ARINC and Rockwell Collins Equip First Bombardier Challenger with In-Flight Broadband

ANNAPOLIS, MD — ARINC Direct and Rockwell Collins announce the successful integration of their broadband solution for business jets — eXchange with Service by SKYLink — on a customer's Bombardier Challenger 604 business jet. eXchange with Service by SKYLink includes Rockwell Collins eXchange avionics, coupled with SKYLink Ku-band satellite service from ARINC Direct.

The Challenger 604 installation was performed at the ARINC Direct aircraft maintenance and integration facility in Colorado Springs (COS), using an STC developed under ARINC's ODA (Organization Designation Authorization). This first-of-type STC was completed April 11, 2009, for ARINC customer Servicios Aéreos Denim, S.A. de C.V., based in Mexico.

This installation adds the Challenger 604 to the list of airframes with STCs available for eXchange/SKYLink service. ARINC Direct plans to make the Challenger STC available to qualified aircraft maintenance and integration facilities, along with the recently developed STC for the Cessna Citation X and the upcoming STC (in-progress) for the Boeing BBJ. Interested operators should contact their ARINC Direct Regional Sales Manager for more information by calling (866) 321-6060.

eXchange with Service by SKYLink is a real-time, two-way satellite connectivity system providing true broadband speeds of up to 3.5Mbps to the aircraft. Operating on a Ku-band satellite constellation, SKYLink coverage begins when the system is turned on and continuously operates during taxi, takeoff, flight, and landing. It enables customers to access e-mail, corporate intranets (VPN) and the Internet, with options for global Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone service and videoconferencing. In addition, eXchange supports data connectivity for select Wi-Fi enabled smartphones, such as the RIM Blackberry models 8320 and 8820, allowing users to access e-mail and other data services.

The SKYLink Ku-band service is used on more than 95 corporate, personal, and government aircraft based in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The coverage area includes the continental United States, most of Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, northern South America, Canada, the North Atlantic Ocean, and Europe. The addition of Caribbean coverage in 2008 and Pacific coverage in 2009 means today's users of the SKYLink network can fly from Europe to North America, across the Caribbean, and on to Asia or Central and South America without losing access to important e-mail or Internet applications. Future expansion of the system into other regions in the world—including Asia, the Middle East, where business aircraft travel is rapidly expanding—is being explored by the SKYLink team.