We’re just a couple weeks into the formal transition process of the Gogo Commercial Aviation division into the Intelsat operation, but the teams involved have never been more optimistic about the future of in-flight connectivity and the value they can deliver to airlines and passengers.
Satellite
GX5 is alive: Inmarsat activates newest satellite in the Global Xpress constellation
The Inmarsat Global Xpress (GX) satellite network just tripled its capacity. The newest satellite, GX5, is now active, delivering a massive boost to the Ka-band satellite network.
NXTCOMM boosts antenna development, certification leadership
How important is hardware certification for an in-flight connectivity antenna manufacturer? At ESA upstart NXTCOMM the newly hired VP of Aero Structures and Certification will report directly to the CEO to help ensure that the program faces as few internal challenges as possible.
OneWeb emerges from bankruptcy, ready to launch
OneWeb emerged from bankruptcy protection on Friday, poised to resume satellite launches and bring is constellation into service. The company also has a new CEO, and a satellite production facility that won’t be moving to the UK after all.
Viasat phased array antenna moves into final testing phase for O3b integration
The Viasat Ka-band solid-state, fully-electronic phased array flat panel antenna is ready to begin the final stages of testing on the SES O3b mPOWER constellation. The system entered the Test Readiness Review (TRR) stage of the program. TRR is the final stage of testing to verify compliance with the antenna’s performance requirements.
Stagnation displaces Astronics’ recovery resurgence hope
The summer looked good for Astronics. The company saw green shoots of a recovery and was ready to resume its production of components for aircraft manufacturers and interiors suppliers. But as the summer came to a close so did that hope of a quick return to 2019 levels of production. And with the 737 MAX still grounded the company finds itself in what CEO Peter Gundermann describes as a “pretty tough” place.
Inmarsat, GDC, ThinKom update GX antenna, terminal options
Airlines looking at the Inmarsat GX Aviation network have a new option for the antenna and terminal bits, supported by ThinKom and GDC Technics.
Global Eagle charts a new course out of Chapter 11
As Global Eagle finalizes its financial plans for emergence from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection there are plenty of questions about what the future of the company will look like. Fortunately the most critical issue is easy to answer: The Albatross test aircraft remains part of the operation. Beyond that, however, the company sees the current industry crisis as an opportunity to reinvent what the inflight connectivity and entertainment business looks like.
Inmarsat launches GX+ North America expansion with Hughes
The Inmarsat network just got a lot larger. The satellite connectivity provider is teaming with Hughes to bring the JUPITER High Throughput Satellite Ka-band constellation into the GX Aviation network, a major boost to capacity as the company seeks to capture more of the North American market.
JetBlue’s first A220 emerges with a new tail design
Welcome “Hops” to the JetBlue tail design collection. The new art appeared on the carrier’s first A220-300 as it emerged from the paint shop in Mobile, Alabama this week.