A year after opening its order book at NBAA-BACE 2021, SmartSky Networks (Booth 3077, Static AD_503) returns to the premier business aviation convention with its long-delayed air-to-ground (ATG) broadband network in place. It brings “a new level of connectivity and capability that transcends any solution previously available, particularly in the ATG sector,” said CEO Dave Helfgott.
Some 300 towers are in place, providing connectivity for at least 97 percent of business aviation flight routes in the continental U.S. The SmartSky system is installed in a Cessna Citation X on static display this week at the show.
The full buildout of 330 towers will cover the remaining “edge cases” in remote areas and add density to the network, the company said.
SmartSky’s patented data-transfer methodology, which sends data to and from the aircraft with equal effectiveness, is the network’s true differentiator, according to Helfgott. SmartSky uses the unlicensed 2.4 GHz spectrum band, combining 4G LTE and 5G technologies, while also enabling aircraft to use 60 MHz of unlicensed spectrum for consistent, responsive data flow, providing service in the range of 5 to 8 Mbps.
System tests have demonstrated maximum speeds up to 15 Mbps. SmartSky claims the network “delivers connectivity performance 10 times better than legacy systems.”
Customers have a choice of service plans with monthly data allowance levels from 5 GB to unlimited, with discounts for prepayment and multi-year commitments.
Supplemental type certificates (STCs) are approved for installations aboard many popular business aircraft, including the Gulfstream IV/V and G450/G550 (Pentastar); Bombardier Challenger 601 through 650 (Duncan Aviation); and Embraer ERJ-135/145 and Legacy 600/650 (StandardAero); Cessna Citation X (Liberty Partners); as well as the Citation Excel. More STCs are near completion, and SmartSky’s partner MROs are installing the systems now, the North Carolina-based company said.
STCs will be shared under license arrangements, allowing other MROs to install the systems. SmartSky is also making the network available to regional airlines in the U.S., hence the ERJ-135/145 STC.
Designed with input from aviation industry partners, the antennas and onboard radio are relatively easy to install, according to SmartSky. Though lightweight, the airborne hardware is designed for midsize and larger jets, so SmartSky is developing a smaller (Lite) ATG system for light jets and turboprops, where it sees lots of demand. The Lite configuration will provide connectivity options offering sustained, multi-gigabyte-per-hour performance that has previously not been available on small aircraft, according to the company.
SmartSky isn’t confining its sales pitch solely to the cabin class.
“Connectivity in aviation is about much more than just the back of the aircraft,” said SmartSky president Ryan Stone, calling the company “committed to connecting the entire aviation ecosystem,” as exemplified by its Skytelligence offering.
“It’s a flexible data-exchange and services platform that enables pilots, passengers, and operations teams to get the most out of current and future aviation applications,” he explained. He cited its SmoothSky application, which works with IATA’s Turbulence Aware program to help flight crews avoid areas of turbulence based on real-time, data-driven turbulence reports.
Another app provides the crew real-time access to notams, live airport maps, and other flight-critical information, enhancing crew decision-making and reducing workload.
SmartSky is also the first ATG network to connect with Honeywell Forge, which provides business aviation operators with access to advanced software services and performance insights. For applications in the cabin, SmartSky offers IdeaNova’s Inplay and Intouch services, which provide an entertainment streaming and videoconferencing platform secured with scalable coding and encryption.
Charter operators FlyExclusive and Jet It have announced plans to install SmartSky ATG systems on their fleets.
Looking ahead, the company is developing cloud-based flight management systems and air traffic management capabilities for the advanced air mobility sector in partnership with GE Aviation and Mosaic ATM, backed by a NASA innovation award.
Meanwhile, SmartSky continues testing the network with three aircraft of its own—a Citation Excel, King Air B200, and Cessna Skymaster—while its engineering team “fine-tunes the software-defined network infrastructure for optimal performance and coverage,” said Stone.