Jet Aviation St. Louis Teams with SmartSky Networks to Install the Industry’s First Airborne 4G LTE-based Wireless Internet Network on the Global Express Platform
ST. LOUIS / July 7, 2015 – SmartSky Networks and Jet Aviation St. Louis have signed an agreement to certify and install the SmartSky 4G LTE-based Internet system on the Global Express platform.
Working together, Jet Aviation St. Louis and SmartSky will develop Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) for retrofit installations on those aircraft. SmartSky 4G will expand access to airborne Wi-Fi and provide more than 10 times the typical speed and capacity of existing networks, enabling streaming applications that other airborne networks have to restrict.
“Everyone wants the same internet experience in the air that they have on the ground. SmartSky 4G is the first solution capable of fulfilling that performance expectation,” said David Loso, manager, Avionics Sales, at Jet Aviation St. Louis. “Jet Aviation St. Louis is pleased to team with SmartSky Networks to bring this game-changing technology to our customers.”
SmartSky Networks President Ryan Stone said he is delighted to announce Jet Aviation as SmartSky’s newest connectivity partner. “Jet Aviation St. Louis is a leader in the industry,” he said. “They have a well-established track record of success in developing STCs and performing aircraft modifications. Our partnership enhances the early availability of SmartSky 4G to better meet the growing connectivity requirements of business aviation customers.”
SmartSky Networks, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., was formed in 2011 and is comprised of senior aviation and telecommunications executives seeking to leverage disruptive communications technologies to transform aviation. In conjunction with leading aerospace and technology partners, SmartSky plans to beta-launch its innovative Air-To-Ground network, SmartSky 4G, in late 2015, followed by the rollout of nationwide commercial service in 2016. More information can be found at www.smartskynetworks.com.
Jet Aviation St. Louis is a full-service aircraft maintenance, modifications and completions provider certified to AS9110B, ISO 140001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 standards. The company employs more than 800 people at its St. Louis Downtown Airport location. Jet Aviation St. Louis has in-house design and engineering departments, along with on-site cabinetry, upholstery, composite, avionics, sheet metal, and paint shops. Jet Aviation St. Louis is a Bombardier, Embraer and Gulfstream authorized service center and a Dassault Falcon and Hawker center of expertise. It also is an authorized service center for GE, Rolls-Royce and Honeywell engines. The location also offers FBO services. For more information, visit www.jetaviation.com/stlouis.
Jet Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), was founded in Switzerland in 1967 and is one of the leading business aviation services companies in the world. Close to 5,000 employees cater to client needs from more than 25 airport facilities throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North and South America. The company provides maintenance, completions and refurbishment, engineering, FBO and fuel services, along with aircraft management, charter services, aircraft sales and personnel services. Jet Aviation's European and U.S. aircraft management and charter divisions jointly operate a fleet of more than 250 aircraft. Please visit www.jetaviation.com and follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/jetaviation. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.