Connectivity provider SmartSky Networks has received a supplemental type certificate (STC) for its airborne hardware on the Cessna Citation X-series business jet. There are more than 300 Citation X-series aircraft in operation, according to SmartSky.
The installation was performed by charter operator flyExclusive on a Citation X at its Kinston, North Carolina facilities. The first test flight with the air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity system was completed in June, and the FAA awarded the STC on August 12.
“We aim to make high-performance, reliable inflight connectivity available for everyone in business aviation, and this successful certification with a key customer is an important step towards achieving that goal,” said SmartSky CEO Dave Helfgott.
The Citation X STC follows the launch of SmartSky’s nationwide ATG network using nearly 300 towers. Work is underway to bring that total to 330. STCs are available on a variety of business aircraft from Bombardier, Embraer, Gulfstream, and Textron Aviation, and SmartSky said additional STCs for other business aircraft are in progress, including the Falcon 900.