Honeywell announced that its Ovation Select cabin management system and Aspire 200 satellite communications systems will be installed in Jiangsu Jet Co. Ltd.’s Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. This marks the first time that Aspire 200 has been certified and installed on a Chinese operator’s business jet.

The Aspire 200 system offers cabin voice and data service via Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband satellite system at rates up to 650kbps. It allows passengers to communicate with family, friends and coworkers from the moment they step on the plane to the moment they step off.

Meanwhile, Ovation Select allows passengers to control aspects of the aircraft such as lighting, temperature, video and audio streaming in-flight WiFi and the water system. Approximately 150 business aircraft already have the cabin management system.

While ABACE show visitors at the Honeywell exhibit (Booth P336) will be able to interact with Ovation Select, they will able to be to experience its Primus Epic integrated avionics and Primus Elite avionics, installed on Embraer Lineage 1000E and Legacy 650 aircraft out on the static display.

Primus Epic offers integrated communication, air traffic management and navigation functions for owners, pilots and operators, as well as offering features such as synthetic vision. The avionics displays XM graphical weather data, Jeppesen electronic charts and maps as well as video and is available as a retrofit option for in service Legacy 600 aircraft. The displays have replaced older cathode ray tubes with liquid crystal displays.

Other technology on display at Honeywell’s includes GoDirect services platform and its TPE311 turboprop engine.

China’s Potential

According to Andy Gill, Honeywell Aerospace’s senior director for business aviation in the Asia Pacific region, prospects for the sectors growth in China are still strong. He told AIN that Chinese authorities have been consulting with the industry as to how changes in airspace organization and management might improve access for business aircraft. “I’m seeing a pick up in the pace at which they [Chinese officials] want to see change. They recognize that business aircraft need to be able to operate in lower airspace below 3,000 meters” he said. “China is a big part of the industry’s growth in this part of the world and I’m very bullish about it.”

In 2016, Honeywell achieved the first installation for a Chinese operator of its JetWave connectivity solution for larger aircraft. “Consumers in this part of the world are very interested in this type of technology. There is a strong culture of wanting to be connected and this will help us to grow,” Gill said.