SmartSky Networks, which provides inflight air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity for business aviation, has announced that sales and installation partner Davinci Jets has completed its third SmartSky STC installation, bringing the connectivity to a customer-owned Citation Latitude.
The SmartSky Flagship equipped aircraft has returned to service and FAA Supplemental Type certification is expected in the coming months, making SmartSky readily available for more than 200 in-service Latitude models. SmartSky has 15 STCs and more than a dozen in progress.
The Latitude installation is part of Davinci’s previously announced plans to equip the majority of its managed fleet with SmartSky connectivity. On the first flight following the Latitude’s return to service, the passengers connected six devices simultaneously to Facetime, participated in a video meeting, sent pictures from phones, streamed Netflix, and Fubo TV, emailed large attachments, used Salesforce, accessed documents on Microsoft Teams, made phone calls, and ran speed tests verifying the multi-Mbps capability of the system. Passengers described the experience as “connected freedom”.
“Demand for SmartSky is growing in the marketplace because customers expect to be continuously and reliably connected even while in transit,” said Eric Legvold, CEO of Davinci Jets. “The customers who are now flying SmartSky-equipped planes are able to do just that. We are proud to be upgrading our customers’ inflight experience with the only next-generation ATG connectivity solution that is available for business aviation.”
The installation was completed by Davinci Jets Services, the company’s full-service MRO, with engineering support provided by Liberty Partners of Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
“It’s great to work with a partner like Davinci Jets that has listened to its customers and committed to delivering the best available service as both a management and MRO provider,” said Rich Pilock, VP of connectivity sales for SmartSky. “Their outstanding execution on multiple installations has made them a reliable source for any owner operator looking to upgrade their aircraft.”
