ORLANDO, FL [NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention] – October 20, 2009 – Aircell, the world’s leading provider of airborne communications, announces that Flight Options, a leader in the private aviation industry, will install the Aircell® High Speed Internet system aboard the majority of its fleet. The program includes all Flight Options Embraer Phenom 300’s as well as other aircraft. Installations will begin in late 2009 and be complete in 2011. The Aircell High Speed Internet system will allow Flight Options passengers and flight crews to use their personal Wi-Fi® devices to access the entire Internet in flight, just as they would in an office, hotel or coffee shop on the ground.
Providing personalized service to over 1,400 Owners and Members, Flight Options offers a complete spectrum of programs from fractional ownership to leasing, aircraft management, and JetPASS Select 25-hour card membership. The company currently owns and operates more than 110 aircraft, including the Hawker 400XP, Hawker 800XP, Citation X and Embraer Legacy 600. In late 2009, the all-new Embraer Phenom 300 will join the Flight Options fleet.
James Miller, Executive Vice President, Flight Options, said, “For our Owners, the desire for seamless, full-speed connectivity in the air is irrefutable. The Aircell High Speed Internet system is absolutely in a class by itself. It’s everything we need it to be – lightweight and affordable with connection speeds as fast as people are accustomed to on the ground. We’re proud to be the first fractional provider in the world to offer such a sought-after inflight service to its Owners.”
John Wade, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Aircell, commented, “Having Aircell High Speed Internet selected by a world leader in the fractional industry is another major milestone for the system. It’s also significant that prior to Aircell’s introduction of its exclusive air-to-ground technology, full-scale connectivity was simply out of reach for all but the very largest business jets. Now, it’s viable for not only large and midsize aircraft, but light jets like the Phenom 300 as well.”
Each aircraft in the program will receive an Aircell Axxess® cabin communications system with the ATG 4000 High Speed Internet unit. In addition to High Speed Internet service, this comprehensive communications suite includes multiple channels of worldwide voice service and narrowband data capabilities.
These new installations will join other Aircell communications systems that have flown throughout the Flight Options fleet for many years. This latest retrofit program will extend a longtime relationship between the two companies.
Aircell High Speed Internet is the only solution in business aviation that provides a true high speed Internet experience that equals what passengers are accustomed to on the ground, while being small and light enough to fit on virtually any business aircraft. It is up to 56 times faster than a traditional dial-up connection.
Aircell High Speed Internet allows passengers and crews to use their own Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as laptops, PCs, smartphones and PDAs, to surf the Web, send and receive e-mail with attachments, access their corporate Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and much more – all at full mobile broadband speeds in flight. The Aircell High Speed Internet system is powered by the Aircell® Network, which utilizes 3G mobile wireless technology, operating in the continental U.S. over an advanced network of ground stations and Aircell’s exclusive broadband air-to-ground spectrum.
Aircell is displaying its complete family of airborne communications products this week at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual meeting & convention in Orlando, FL (booth 5194).
About Aircell
Aircell is the world’s leading provider of airborne communications and a single-source, turnkey provider of equipment, service, and technical support. With a global sales and support presence, its products are offered by virtually every fixed- and rotor-wing airframe manufacturer in business aviation, and are installed aboard the world’s four largest fractional ownership fleets. As winner of an exclusive FCC frequency license in 2006, Aircell has built a revolutionary new mobile broadband network for commercial and business aviation. In 2008, the Aircell® Network and its inflight portal, known as Gogo®, revolutionized the commercial airline passenger flight experience by delivering a robust Internet experience at 35,000 feet. The Aircell Network provides airlines with connectivity to operations and a path to enhanced cabin services such as video, audio, television and more. A similar feature set is available to Business aircraft operators. Aircell has facilities in Broomfield, Colorado, and Itasca, Illinois. Aircell’s vision is to give everyone the ability to stay In Touch, In Flight®. For more information about Aircell, please visit www.aircell.com.Flight Options has earned a reputation as a leader and innovator within the private jet industry. Marking its 10th Anniversary in 2008, Flight Options offers the complete spectrum of programs from fractional ownership to leasing, aircraft management, and JetPASS Select 25-hour card membership. The company is an industry leader in private aviation safety and provides personalized service to over 1,400 Owners and Members. Flight Options owns and operates a fleet of more than 110 aircraft consisting of the Hawker 400XP, Hawker 800XP, Citation X, and Embraer Legacy 600 with the revolutionary new Phenom 300 arriving in late 2009. More information is available at www.flightoptions.com or by calling 877.703.2348.