Lufthansa Technik has developed its first radome for the Ka-band. The material layer structure of the two-in-one solution (TIOS) radome makes it possible to install Ka-band antennas, providing high-speed internet and TV connections for all Boeing Business Jets I (737-700) and II (737-800). In December 2016, Lufthansa Technik received an EASA STC and FAA validation for the TIOS. The company has already registered a patent to protect the radome housing design.
The company says installing TIOS on the vertical stabilizer makes it the ideal platform for satcom and satellite TV antennas as well as an HD camera, and that, in combination with the installation of the antenna system in the rear fuselage of the aircraft, this solution saves space and reduces weight by up to 100kg. “The special aerodynamic design and the installation on the vertical stabilizer mean that the radome reduces drag and has a positive effect on the aircraft’s center of gravity,” added Andrew Muirhead, head of Lufthansa Technik’s Original Equipment Innovation division.
Lufthansa Technik has offered a radome for Ku/L-band antennas since 2000. “As the first version of TIOS is not suitable for Ka-band frequencies with high data rates, we investigated many different materials and their characteristics as part of the development of the new TIOS,” said Beate Rehberg, product manager for TIOS, Original Equipment Innovation, Lufthansa Technik. “Ultimately, we were able to develop an innovative material layer structure that allows frequencies in the Ka-band to pass through, providing double-speed data transfer for passengers.”
January 30, 2017
