Gogo Business Aviation continues toward its scheduled launch of its 4G service in the first half of 2017 and Silverhawk Aviation will develop Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for the new system.
Silverhawk Aviation is an authorized full-service maintenance, repair and overhaul Gogo dealer. The company will develop STCs for Gogo’s 4G system for Cessna Citation 560 series aircraft, and will participate as a partner for hardware sales and installations on other business aircraft.
“The new 4G system from Gogo is one of the leading connectivity solutions our customers ask us about,” said Gene Luce, Maintenance Manager for Silverhawk Aviation. “We currently have installed several of Gogo’s ATG 2000 and ATG 5000 systems. Our team of factory trained and experienced avionics technicians are ready to install, certify and turn on Gogo’s system on many of the Citations we currently service, and many more beyond our current client base.”
Gogo will deliver a 4G experience with reliable connectivity for passengers over existing technologies. The new service will include services such as Gogo Vision, providing the latest movies and TV episodes, flight tracker, weather reports, and additional features; Gogo Text & Talk, allowing passengers to call and text with their personal smart phones and mobile numbers; streaming video and audio; as well as face-to-face conversations with a user’s favorite applications; email with attachments; and web browsing – on a proven network in the continental U.S. and large portions of Alaska and Canada.
The Silverhawk STC will cover the following airframes in the 560 series:
- Citation V (model 560-0001 thru 560-0259)
- Ultra (model 560-0260 through 560-0538)
- Encore (model 560-0539 through 560-0750)
- Encore+ (model 560-0751 through 560-0815)
- C560XL/XLS and XLS+
“Silverhawk Aviation has experienced tremendous success and is a valued and trusted Gogo partner,” said Andy Geist, senior vice president of business aviation solutions for Gogo. “As the launch of Gogo Biz 4G service gets closer to reality we will increasingly rely on top dealers like Silverhawk Aviation to ensure our customers receive the care and attention they deserve. We thank Silverhawk for developing these STCs which are critical to the system’s adoptability.”
Created specifically for the business aviation market, Gogo’s 4G system is a specially designed application of Gogo’s air-to-ground technology that leverages its existing ground network of more than 250 towers, fiber backhaul and technology that has already flown hundreds of thousands of hours aboard thousands of business and commercial aircraft. The 4G equipment package will incorporate dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi service and a host of other features – all from a single, lightweight box.
Gogo recently received Supplemental Type Certification (STC) approval from the FAA for the Gogo Biz 4G system hardware, and is on track to begin shipments later in the second quarter of 2017. For those interested in adding Gogo Biz 4G, upgrade programs are available for new and existing ATG customers.
