Gogo's Business Aviation Group Receives In-flight Connectivity Certifications in Europe

March 26, 2014

Gogo Inc. announces that its business aviation group, Aircell, has received Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for installation of in-flight connectivity and entertainment systems aboard Bombardier Challenger 300 business jets. The certifications cover the AVIATOR 300 and UCS 5000 systems.

John Wade, Aircell's Executive Vice President and General Manager, said, "We're pleased to see the first European certification completed for UCS. Since we introduced UCS in October, market reception has been very good and a number of additional certifications are currently in progress. In addition, the new AVIATOR 300 STC and incentive program makes in-flight connectivity more affordable than ever for Challenger 300 operators in Europe." Aircell entered the European market in 2002 and the region now stands as the company's second-largest global market.

AVIATOR 300 System – In-flight Internet and Voice

The AVIATOR 300 system enables near-global email, light Internet and voice capabilities via Inmarsat's satellite-based SwiftBroadband service. Passengers and crew can send and receive e-mail with attachments, surf the web, access a corporate VPN and more, using their own Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, tablets, electronic flight bags, and smartphones. They can also place and receive voice calls using integrated cabin handsets. Aircell's SwiftBroadband solutions are powered by Cobham SATCOM.

The standard AVIATOR 300 STC data package is being offered to Challenger 300 operators for a nominal fee when they install the system at an authorized Aircell dealer and activate a new SwiftBroadband service plan with Aircell. This significantly reduces an operator's overall installation cost.

UCS 5000 System – Aircell's New Smart Router/Media Server

The UCS 5000 is the business aviation industry's first all-in-one smart router and media server. It's a backbone system that manages and simplifies the way passengers access today's vast menu of in-flight connectivity, entertainment and information. In addition to providing business aircraft with requisite router functionality and equipment interfaces, it offers the optional bonus of a full-fledged media server and in-flight entertainment (IFE) service – Gogo Vision – all in a single unit. Gogo Vision is an on-demand IFE service that gives passengers a rotating library of the latest movies and TV episodes – along with news, flight progress information and destination weather. UCS also offers passenger-to-passenger file transfer and screen sharing capabilities.