Coming just one month after it announced receipt of the supplemental type certificate (STC) for installation of its Broad Band Multi-Link (BBML) high-speed data system in the G500 and G550, Gulfstream Aerospace announced at EBACE it had received approval for installation of the high-speed data system in the G450 and G350, its fourth such STC. The first installation of the system on a customer G450 will be completed next month.

Danish satellite communications service provider Satcom1 demonstrated its Satcom Monitoring, which provides a visual indication of channel status. This way users know when to switch from ISDN circuit mode, which costs about $9 per minute, to the more economical MPDS packet mode for low data-rate applications, such as text e-mails. One-number Dial gives callers the choice of U.S., the Netherlands or Norwegian numbers to call the aircraft, allowing them to choose the least expensive option for their location.

Rockwell Collins announced that the first Bombardier Global 5000 received an STC for installation of the Airshow 21 integrated cabin electronics system. The airplane, which is in service with a Middle Eastern operator, is the first to receive the new Collins equipment, designed to support a suite of functions from entertainment and cabin controls. The company has also tested AirCell’s ST3100 Iridium satcom system as a qualified data channel for the Airshow 4000 in-flight information system.

Ruag of Switzerland displayed its Sky Office system for the first time at an airshow. The equipment combines in-flight office functions, such as phone, fax, Internet and e-mail, with audio and video cabin entertainment, including Air Show display, and a class 3 cockpit electronic flight bag.  

Providing only a brochure, AirCell gave a sneak preview of Axxess, a new wireless data hardware package that the company said will let passengers talk on wireless “smart phones,” surf the Internet on their wireless PDAs and laptops and eventually use their personal cellphones to place calls in flight. Expect an official launch of Axxess at this year’s NBAA Convention in New Orleans.

A new satcom antenna from CMC Electronics is optimized for business jet, regional and narrowbody aircraft applications, the Canadian company said at EBACE. The top-mounted SatLite antenna is based on the proprietary technology and architecture used in CMC’s CMA-2102 high-gain antenna system.

Thrane & Thrane of Denmark introduced its Aero-HSD+ Flex program, which allows customers to specify the level of satcom capability they want and upgrade later as needed. Users may choose any combination of voice, fax, cockpit- and high-speed data from a single channel of Swift64 at a list price of $78,500 up to the full five-channel system for $232,000.

Lufthansa Technik is bringing to market some of the devices it has developed as part of its networked interactive cabin environment in-flight entertainment and communications architecture, including the Mobile Access Router produced with Thrane & Thrane, new digital LCD screens of its own design and a trim panel speaker kit from UK defense research firm QinetiQ.

Rockwell Collins announced that its Tailwind 550 satellite television system has gained an STC for installation in the Boeing Business Jet. Completed by Jet Aviation in Basel, Switzerland, the certification allows Collins to deliver “global television solutions” for current and future BBJ buyers.

The HS-400 high-speed data terminal shown at EBACE by Ottawa-based EMS Satcom will soon be able to provide four channels instead of the current two. It is also the first product that will be capable of upgrading to the 432 kilobytes per second SwiftBroadband service. EMS claims about two-thirds of the Swift64 applications are based on its product, which is also supplied to Honeywell.