Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

During a demonstration flight held during NBAA 2017, Gogo Business Aviation highlighted the capabilities of its Avance L5 high-speed air-to-ground connectivity system. The flight was in a Gulfstream GIV-SP operated by Executive Jet Management, with the Avance L5 installation performed by Duncan Aviation. 

 


Gogo Avance L5 leverages the company’s existing ground antenna network with a new set of airborne hardware connected to two antennas mounted, in the GIV-SP’s case, on the lower aft fuselage. The new antennas provide connection to two towers at once, versus one with Gogo’s older 3G system. As a result, Avance L5 offers much higher throughput, on par with LTE cellular systems.

 


On the one-hour flight, which took a dozen passengers at 24,000 feet over parts of Nevada and California, AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber tested various smart-device apps and access to websites. 

 


I tested Netflix streaming on my iPhone 6S+, and it worked perfectly, including while simultaneously downloading another app update. Amazon Prime Video worked, but at a lower-than-normal resolution. I tried a Facebook Messenger video call, and that worked, but the video cut in and out a few times. Maximum throughput during the flight was 7 Mbps, and at least five people successfully streamed Netflix movies while others made Apple FaceTime calls simultaneously.

 


Emailing using the Apple mail app allowed me to send a full-size iPhone photo, but not an attached video. I was also able to send the same photo using the Messages app, including via SMS. The Slack messaging app worked, but not for sending an attached photo. The Twitter app quickly uploaded a tweet and photo. Customers can also use the Gogo Vision app for entertainment options stored onboard and its Text &amp; Talk app for communications.

 


Gogo Business Aviation v-p aftermarket sales Dave Salvador explained that passengers will experience varying levels of success with different products and apps. Some companies are much better at managing bandwidth, he explained, and Netflix is among the best.

 


Overall I found the Gogo Avance L5 experience much better than the original 3G service. Gogo is still selling the 3G equipment and service, according to Salvador, but an unexpected result of the deployment of the new Avance L5 equipment is that owners of smaller aircraft are asking for quotes for the faster product.

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

Gogo Avance L5 brings Netflix streaming to bizjet cabins

During a demonstration flight, Gogo showed off the higher speed of its Avance L5 air-to-ground connectivity system. 

Gogo Demonstrates Avance L5 Advantage

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Flight-tracking service is available for display on passengers' devices

FlightPath3D and Gogo Extend Bizav Partnership

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

The German company is taking a new approach to aerospace display technology.

Zeiss Microoptics Brings New Display Tech to Aircraft Cabin, Cockpit

Charles Alcock

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

ProSight technology is being demonstrated at the Farnborough Airshow

Zeiss Debuts New Approach to Cockpit and Cabin Displays 

Expands company’s offerings for high-speed, global connectivity

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New service plans distinguish between a single area and global coverage

Starlink Doubles Aviation Prices, Adds Region Boundaries

Amy Wilder

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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Zeiss Debuts New Approach to Cockpit and Cabin Displays

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System is FAA- and EASA-certified

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