Honeywell Aerospace has launched a High Data Rate (HDR) software upgrade that will double the speed of in-flight Wi-fi for existing Inmarsat Swiftbroadband customers, and is hoping to sign up some business aviation customers during EBACE.
Providing peak speeds of up to 2.75mbps, the upgrade is twice as fast as existing Swiftbroadband in-flight connections. Honeywell vice-president marketing and product management Carl Esposito says it is “very easy to install and quick to retrofitâ€.
In addition to the upgrade for Swiftbroadband customers, Honeywell has been working through the certification process for its JetWave hardware, which supports Inmarsat’s upcoming Global Xpress Ka-band high-speed connectivity service.
As part of this package Honeywell has developed a tail mount antenna system for corporate and business aviation aircraft.
“Business aviation is very often an early adopter of connectivity technology because people are using these aircraft as business tools. Passengers need to stay connected to run their businesses,†says Esposito.
Honeywell also announced at EBACE that it will provide a full suite of connectivity solutions to Gulfstream’s new G500 and G600 aircraft. This will include the installation of its AMT-700 antenna to provide voice and data connectivity in the cabin and cockpit using the Swiftbroadband platform.
