Since its launch at EBACE last year, the Thrane & Thrane AVIATOR 200 has received three Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) which approve its installation on a range of smaller aircraft and include the use of Wi-Fi™ aboard. The AVIATOR 200 was the first to be launched in-line with the Inmarsat SwiftBroadband SB200 service and, one year later, remains the only system to have STC approval. Thrane & Thrane’s AVIATOR 200 simultaneously provides data speeds up to 200 kbps and a single AMBE 2 channel for voice calls, enabling users to take advantage of a wide range of office-in-the-sky services including calling, emailing and web browsing. With built-in Wi-Fi capability, the AVIATOR 200 makes it extremely easy for aircraft operators to offer wireless connectivity aboard, to support the use of Wi-Fi enabled devices such as laptops, tablets and smart phones. To date the AVIATOR 200 has received STCs for use aboard Beechcraft King Air 200, Cessna 500, 550, S550, 552, 560, and 560XL, and Citation 525/525A (CJ1/CJ2).
The AVIATOR portfolio replaced the previous Aero SB product line, and provides the bizjet industry with high quality, fast and reliable in-flight connectivity for a wide variety of aircraft. “Since its introduction last year, the AVIATOR product name has had an extremely positive impact, generating very high levels of interest across the global business aviation market. The branding is more closely aligned with our SAILOR® and EXPLORER® product family names for maritime and land mobile use, reflecting the environment our SwiftBroadband systems are used in which has strengthened understanding and definition of each product’s functionality within the market,” said Kim Gram, Vice President, Aeronautical Business Unit, Thrane & Thrane. Thrane & Thrane’s AVIATOR SwiftBroadband portfolio supports the use of Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband service aboard the widest range of aircraft possible. The full range includes the AVIATOR 700 and AVIATOR 350 High Gain Antenna (HGA) options, AVIATOR 300 with Intermediate Gain Antenna (IGA), as well as the exceptionally compact and lightweight AVIATOR 200 Low Gain Antenna (LGA). Another key trend has been the shift towards wireless connectivity to support the use of Wi-Fi™ enabled devices such as smart phones and tablets — the entire AVIATOR portfolio features built-in Wi-Fi capability and has been approved to offer wireless connectivity aboard.
At Thrane & Thrane’s EBACE stand (979), live demos of the AVIATOR Wireless Handset will be conducted to offer visitors the opportunity to test the solution’s unique echo and noise cancellation capabilities. Presented to the European Business Aviation market for the first time, the AVIATOR Wireless Handset provides a range of advanced features for in-flight calling, neatly packaged within an easy-to-use and stylish unit. The compact and lightweight AVIATOR Wireless Handset can be used by anyone aboard the aircraft to make and receive calls and offers an extensive range of advanced features to provide unmatched audio quality. The handset’s highly intuitive user interface, tactile controls and 2.2” TFT color screen, offer a design similar to that of cell or mobile phones, making it exceptionally easy for users to operate. The new AVIATOR Wireless Handset is available to all customers of Thrane & Thrane’s AVIATOR SwiftBroadband solutions and connects via the system’s built-in wireless access point for users to make calls over the IP based network. The solution is charged with a purpose-built battery charging cradle, designed for installation in the cabin and is powered by the aircraft’s own power supply. When fully charged via the cradle, the handset is able to remain charged in standby mode for over 24 hours.
Thrane & Thrane is also highlighting opportunities for Aero-M and Aero-I customers to upgrade to the AVIATOR 300 SwiftBroadband solution. By using the existing Aero-M or Aero-I antenna, the AVIATOR 300 can be simply and cost-effectively installed to provide an extensive range of modern satellite communication services including fast data connectivity, Wi-Fi™ and high quality voice calling. Providing data speeds of up to 332 kbps in a compact and lightweight package, the Thrane & Thrane AVIATOR 300 offers a significant service upgrade compared with the Aero-M and Aero-I systems. By using the aircraft’s existing TT-5006A Intermediate Gain Antenna the overall cost and time of installing the AVIATOR 300 is significantly reduced. Upgrading to SwiftBroadband provides users with a range of capabilities that include...
- Wi-Fi internet access in the cabin of the aircraft for VPN access, web surfing and quick and efficient file transfer
- Use Wi-Fi enabled devices such as tablets and smartphones to send and receive email
- Improve the quality of voice calls while lowering the per minute costs compared to the customer’s existing Aero-M or Aero-I service
- Increase the value of the aircraft by adding the latest in Global Broadband Satcom capability
EBACE is jointly hosted each year by the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and is a three-day event in Geneva that features exhibits, a static display of aircraft, education sessions and maintenance & operations sessions (M&Os), all located at the Geneva Palexpo and Geneva International Airport.
