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

With more than 1,250 business aircraft equipped with Inmarsat’s Jet ConneX broadband airborne connectivity system, the satellite network provider (Booth 3810) has been expanding its service options under the JX Evolution program. The first product under the JX Evolution banner is JX Edge, which went live earlier this month.

 


JX Edge offers “greater performance, speeds, and value for money,” according to Inmarsat. “We recognize customers are doing a lot more [online],” said Kai Tang, Inmarsat head of business aviation, and this includes bandwidth-heavy video conference meetings, “which is quite demanding on forward and return links.” To improve the customer experience, Inmarsat effectively doubled the return or uplink speed, he added, “to allow them to have a much better experience using video conference capabilities.” These improvements were done without changing customers’ connectivity plans.

 


“Evolution is thinking about what’s important to people,” said Tang. “It’s not always just about higher speeds. People always like to focus on speed, but Inmarsat likes to focus on the customer experience.”

 


This week at NBAA-BACE 2022, Inmarsat is highlighting JX Edge and Evolution service upgrades as well as second-generation airborne terminal options from companies such as Satcom Direct and Orbit Communication Systems (Booth 4016). These will join Honeywell’s JetWave terminal, offering customers more choices for business jet satcom installations.

 


JX Evolution continues improving as Inmarsat expands its satcom network from the current five Ka-band satellites ins geostationary orbit to 12 during the next five years. Some of the additional satellites will fill gaps over polar regions.

 


In 2023, Inmarsat expects to unveil SwiftJet, which will deliver up to six times faster service on its SwiftBroadband L-band satcom network. Inmarsat partnered with Honeywell to develop upgrades to SwiftBroadband airborne terminals using existing antennas for SwiftJet. “It’s a large boost to their internet connectivity with a minimally invasive upgrade,” Tang said. SwiftBroadband also has the advantage of providing approved safety service satcom.

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.

Inmarsat Rolling Out Evolution Satcom Upgrades

Inmarsat's JX Evolution satcom brings faster speeds to airborne connectivity customers with no change to service plans.

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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