High-speed broadband in light jets, truly global connectivity covering polar regions, multi-orbit, multi-band solutions ensuring always-on connectivity, these are just a few of the benefits that the introduction of the Gogo Galileo HDX antenna brings to business aviation. The addition of the compact antenna powered by the fully operational Eutelsat OneWeb satellite constellation, is ushering in a new era of connectivity, enabling new aircraft segments to optimize broadband services for the very first time.
Brazil’s JBJ Agropecuaria was one of the first customers to retrofit a previously unconnected Embraer Phenom 300 with a Gogo Galileo HDX terminal. José Batista Júnior, CEO of the agriculture and food production corporation, commented that Gogo Galileo HDX will ensure executives remain productive in the air. The installation provides game-changing connectivity to an executive team that regularly flies across Brazil and South America. The company is already making the most of staying in touch with its farming network, ensuring colleagues can collaborate, and allowing passengers to monitor emerging industry news, through all phases of flight. The results? Better informed commercial decision making. The crew also benefits as operational capabilities have been strengthened, supporting the flight department in being more operationally and financially efficient.
Fleet operators are taking the opportunity to redefine their passengers’ onboard experience with the low-latency, consistent, global high-speed broadband. First among this next generation is Dubai-based Falcon (operating under the Alex Jet AOC), which has purchased an initial five terminals for its Bombardier Global 5000 and Global Express aircraft. Falcon is equipping its aircraft with the Gogo Galileo HDX antenna and associated AVANCE SCS LRU. The deal also illustrates some of the value-added benefits of Gogo’s offer. Falcon’s passengers will enjoy in-flight entertainment and interactive moving maps through Gogo Vision, while its crews benefit from real-time flight data, live weather, and automatic system updates. The move is part of a strategic effort to improve its cabin experience and deliver passengers the ultimate inflight comfort. Aziz Turan, Executive Director Alex Jet (part of Alex Group Investment) says that passengers expect streaming-speed internet that travels with them and gives Falcon the opportunity to deliver a unique onboard experience that sets the company apart.
Marking Gogo’s debut in Brazil and the UAE, the installations exemplify the company’s penetration into new markets enabled by the merger with Satcom Direct. With more than sixty units shipped in the two months since the first STCs were generated, Gogo Galileo is already augmenting business aviation connectivity worldwide. The addition of the advanced technology antenna to the business aviation landscape undoubtedly gives operators, owners, and fleets a competitive commercial advantage while enhancing operational value.
Gogo Galileo HDX terminals are shipping every day, and the service is already proving its worth in combination with Eutelsat OneWeb’s low earth orbit (LEO) Ku-band constellation. It is also acting as a connectivity force multiplier, providing the sector with new paths to multi-orbit, multi-band connectivity. On aircraft capable of accommodating the space and power requirements of two antennas, a Gogo Galileo electronically steered antenna (ESA) on the fuselage may be combined with a Gogo Plane Simple Ku- or Ka-band tail mount antenna compatible with geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellite constellations, for reassured access to broadband connectivity regardless of geography or serviceability.
For aircraft operating primarily over the US, Gogo’s air-to-ground (ATG) broadband service, soon upgrading to 5G, offers another connectivity option, one ideally paired with Gogo Galileo to provide additional service and continued connection for trips beyond the ATG tower network.
“Operators of larger business and VIP aircraft have long enjoyed service through other systems, including GEO constellations from our airtime partners Intelsat and Viasat. With the advent of the LEO solutions, we’re pleased to bring consistent connectivity to new classes of aircraft for the first time, as well as offering existing customers an alternative connectivity system that strengthens redundancy, and allows for more data to be transmitted to more devices in the cabin,” says Michael Skou Christensen, Gogo chief commercial officer. “We’re adding value to the inflight experience, and simultaneously augmenting crew operations. Our multi-orbit, multi-band portfolio gives customers the best of LEO, GEO and ATG worlds.”
Whichever permutation Gogo customers select, the services are supported by Gogo’s award-winning 24/7/365 customer service team, which combines human expertise with machine reading technology to reduce outages and interruptions. “No connectivity service is 100% reliable but Gogo is unique in being able to customize solutions that bring multi-orbit and multi-broadband service to aircraft of all sizes. Thanks to the global coverage of Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO constellation connectivity is possible at the poles, and for those that have also equipped GEO services, more capacity can be delivered into congested areas for an always-on experience.”
With Gogo Galileo HDX terminals shipping every day, the service is already proving its worth and has positioned Gogo as the only single resource for global multi-orbit, multi-band broadband connectivity purpose-built for business aviation. This is backed by dedicated, expert support including training, cyber security services, and third-party software integration. “It is an exciting time for our industry and a compelling offer business aviation,” concludes Christensen.