Inmarsat has achieved another important milestone in ensuring Global Xpress (GX) Aviation is available as linefit or retrofit on every major airframe in the market, after the inflight connectivity service was certified for the A340. Inmarsat’s partner Lufthansa Technik received an STC from EASA after it installed a Honeywell Aerospace-designed Ka-band antenna for GX Aviation on an A340 in Germany.
The STC validates and approves Lufthansa Technik’s installation process for the A340 family, which can be completed within days or during regular maintenance schedules, including all electrical modifications inside and outside the fuselage. The STC was awarded within weeks of Lufthansa Technik receiving certification from EASA to install GX Aviation on the A320 family.
GX Aviation will launch in 2016 as a broadband internet solution offering global coverage, delivered through a single operator. It allows passengers and airline crew to browse the internet, check social media, stream videos, access company resources and more. Final global testing is now underway with Inmarsat’s partner Honeywell Aerospace, whose JetWave terminals will connect airlines to the new offering.
“The service has been developed over the past five years as the only end-to-end solution in which every component, from the satellites, ground network and terminals to the cabin networks, internet features and support, has been engineered with mobility in mind,” said Leo Mondale, president of Inmarsat Aviation.
“It will be widely available on all popular aircraft types, both as retrofit and linefit, to ensure maximum flexibility for airline fleets. This is reflected in the STCs received to date – ranging from Airbus A340 long-haul, Boeing 757 medium-haul and Airbus A320 short-haul aircraft to Bombardier’s Global 5000 and 6000 private jets – and there are several additional certification programs currently underway as we approach the finishing line for launching GX Aviation.”
Lufthansa Systems, as an aviation IT specialist, also worked with Inmarsat and Lufthansa Technik to supply the required infrastructure on the aircraft as part of the A320 STC and can offer additional passenger applications based on its BoardConnect product line.
“We are delighted about obtaining the certification from EASA to install GX Aviation on Airbus A320 and A340 aircraft within weeks of each other and expect to keep the momentum going with follow-up STCs for Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 aircraft before the end of 2016,” said Bernd Freckmann, vice president of base maintenance services at Lufthansa Technik.
Click here to read an interview with Kurt Weidemeyer, vice president of business aviation at Inmarsat, regarding the new Ka-band internet service.
August 3, 2016
