Gogo, Aloft Receive STC for Galileo FDX on Boeing BBJs

Gogo and Aloft AeroArchitects have received the first supplemental type certificate (STC) for the Gogo Galileo FDX terminal, covering Boeing BBJ1s and -2s based on the 737NG and Max variants. The first installation was completed on a BBJ1 (737-700IGW) that previously lacked connectivity.

The Galileo FDX terminal uses Eutelsat’s OneWeb low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation to provide broadband speeds of up to 195 Mbps down and 32 Mbps up. Designed for business aviation, the full-duplex system is optimized for super-midsize jets and larger aircraft.

Comprising two line-replaceable units, the flat-panel, electronically-steered antenna and SDR Gateway or Avance router minimize downtime. EASA approval is expected by year-end. Features of the system include Gogo’s FlightDeck Freedom datalink service that supports trip planning, flight tracking, real-time weather, and other operational data, improving situational awareness and efficiency.

“This first FDX STC marks another major milestone as we strive to deliver multi-orbit, multi-band connectivity for all types of aircraft,” said Gogo CEO Chris Moore. “It clearly demonstrates that Gogo is still the only company that can fulfill every aspect of an aircraft’s operational nose-to-tail connectivity needs from a single resource.”

“Despite being our first install, [it was] straightforward to fit,” said Aloft CEO Scott Meyer. “We not only did that but also succeeded in generating the very first Gogo Galileo FDX STC.”