Business aviation customers will have (at least) two options for implementing Gogo Galileo, the global satellite connectivity solution via the Eutelsat/Oneweb LEO constellation. The company confirmed successful testing of the Plane Simple Electronically Steered Antenna over a series of flights.
The system performed flawlessly throughout the test program and did not require remedial intervention at any point, highlighting the capability of this multi-purpose antenna.
– Chris Moore, CEO, Gogo
The full-duplex ESA is being developed in conjunction with Gilat (announced in 2023), and is expected to support VVIP, head-of-state, government, and special missions operators. The program included a mounting plate from MAG Aerospace to attach the antenna to the Cessna Caravan for testing. The companies note that the MAG adapter plate offers a modular approach, allowing the ESA to be easily swapped, without recertification, as new technologies emerge. It can also be fitted on a wide range of aircraft types and sizes.
The gate-to-gate testing included more typical maneuvers, as well as aggressive paths such as racetrack, figure-of-eight patterns, and hard bank movements up to 30 degrees. The team also tested abrupt power reset programs to ensure it would reconnect quickly and without intervention. Test data will be used by Gilat to optimize the final terminal design.
Gilat shares that the ESR-2030Ku terminal delivered full-duplex connectivity with throughput of 195 Mbps downlink and 32 Mbps uplink. It also notes that Gogo “will be the exclusive distributor of the antenna for the business aviation and defense markets.” That gives Gogo an exclusive on two different terminals in the segment.
The test program covered ten hours of flying across five trips. Further testing will be conducted for network type approval and FAA certification.
Manufacturing of pre-production hardware for those initial tests is underway. The company expects to deliver production hardware to support STC programs later in 2025.
The Plane Simple option joins Hughes Networks‘ HDX and FDX terminals in Gogo’s portfolio. Gogo holds an exclusive contract for the Hughes terminal in the BizAv market and has expressed optimism at the number of kits it plans to sell, including queries to Hughes about the ability to scale up manufacturing.
A favor to ask while you're here...
Did you enjoy the content? Or learn something useful? Or generally just think this is the type of story you'd like to see more of? Consider supporting the site through a donation (any amount helps). It helps keep me independent and avoiding the credit card schlock.
Leave a Reply