Embraer has selected Viasat Ka-band technology for its Legacy 450 and 500 medium-cabin jets. The high-speed connectivity solution will be available from the second quarter of 2019 for line-fit and retrofit.
Initial service speeds are expected to be 16Mbps, with the potential to increase as Viasat expands its network capacity with additional satellite services. In addition to data connectivity, live TV streaming is expected.
This solution complements the already operational Gogo Avance L5 air-to-ground connectivity system, which has been installed in both aircraft, giving access to 4G networks. The Avance L5 system delivers data rates of up to 9.8Mbps for downlink, covering the continental USA and portions of Alaska and Canada.
In 2017, Embraer announced the selection of Honeywell to provide Ka-band data connectivity for the Lineage 1000E. Honeywell has since received certification from the FAA, EASA and Brazil’s ANAC, enabling its JetWave hardware to be installed on the Lineage 1000E.
June 7, 2018
