ViaSat-3 Preps for BizAv Activation

Viasat‘s JetXP business jet inflight internet program will soon have access to significantly more capacity, especially on flights between Hawaii and the US mainland. The company successfully tested its GAT 5510 terminal on the ViaSat-3 satellite, paving the way for a broad rollout of services.

Business aviation customers have been eager to utilize our ViaSat-3 capacity for some time, and we’re now on the cusp of delivering that breakthrough. Our recent test flight has marked an important milestone — it was the first connection between a business aviation terminal and the satellite, and we exceeded all key performance benchmarks to deliver an even greater connectivity experience.

– Kai Tang, Head of Business Aviation at Viasat

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Initial testing was performed on a Gulfstream G280 aircraft, exceeding performance targets for consistency, reliability and speed. A second test on a Gulfstream G-III replicated those results.

An over-the-air software upgrade will ultimately enable the service on compatible aircraft. Viasat expects those deployments to begin later this month. The company reports more than 250 equipped with the compatible hardware.

The availability for BizAv comes nearly a year after the satellite was activated for commercial aviation customers. It also follows the shift announced last October to drop speed caps on some JetXP service plans.

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At that time Viasat was not quite ready to combine the satellite resources of its legacy Inmarsat and Viasat operations for the private jet segment. Making this option only available to aircraft with the GAT-5510 would seem to keep that separation in place.

The GAT-5510 is available as both a linefit option on Gulfstream G280s, Bombardier C3500s and Embraer Praetors, or retrofit through Viasat’s authorized dealers, with Supplemental Type Certificate (STCs) on several popular large cabin airframes.