SAVANNAH, Georgia, October 31, 2016 — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced that the worldwide, high-speed satellite communications network known as Jet ConneX will be available to G650ER, G650, G550 and G450 operators as a completions option and retrofit beginning in 2017.
“Jet ConneX provides high-speed Wi-Fi service that is up to 34 times faster than what some of our operators currently have,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “Passengers will be able to stream videos, make and receive phone calls on their personal smartphones and watch live television almost anywhere.”
Jet ConneX operates on the radio frequency known as Ka-band. Using Inmarsat’s three-satellite I-5 Ka-band network, Gulfstream operators will have access to real-time television, audio and video streaming virtually anywhere in the world.
Gulfstream will discuss Jet ConneX’s capabilities with customers this week at its exhibit at the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Orlando, Florida. Jet ConneX is installed on Gulfstream’s G650ER and G500 demonstration aircraft, both of which are on display at Orlando Executive Airport.
Jet ConneX, which has been certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency, is transmitted at speeds up to 15 megabits per second. Its coverage is worldwide, except for the polar regions, and reliable over land and water and throughout all phases of flight.
The following applications on Gulfstream aircraft are supported by Jet ConneX:
- Video streaming, including conferencing, real-time TV and movies
- Faster internet browsing
- Faster email
- iMessage on Apple devices/IP messaging (WhatsApp)
- Faster VPN connections
- Clearer VoIP
- Flight deck and cabin crew applications
The hardware used to link Jet ConneX with Gulfstream’s aircraft is supplied by Honeywell. Gulfstream and Honeywell partnered to begin flight testing of Jet ConneX on a Honeywell-owned G650 in July 2016. Their in-service evaluation, which is ongoing for several aircraft, will continue through mid-2017.
“We are fully committed to providing the best aviation experience to customers, and putting this equipment through a robust in-service evaluation is a critical part of that,” Burns said. “The early feedback from customers has been extremely positive. This technology has been years in the making, and it will allow companies and individuals who use Gulfstream aircraft to be even more productive in the air.”
The only prerequisite for installation of Jet ConneX is the Satcom Direct Router, which became a standard feature on the G650ER/G650, G550 and G450 in 2015 with the purchase of a connectivity system.
Ka-band connectivity through Jet ConneX also supports the expected growth in data traffic.
Upon conclusion of the in-service evaluation, Gulfstream’s completion centers in Savannah, Appleton, Wisconsin; and Long Beach, California; along with most of its company-owned service centers, will install the hardware needed for Jet ConneX. The service centers that will perform the work are located in Savannah and Brunswick, Georgia; Westfield, Massachusetts; Appleton; Las Vegas; Long Beach; and Dallas.
Jet ConneX will initially be available for G650ER/G650 operators in 2017, followed by G550 and G450 operators, respectively. The connectivity will be available for the new G500 and G600 upon entry into service. The G500 is scheduled to be delivered to customers beginning in 2017, followed by the G600 in 2018.
