Lombardo covers business aviation maintenance-related issues. He is also a writer and on-air reporter for AINtv. He has over 3000 articles published and is the author of several books on aircraft systems for pilots and on the topic of flight simulation.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from the University of Illinois, has taught aviation for over 35 years in industry and as a university professor and academic dean at three different universities. He is also a frequent seminar and after-dinner motivational speaker.&nbsp;
Lombardo holds an A&amp;P Certificate, ATP, CFI and Ground Instructor ratings. He was a corporate pilot and was a research pilot and flight instructor at the University of Illinois. An FAA Safety Counselor for over 25 years, he was one of the original 13 Counselors appointed to the FAA’s Airworthiness Safety Program for maintenance technicians.&nbsp;

Contributor

David A. Lombardo

Satcom Direct received the initial FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) that allows installation of its SD Wi-Fi Hub on Cessna Citation CJ3s. Additional STCs are in progress for the Hub, the standalone router and Wi-Fi designed for small to midsize business jets and enhancement to the Satcom Direct Router (SDR) for larger aircraft. The SD Wi-Fi Hub serves as the gateway for all voice and data communications on the aircraft. At 1.6 pounds, the Hub is the smallest and lightest router in aviation, according to Satcom Direct.

 


“Meeting the connectivity needs for customers with airframes of all sizes was the driver for the development of the SD Wi-Fi hub. Receiving the first STC paves the way for the availability of the product to the marketplace,” said Ken Bantoft, chief technology officer for SD.

 


The company is working with its dealers and MROs to expand the availability of STCs for other airframes.

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Satcom Direct Receives Initial STC for Wi-Fi Hub

The Wi-Fi Hub is small, lightweight and easy to install, says the company.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

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.

Recent developments presage some compelling new products

Avionics Advancing Slowly but Surely into the Future

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

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.

A sale of peripheral assets could net up to $12 billion for the aerospace and defense group

Jeppesen and ForeFlight Sale Could Yield $8B For Boeing

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

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.

Start-up is developing a family of hypersonic aircraft using air-breathing propulsion

Hermeus Installs Starlink for Beyond-line-of-sight Tests

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Vulnerability to bad actors is a critical aviation issue

Aerodata Backup GPS Approved for Anti-spoofing/jamming

Hanneke Weitering

Garmin introduced the third-generation flight deck last month

Beta’s Electric Airplane Debuts Garmin G3000 Prime Avionics

Approval enables operators to add head-up display to King Air turboprops

Global Aviation STCs ClearVision EFVS in King Airs

Upgrade adds 3D synthetic vision and next-gen capabilities

Thornton Aviation Installs InSight Suite on Falcon 900B

Chad Trautvetter

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

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