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

The FAA awarded a supplemental type certificate to StandardAero for installation of SmartSky air-to-ground connectivity equipment in the Embraer ERJ135/140/145 and Legacy 600/650. The STC will support SmartSky customer JetSuiteX and its ERJs, and it comes as SmartSky’s 4G LTE airborne connectivity network nears service entry in June.

 


“We’re cranking,” said Nancy Walker, SmartSky Networks chief commercial officer. The U.S. network is expected to offer service beginning in June over areas where 80 percent of business jet flights (by flight hours) take place, followed by continental U.S. coverage by the end of the year.

 


StandardAero will complete SmartSky installations at its Augusta, Georgia, Springfield, Illinois, and Houston locations. The company is developing additional SmartSky STCs for the Embraer 450/500 and Dassault Falcon 50EX, 7X, and 8X. “The demand for a more compelling user experience is driving our customers to new [airborne connectivity] networks and services like those SmartSky has demonstrated to the marketplace,” said StandardAero certification services director John Miedwig.

 


SmartSky will be offering two versions of its air-to-ground service: SmartSky Lite for smaller aircraft and 4G LTE for larger aircraft. The 4G LTE service will launch first with subscription plans ranging from 15 GB/month for $3,800 to 100 GB/month for $4,500. The Lite service will start at $75/hour. These are introductory prices.

 


The 4G LTE system requires two antennas, a high-performance blade weighing 13.5 pounds and 30 inches long and a full-duplex quad antenna weighing 6.5 pounds and 15 inches long. The Lite service requires just the full-duplex antenna. In addition to a cabin router, the onboard equipment includes a base radio, which weighs 12.1 pounds. SmartSky network speeds allow multiple users at the same time and video streaming.

 


SmartSky’s total funding is nearly $350 million, following closing in February of a funding round of $104 million, “including $75 million in debt commitments from funds managed by the Global Credit team at BlackRock and equity investments by private equity firms Tiger Infrastructure, WP Global, Platform Partners, and Meritage Investors,” according to SmartSky.

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.

StandardAero Gains First Embraer SmartSky STC

The certification process for SmartSky air-to-ground connectivity is accelerating as the network nears service entry. 

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

Pro Star Delivers G280 Gogo Galileo Satcom Installation

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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HDX antenna installed under the tail-mounted radome

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System is FAA- and EASA-certified

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