![\"SmartSky\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/SmartSky.jpg\")
SmartSky\u2019s best-in-class, future-ready airborne network got a boost today from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Avidyne Corporation, SmartSky\u2019s avionics manufacturing partner, was awarded the first supplemental type certificate (STC) that provides for the installation and operation of a SmartSky 4G LTE system, in this case, on a Cessna Citation Excel.<\/p>\n
Avidyne CEO Dan Schwinn stated, \u201cWith this pioneering first STC in hand, we expect to receive Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) from the FAA shortly. PMA is the catalyst for SmartSky\u2019s partners to complete their STC commitments on many other popular business aircraft, and that then enables customers to install and use the system.\u201d<\/p>\n
SmartSky expects these follow-on STCs to begin to be available this summer. That timing aligns well with the planned completion of the majority of the network coverage expansion effort currently underway across the continental United States.<\/p>\n
SmartSky 4G LTE Significantly Improves Performance While Lowering Costs<\/p>\n
SmartSky\u2019s patented beamforming technology delivers multi-gigabyte per hour data throughput at the industry\u2019s lowest latency, both to and from an aircraft, setting a new airborne performance standard, all at the lowest cost per bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe recent FAA approval of the SmartSky 4G LTE-based network equipment is a clear indication of the fast pace in which the in-flight connectivity market is evolving,\u201d says Nate Klenke, Modifications Sales Manager for Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Nebraska. \u201cWe are excited to offer the SmartSky solution to our clients as one of their options for in-flight connectivity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Network Live, Coverage Expansion Continues<\/strong><\/p>\n SmartSky\u2019s 4G LTE-based network has been live since 2017 and coverage expansion remains on track to support launching service nationwide in 2018. The long lead-time steps of onsite viability testing, permitting and backhaul-connection have all been completed at over 96% of the planned nationwide ground sites. More than 40% of those sites are already in their final stages of deployment or are already on air.<\/p>\n Upcoming Showcase at SD\u2019s Annual CwC<\/strong><\/p>\n Satcom Direct (SD) serves as SmartSky\u2019s exclusive customer service and support provider. SD\u2019s popular Connecting with Customers (CwC) seminar will be February 19-22, in Austin, Texas. Now in its 14th year, the event will be packed with industry leaders who are there to learn about updates and innovations such as SmartSky 4G LTE.<\/p>\n \u201cThe now FAA-certified, future-ready performance afforded by SmartSky 4G LTE will be a key part of the conversation,\u201d says Jim Huntoon, SD\u2019s Director of Sales-Strategic Partnerships. \u201cWe are excited to see this new technology come to market in 2018, bringing a new level of speed and reliability to business aviation connectivity.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SmartSky\u2019s best-in-class, future-ready airborne network got a boost today from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Avidyne Corporation, SmartSky\u2019s avionics manufacturing partner, was awarded the first supplemental type certificate (STC) that provides for the installation and operation of a SmartSky 4G LTE system, in this case, on a Cessna Citation Excel. Avidyne CEO Dan Schwinn stated, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10049","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-north-carolina"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10049","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10049"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10049\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10051,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10049\/revisions\/10051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10049"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10049"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10049"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}