Gogo has shared the exceptional performance of the Gogo Plane Simple® Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) following a series of flight tests.
Working with MAG Aerospace, Gogo conducted the Gilat ESA trial in Florida and successfully showcased the immense potential for customers to benefit from the antenna’s full-duplex performance, which allows data to be sent and received simultaneously.
The project included rigorously testing gate-to-gate continuous operations through all planned manoeuvres, including standard taxi, take-off, and landing. More challenging racetrack, figure-of-eight patterns, ascent/descent profiles, and hard bank movements up to 30 degrees were also involved.
The tests also included abrupt power loss and muting, with systems reconnecting immediately and automatically without the need for engineer intervention.
The full-duplex ESA is expected to unlock the full broadband potential of the Eutelsat OneWeb constellation. The test team used MAG Aerospace’s versatile Universal Adapter Plate (UAP), a Federal Aviation Authority-certified turnkey radome system, to mount the ESA to a Cessna Caravan.
“The system performed flawlessly throughout the test program and did not require remedial intervention at any point, highlighting the capability of this multi-purpose antenna,” Chris Moore, CEO of Gogo commented.
“As the third antenna in the Plane Simple series, we’re excited to see it move one step closer to market introduction and commercial service. Its flexible applications and ability to support distinct and varied missions add real value to our growing terminal portfolio as we continue delivering purpose-built, future-proofed connectivity solutions.”
