SmartSky has announced that key sales and installation partner Banyan Air Service is completing the first of type installation of the award-winning SmartSky LITE system on a HA-420 HondaJet. The project supports the recent deal between Volato and SmartSky to equip Volato’s HondaJet fractional fleet of 20 new aircraft and paves the way for other in-service HondaJet to have SmartSky’s next-generation connectivity system.
Banyan, an award-winning Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operation based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is an authorized HondaJet service center and will complete the installation at Banyan’s KFXE facility.
“This exciting installation project makes the groundbreaking technology pioneered by SmartSky available for Volato. It is especially exciting because SmartSky LITE brings streaming-level, no-device-limits connectivity to light jets, for the first time ever. This will elevate the flying experience for owners and operators of this class of aircraft who are seeking a high performing, streaming capable, in flight ATG connectivity solution for light jets like the HA420,” said Danny Santiago, Director of Avionics for Banyan Air Service. Along with the installation agreement, the two companies recently signed a strategic agreement for Banyan to provide full-scale maintenance for the HondaJet fleet on-site at Volato’s primary operational base in St. Augustine, FL.
Upon project completion, expected in Q2 2024 following other maintenance and updates on the aircraft, Volato will be able to offer SmartSky connectivity that users describe as “game changing.”
“Volato is hyper-focused on delivering the best possible customer experience. With the addition of SmartSky technology to our HondaJet floating fleet, our customers will be able to livestream sports, make video calls, send large documents — and connect as they desire,” said Mike Pracher, COO of Volato.
