Gogo reached the next milestone on its Galileo LEO connectivity journey. The company received PMA (Parts Manufacturer Approval) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its HDX antenna, manufactured by Hughes Networks. The PMA allows Gogo and its installation partners to move forward with the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) process.
We know operators and private owners of the smaller cabins want access to the same high-speed connectivity options as the large jets, and with HDX installed, we are filling that gap in the market.
– Chris Moore, CEO Gogo
Gogo worked with Delta Engineering to secured the approval. Delta Engineering’s certification as a FAA Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) partner allowed it to facilitate the process.
In addition to its role as a primary connectivity link for smaller business jets, Gogo CEO Chris Moore also positions the HDX terminal as an option to “complement existing connectivity solutions or boost redundancy to support the ever-increasing appetite for data to power multiple applications.” It remains to be seen just how many aircraft owners pursue the multi-link connectivity option.
Gogo previously positioned the AVANCE on-board hardware platform as capable of delivering multi-bearer solutions, so this is not entirely new. Still, it remains to be seen how many choose that option, especially if it means combining links from multiple service providers rather than multiple Gogo links.
Gogo also updated its Galileo STC progress tracker, though it is unlikely the 16 types flagged for availability this quarter will get there before the end of the month.
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