The Falcon 300 terminal, developed by Inmarsat and GDC Advanced Technology, has received US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval and certification for installations on Boeing 737s.
The terminal includes GDC’s dual modem manager (MODMAN), with components by Kontron, together with a proven, reliable flat panel antenna by ThinKom.
The certification was obtained under GDC’s Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) programme from its facility in Fort Worth, Texas. STCs for additional aircraft types are now underway, in addition to linefit plans for Boeing and Airbus airframes.
The terminal was selected recently by Saudia as part of an agreement for GX Aviation to be installed and activated onboard its upcoming fleet of 35 Airbus A321neo and Airbus A321XLR aircraft.
The terminal is also available as part of Inmarsat’s new GX+ North America connectivity solution, which integrates Inarsat’s Global Xpress High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) network with the capacity of Hughes’ JUPITER HTS constellation across North America.
Kurt Weidemeyer, Inmarsat Aviation’s Senior Vice President of Technology, said: “Inmarsat has received a very positive response from the airline market since announcing our next-generation GX Aviation terminal with GDC Advanced Technology last year. We are now delivering on the promises made, not only achieving our first STC certification within such a short timeframe, but also completing extensive assessments and test flights that have demonstrated the terminal’s ability to deliver consistently the highest levels of connectivity, even over the world’s busiest airspaces.”
Tracy Trent, President of GDC Advanced Technology, said: “We are delighted that our ultra-high performance terminal for Inmarsat’s GX Aviation are now authorised for installations on Boeing 737 aircraft. This supports our goal of providing a seamless, reliable, best-in-class solution that is certified for use by airlines worldwide, from the US and Europe to Asia and beyond, offering enhanced capabilities with fewer moving parts. Working with Inmarsat to achieve this has been a very rewarding experience.
“Airlines and their passengers will reap the rewards of this innovative partnership for decades to come. We are excited to see our Falcon 300 terminals on aircraft and will continue to work closely with Inmarsat to further the future of in-flight connectivity.”
