The FAA has issued a supplemental type certificate (STC) for installation of the SmartSky Lite air-to-ground connectivity system on King Air B200s through 360s. The first-article SmartSky Lite installation on the turboprop twin series was done by Davinci Jets Services in a King Air 350i. The Davinci Jets MRO division is equipping most of the company’s managed aircraft fleet with SmartSky systems.
So far, Davinci Jets Services has completed SmartSky installations on a Cessna Citation CJ4 and Latitude and Pilatus PC-12, along with the King Air 350i. SmartSky has installed first-article systems on four other aircraft models that are undergoing the STC process, and six more are in progress. STCs now cover more than 6,000 in-service aircraft, according to SmartSky, and once the in-progress projects are completed, that will add another 10,000 aircraft to those that are STC’d.
“Receiving this STC marks significant progress in the SmartSky STC lineup and in delivering our high-performance solution to a series of aircraft that has long been underserved by inflight connectivity,” said SmartSky CEO David Helfgott. “The pilots and passengers of this aircraft are absolutely delighted with the ability to connect to whatever is most important, without limitations.”
SmartSky’s coverage area includes the continental U.S. and parts of the Gulf of Mexico.