completed recently at the same time as the aircraft’s five-year check by ATC Lasham in collaboration with Avionic Care. Both Rockwell Collins and Satcom Direct will provide ongoing technical support to Acropolis.
“We have enjoyed a good working relationship with both Rockwell Collins on various avionics systems and with Satcom Direct on flight deck services, so it was good to extend the portfolio of activities with both companies,” said Aidan Murphy, technical director at Acropolis. “Satcom Direct is also right on our doorstep at Farnborough, so we can call on them personally if we encounter a problem with the system.”
Acropolis Aviation announced at EBACE in May 2015 that it will be the launch customer for the first ACJ320neo, but with the aircraft due to enter service in early 2020, a decision on the cabin IFEC will be taken much nearer to the delivery time. “The industry is moving really quickly,” said Jonathan Bousfield, CEO at Acropolis. “We are seeing prices dropping and speeds increasing, which is all good.”
November 13, 2015
