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March/April 2021 www.inflight-online.com Volume 12 / Issue 2 Compact premium Single-aisle designs Value for money Private jet buying tips OLED A coming of age
LUXSTREAM
BUSINESS AVIATION
Experience elite inflight connectivity
Business travellers demand access Powered by SES’s next-generation high- With the highest download speeds in
to their services, applications and throughput satellites and advanced ground the industry, LuxStream provides an
entertainment wherever they fly. systems, and delivered by our premier exceptional private jet connectivity
However, being able to deliver the right business aviation partners including Collins experience, empowering business
connectivity depends on having access Aerospace, LuxStream Business Aviation travellers with next-generation satellite
to the right aviation network. enables the business jet to become an technology, for today’s demanding
extension of your passengers’ home and inflight connectivity needs.
corporate networks.
To learn more,
visit: ses.com/luxstream
www.ses.com
Cover: Rosen Aviation’s Maverick cabin concept is a finalist
in the International Yacht & Aviation Design Awards 2021.
See OLED feature – A coming of age? – on page 44.
Image courtesy of KiPcreating.
Volume 12 / Issue 2 / March/April 2021 Contents
04 20 30
Viewpoint MIME Lighting
Private prospers In-flight medical emergencies Tim Guest keeps awake long
Private and business aviation are stressful and often complex enough to regale us on the
operators report extraordinary situations for cabin crew to Global 7500’s innovative Jet-lag-
results in pandemic times. manage. Aiber is at hand to help. busting Soleil lighting sytem.
06 24 33 44
News AOE Narrowbody long haul OLED
A round up recent events from Specialists in e-commerce for Michael Doran looks at the new Alexander Preston finds out how
the world of IFEC and cabin airlines and the brains behind design approach for bringing business aviation passengers
technology. OM³ Suite, now go end-to-end. widebody comforts to single- are set to benefit from a new
aisle aircraft on long-haul flights. cabin experience.
12 36 50
Antennas Sustainability Last Word
Henry Canaday reports on the Cabin crew uniforms are not top Alexander van Deudekom of
development of electronically of an airline’s recycling checklist. Get-e looks at how digital
steered antennas and the rivals But according to the suppliers, comms can be the difference
that still hold the high ground. they could and should be. between customer satisfaction
and a lost relationship.
16 26 41
SES Networks IFE Private Jet Ownership In the next issue
Elias Zaccack, EVP, Global Sales Emma Kelly charts the airframers’ Tom Chatfield, CEO at Camber • Cabin Management Systems
at SES Networks talks to Inflight move into the wireless space Aviation Management, continues • Electronic Flight Bags
about the Luxembourg-based and what it really means for to offer insight into the process • MRO
company’s mission for aviation. the future in-flight experience. of buying an aircraft of your own.
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION & DESIGN Inflight is published six times per
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alexander@hmgaerospace.com paul@hmgaerospace.com April, May/June, July/August,
September/October and November/ HMG Aerospace Ltd,
Asia-Pacific Correspondent / Emma Kelly Production and Design Editor / December – by HMG Aerospace Ltd. The Hub, Fowler Avenue,
emmajkelly@bigpond.com Steve Lodewyke Farnborough
steve@hmgaerospace.com Distribution of Inflight is carefully Business Park,
Contributors / Henry Canaday, controlled for industry-related Farnborough, GU14 7JF
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MANAGEMENT Articles and information contained Follow us:
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Publisher / Mark Howells of HMG Aerospace Ltd and may inflightmagazine
Marketing and Communications Manager Director / Becky Howells not be reproduced in any form
/ Emma Walker without the written permission of © HMG Aerospace Ltd, 2021
emma@hmgaerospace.com the publisher. ISSN 2045-385X
Strategic partner
viewpoint
Alexander Preston Editor
@inflight_editor
Private prospers
Recent remarks by Alexandre de Juniac, Director-General and CEO of IATA,
paint a gloomy picture of the financial health of the world’s airlines.
The organisation is predicting that airlines will not turn cash-positive until 2022,
burning through an additional US$75–95 billion this year.
If this prospect is indeed the darkness, as de Juniac says, the dawn may be with
business aviation.
While commercial airlines have lost around 55% of their flight volume due to the
pandemic, entry-level jet operator GlobeAir saw its new accounts base grow by 89%
during 2020 and has already registered a 17% increase in inquiries during January
this year.
“This trend may be due to the growth of converters and downgraders. The first
being frequent flyers who have switched to private jet services (converters); the
latter being private jet travellers who now prefer entry-level jet services
(downgraders),” says GlobeAir’s VP of Marketing & Sales, Jonathan Berdoz.
Private air charter specialist Air Partner expects private travel to continue to grow
in popularity as the preferred method for transport, whether individually on private
jets or groups on private commercial airliners. It is already fielding enquiries from
wealthy clients about private jets to luxury destinations, including the Caribbean
(including Barbados, Cuba, and St Lucia), The Seychelles, Iceland and Italy.
Air Partner also believes senior business executives and the C-Suite will continue to
travel as high-level face-to-face meetings remain critical – and when they do,
companies will choose to protect their safety by flying them privately. The operator
also predicts that for businesses moving large groups around the world, the use of
charter planes will be more prevalent.
Of course, all this is predicated on travel restrictions being lifted. In the meantime,
as our issue shows, the industry is preparing for the return of all passengers.
PIONEER THE FUTURE
We are looking forward to brighter skies ahead. We can’t
wait to partner with you in the future, to make flying an
experience that everyone looks forward to, again.
© 2020 Panasonic Avionics Corporation. All Rights Reserved. 28796628
NEWS
Partnership to design the
next-generation aircraft seats
Italian seating manufacturer In collaboration with UK design scheduled to be unveiled at with a distinct design language
Geven is set to overhaul its agency PriestmanGoode, the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, driven by the key attributes of
catalogue of seating products, seats – Economy, Premium 31 August - 2 September 2021. being functional, timeless, clean
with the introduction of a new Economy, Premium Economy + According to the partners, the and sculptural.
family of seats. and Business Class seats – are project aims to provide Geven The new seats will provide
Geven with a versatile offer that will
enhance the passenger
experience, are easily configurable
for different aircraft platforms and
allow for airline customisation.
Daniel MacInnes, Design
Director at PriestmanGoode, said:
“We’re delighted to be working
with Geven on this project. It’s very
much a collaborative partnership,
with our team of designers
working closely with Geven’s
engineers to develop this next
generation of seats.
“The designs we’re working on
build upon the brand’s strong
history, as well as Italy’s
outstanding heritage of exquisite
craftsmanship and timeless
design,” MacInnes added.
Art of darkness: All will be revealed by Geven and PriestmanGoode at AIX Hamburg in August.
Qatar Airways upgrades Catering guidelines offer
its 787-8 IFE experience a route through pandemic
Qatar Airways has upgraded its hardware and all required New guidance that leads and aircraft. The document highlights
current fleet of Boeing 787-8 certifications, as well as the ability supports the airline and airline and gives guidance on the ways in
Dreamliners with the Thales AVANT to leverage media integration catering industries worldwide as which individual locations and
in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. commonality across the Qatar they continue to respond to the situations can best be
The retrofit installation was Airways’ fleet equipped with AVANT. COVID-19 pandemic has been re-engineered to meet the updated
conducted without disrupting the Business-class passengers will announced by The International health safety standards. This
utilisation of the fleet and be able to enjoy new 17-inch Full Flight Services Association (IFSA) document, which supersedes the
minimising downtime. High Definition touchscreens, with and the Airline Catering previous guidelines released shortly
Thales developed an upgrade the main cabin featuring 12-inch Association (ACA). after the start of the pandemic,
programme to adapt the existing seatback displays. The ACA/IFSA COVID-19 serves to guide mitigation based on
legacy system to incorporate new Qatar Airways will also benefit Guideline introduces several risk assessment for catering
AVANT screens and servers into from high-capacity servers guiding principles which provide kitchens and airline in-flight
the existing seats and aircraft capable of storing over a terabyte direction on managing the COVID- services globally.
infrastructure. of media content, including the 19 pandemic and to support safe IFSA and ACA have made the
The turnkey approach includes latest HD movies, TV show business operations including at guidelines available online and free
delivery of full seat modification, episodes and music collections. airports, airlines, in kitchens, and on of charge.
6 / Inflight March/April 2021
NEWS
PC-24 now comes with 10-seat commuter interior
(102 cm). Each seat features a
side storage compartment and
cup holder and four 115-volt power
outlets to enhance in-flight
productivity. The PC-24’s entirely
flat floor also adds to comfort on
long trips.
A customer in the western US
has taken delivery of the first
PC-24 with this configuration.
Ignaz Gretener, VP General
Pilatus PC-24: Looking forward with new Aviation of Pilatus, commented:
10-passenger commuter configuration. “We expect this configuration will
prove very popular with both
Pilatus is now offering a easy cabin reconfiguration for all lavatory seat is not used as a public and private operators
commuter configuration of its transportation requirements. passenger seat. requiring a cost-effective solution
PC-24 for up to 10 passengers. The cabin features a private Seat pitch in the commuter for frequent transportation of
Each seat is installed with a lavatory which can be serviced configuration varies from 34 passengers as an alternative to
quick-release mechanism allowing from the exterior and whose inches (86 cm) to 40 inches sending them on the airlines.”
IFC report reflects Lightspeed LEO network unveiled
Thales Alenia Space has been expected to be launched in
impact of COVID-19 selected to manufacture Telesat’s
global LEO constellation,
approximately two years, with
customer beta testing beginning
Lightspeed, initially comprised of a shortly after that and commercial
A new aviation industry report Daniel Welch. The majority of fleet of 298 next-generation services commencing in the
highlights the full impact of the these IFC systems will be line-fit. satellites integrated with an second half of 2023.
COVID-19 pandemic, including the The study looks beyond COVID- advanced ground network. Dan Goldberg, President and
cancellation of retrofit projects 19 and provides detailed Lightspeed has been optimised CEO of Telesat, said: “The name
and delayed deliveries of new commentary on factors that will to serve the fast-growing broadband Lightspeed underscores the
aircraft, on the number of aircraft help to create a more sustainable connectivity requirements of many essential speed advantages
installed with in-flight connectivity IFC business model as the users, including aviation. inherent to Telesat’s LEO design.
(IFC). industry begins to recover, as well Thales Alenia Space and its Lightspeed is the most
Over the next two years, “The as exploring the “captive portal”. affiliate Telespazio have made a technologically capable satellite
Future of In-Flight Connectivity – According to Welch: “In the Lightspeed capacity commitment in communications network in history
2020 Edition,” from HMG past, passengers flying with an connection with the agreement. and exploits the latest advances in
Aerospace’s exclusive market airline that has multiple IFC Operating under Telesat’s global space-based data processing, laser
intelligence partner, Valour services in use across its fleet Ka-band priority spectrum rights, communications, digital antenna
Consultancy, predicts a doubling have typically been exposed to the first Lightspeed satellites are technology and machine learning.”
from 9,026 at the end of 2020 to the nuances of these deals,
approximately 18,500 in 2029. paying different rates based on
“The pandemic has caused the hardware/service onboard, be Lightspeed: Ka-band
launch in two years.
airlines to defer new widebody it from Gogo, Inmarsat, Panasonic
deliveries, postpone IFC retrofit or Viasat. Having a harmonised
programmes and to retire older experience reduces friction during
aircraft in favour of smaller, more the login process, but also drives
agile and fuel-efficient planes. ancillary opportunities. Deploying
Despite this, low-level activity is an engaging portal is an
still expected, with 70% of net new achievable short-term win for
IFC installations between now and carriers that already have IFC or
2022 to take place on narrowbody wireless IFE that will continue to
jets,” explains the report’s author, drive long-term growth.”
www.inflight-online.com / 7
NEWS
JetBlue refreshes Mint experience
incorporate multiple large and a 22-inch tilting Thales AVANT
Mint Studio: Plenty
easy-to-clean flat surfaces, to seatback screen, an extra side
of room up front.
enable customers to eat, work and table for added productivity, and a
relax whilst simultaneously staying guest seat that can accommodate
connected to their world. an additional Mint customer during
Stowage options include a flight at cruising altitude. When the
compartment for personal items, seat transitions into bed-mode, the
shoe and handbag storage, and sofa seat can also drop –
nightstand with a bottle holder. extending the bed surface and
Acumen and JetBlue also giving the customer the largest lie-
developed customisable mood flat bed of any US carrier.
lighting that can be brightened or Bespoke styling and features for
dimmed and adjusted between JetBlue include unique mattress
“awake” and “relax” colour schemes. comfort technology from Tuft &
Low-fare airline JetBlue and its Inspired by the popularity of the Each Mint suite includes a tilting Needle incorporated into the seat
official design partner Acumen four private suites in its current 17-inch Thales AVANT seatback cushions supplied by Sabeti Wain,
Design Associates have unveiled Mint configuration, JetBlue’s screen IFE monitor which can be plus personal and additional
its A321neo business class cabin transatlantic Mint offers more used gate-to-gate. stowage facilities including a
featuring the new Mint Suite and privacy with 24 individual suites, The inner walls of each Mint laptop drawer.
Mint Studio. with an inward-facing herringbone Suite feature a distinct, Other features include
The first complete redesign of layout offering direct aisle access contemporary pattern inspired by integrated wireless charging and
Mint will take flight on JetBlue’s and sliding privacy doors. JetBlue’s brand language, while the customised lighting including a
London flights this summer, and a Mint Suite features charging suite doors incorporate a bold, Polystone feature light and
smaller 16-seat layout will debut on points, two headphone sockets, a pressure-formed Mint pattern. custom-colour reading light from
a limited number of flights between dedicated phone/tablet holder, as Each aircraft will have two Mint Beadlight, plus customised
New York and Los Angeles later well as a wireless charging zone. Studios in the first row, providing thermoplastics (from Kydex) with
this year. Acumen redesigned the suites to room to work or relax. They feature unique Mint graphics.
Ansat helicopters come with IFC as option
quality video in real time. Data
transfer to passengers’ mobile
devices is provided using a Wi-Fi
access point.
The first Ansat helicopter
equipped with the new Mku30
satellite communication system
was presented at the Paris Air
Show in 2019.
“The satellite communication
system will be installed in the
Kazan’s Ansat: Ansat helicopter at the request of
Equipped with Mku30
the customer. It will be most
IFC system on request.
relevant for passenger and VIP
modifications of the helicopter.
The Ansat helicopter, a light Federal Air Transport Agency manufactured by MOST Satellite The ability to use the internet
multipurpose twin-engine (Rosaviatsiya) for the installation Systems, provides up to 2 Mbit/s during flights is another step
helicopter produced by Russia’s of the Mku30 satellite internet access at the Yamal towards improving the comfort
Kazan Helicopters, capable of communication system. satellite coverage area, allowing level of Ansat helicopters,” said
carrying up to seven passengers, The Ku-band satellite passengers to host onboard video Managing Director of Kazan
has received approval from the communication system, conferences and stream high- Helicopters, Alexey Belykh.
8 / Inflight March/April 2021
w w w. a m a c a e r o s p a c e . c o m
AMAC Aerospace is a world leader in Maintenance and Completion services for both narrow-
and wide-body VIP aviation. Our bespoke handling of VIP maintenance projects is world-renowned
and our “Return to Service” are world class for completions.
NEWS
Kenya Airways converts Boeing 787s for cargo
Boeing 787. The repurposing began in December 2020
and was completed a month later. Social
Media
The repurposed cabin has been certified to carry
up to 16 tonnes of cargo, potentially enabling the
aircraft to reach its maximum payload while in cargo
operation of 46 tonnes.
In 2020, Kenya Airways used some of its nine
Cargo ready: Kenya
Airways’ 787 cabin.
Boeing 787 aircraft for cargo transportation, but
aircraft seats remained, limiting the space for an
@inflightmag
increased freight capacity.
Kenya Airways has repurposed the aircraft cabins Avianor supervised Kenya Airways’ modifications on @inflight_editor
of two of its Boeing 787 aircraft for cargo the full cabin repurposing, which has received
transportation.
Working with Avianor, the project is the first-ever
airworthiness approval from the Kenya Civil Aviation
Authority (KCCA) and Federal Aviation Administration
#InflightHMG
cargo repurpose of this type to be performed on the (FAA). Cargo flights are expected to begin soon.
Russian IFC market gets a boost
Viasat, Russian satellite operator Gazprom Space airlines access to roam onto the Viasat global satellite
Systems (GSS) and Russian telecom operator TMC network when outside of Russian airspace.
LLC (TMC) have entered into a Memorandum of The MOU establishes an initial roaming agreement
Understanding (MOU) to advance in-flight connectivity between current Viasat and GSS satellites, with Viasat
(IFC) in Russian airspace. operating in Russia leveraging TMC’s telecom licence.
This cooperation is expected to offer Viasat’s global The partnership commenced with Viasat procuring
airline customers roaming connectivity when flying access to Ku-band capacity on the GSS satellite,
over Russia; providing IFC services on domestic flights Yamal-401, while creating a path for Viasat and GSS to
within Russia, and enabling Russian and international leverage capabilities on future satellite constellations.
Air Peace pioneers E2 use in West Africa XTS satellite
Staggering: Air Peace’s
goes live
new E2 First Class cabin. The APSTAR-6D satellite, the first
extreme high throughput satellite
(XTS) from Panasonic, has entered
service over the Asia-Pacific region.
According to Panasonic,
APSTAR-6D is an integral part of its
third-generation communications
(Gen-3) network of high speed,
high bandwidth Ku-band satellites.
The company is set to complete
Air Peace has taken delivery of its first E195-E2 In First Class, the new staggered individual seat an upgrade of the 2,544 aircraft
aircraft, with a further 12 aircraft on order. option provides 50 inches or more of legroom without installed with its connectivity service
The delivery makes a double first for Air Peace, compromising total seat count. This configuration to its Gen-3 network within the next
Nigeria and West Africa’s largest airline; Air Peace introduces a higher standard of comfort and space on month. Over 1,000 new commercial
becomes the launch customer in Africa for the E2, and a single-aisle jet traditionally found only on much aircraft will be installed with its
the global launch customer for Embraer’s premium larger airplanes. connectivity services and linked to
staggered-seating design, developed in partnership In Economy Class, the E2 retains the advantages of the Gen-3 network from the outset.
with UK design firm PriestmanGoode, which won the two seats on each side of the aisle for greater APSTAR-6D will provide airlines
2015 Crystal Cabin Award for Industrial Design and passenger comfort and faster boarding and deplaning with multiple gigahertz of new
Visionary Concepts. The 18.3-inch-wide slim-type seats – among the widest Ku-band capacity over China and
The aircraft is configured in a comfortable dual- in the industry – provide more legroom for high-density routes around East
class arrangement with 124 seats. passengers. Asia using narrow XTS spot beams.
www.inflight-online.com / 11ANTENNAS
ESA: the endgame
Though installations may have stalled, interest in broadband its AeroMax ESAs with Eutelsat but will sell it
to any provider.
connectivity hasn’t waned during the COVID pandemic,
“ESAs are not for every use case,” Newell
prompting many to see the future in electronically steered acknowledges. “They are very good for
antennas. So, will ESAs replace conventional satcom antennas, aviation and LEOs.” The ability of ESAs to
asks an inquisitive Henry Canaday. operate with LEO constellations maximises
gains in size, performance and the cost of
aircraft connectivity. Newell envisions
The pandemic has provided a According to CCO Steve Newell, NXT AeroMax with GEOs initially but becoming
pause in the race to connect aircraft to the Communications expects to deploy its flat- more attractive as LEOs become plentiful.
internet. However, technologies are panel, phased-array AeroMax ESAs in 2022. With LEOs, an AeroMax measuring 25 cm x
improving during the lull all the same. Low- Aeromax’s core technology is fragmented 50 cm could get more than 100 megabits per
Earth Orbit (LEO) and Medium-Earth Orbit apertures designed on a computer with second. Newell contrasts that with a GEO-
(MEO) satellites are going up alongside genetic algorithms. “That gives it higher based antenna costing more than US$350,000
ever-bigger geostationary orbit (GEO) efficiency than anyone else’s,” Newell argues. and delivering less than 10 Mbps. “Half the
equipment. And the electronically steered Achieving “upwards of 90% efficiency” means cost, 10 times the bandwidth, lower latency
antennas (ESAs) that are supposed to be less power use and less heat to dissipate. and less recurring costs.”
best suited to LEOs and GEOs are coming NXT Communications is looking for The flat-panel AeroMax would rise
along as well. partners and talking to connectivity providers 2-4 inches on the top of a regional or
But there are questions and challenges such as Panasonic and Global Eagle. It will business jet, versus up to 16 inches for the
surrounding the new antennas. Will the new also talk with airlines and satellite operators radome on mechanically steered antennas.
ESAs be ready for prime time in the next that are integrating downstream to provide AeroMax would use ARINC 791 or 792
couple of years? broadband to airlines. The company is testing installations for larger aircraft, removing
Wi-Fi booster: Delta Air Lines has selected
Viasat’s next-generation Ka-band satellite
technology for more than 300 of its narrowbody
aircraft. The Atlanta-based international carrier
expects to introduce the new service to
passengers by the summer of 2021.
12 / Inflight March/April 2021ANTENNAS
Performance gains: NXT
Communications’ AeroMax antenna
optimises a highly integrated silicon-
mechanicals and replacing them with flat based chipset and sub-array design. JetTalk uses true-time delay to create
panels. NXT is moving towards curved shifting frequencies more precisely than
models to conform to fuselage curvature. phased arrays, Klein says. This enables digital
The NXT antenna is being developed for beamforming without limit, and the antennas
Ku-band now, as all LEOs are Ku-band, but a can support up to 32 beams steered
Ka-band version will follow. simultaneously. “The advantages are scale,
bandwidth and multi-beams.” JetTalk can
HIGH-PERFORMANCE Q-EPA switch beams in less than 10 microseconds.
Michael Stobinski, Chief Commercial Officer The partners are building their first JetTalk
of QEST, expects the first prototypes of his for commercial aircraft. “The chips are ready,
Q-EPA phased-array ESA to be available at the we are progressing, we are in trials now, and
end of 2021. Q-EPA antennas are modularly we expect to have it integrated by the end of
designed. “They can be adapted to any 2021,” Klein says. Satixfy foresees
customer size requirements,” Stobinski notes installations in 2022.
“We are working on small aircraft, business jet The company has been in contact with
versions as well as commercial aircraft.” almost all satcom providers to ensure
Depending on aircraft and performance workable net services. JetTalk’s software-
requirements, dimensions are between 40 cm defined radio modem is embedded in the
by 40 cm and 60 cm by 120 cm. Q-EPAs’ antenna, distinguishing the device from
entire antenna systems will weigh 20-80 lbs. technologies with 4-5 components.
QEST is developing antennas for both Ku- “We have a flat unit with a modem, all in
and Ka-bands. a single component, just plug-in power,”
Stobinski predicts the high Klein stresses. The software-defined
performance of Q-EPAs will enable modem enables multiple waveforms
them to work with LEOs, MEOs and make-before-break connections
and GEOs. “Multi-beam operation with different LEOs or MEOs.
is also supported. So multi-satellite The first JetTalk will be for
links, for example, simultaneous Ku-band and will be compatible
hybrid links with LEOs and GEOs, with ARINC installation. Klein expects
are feasible.” Ka-band devices to evolve about 12 months
QEST’s offer addresses all after Ku-band.
connectivity providers. “The range Klein says JetTalk only needs maximum
of applications covers small power of 2.2 kW in extreme cases such
business jets up to long-range as very high latitude
commercial aircraft,” Stobinski communication with GEOs. He
says. “Even applications on helicopters estimates average power
are feasible.” consumption as 1 kW.
Q-EPA was developed using a proprietary Satixfy promises that JetTalk’s costs
ESA technology especially suited for The AeroMax antenna features no will be competitive with current mechanically
moving parts, is electronically
aeronautical applications. The QEST steered antennas. Installation will be simple,
steerable, and delivers significantly
executive says this leads to very high antenna enhanced performance in both Ku and overnight in some cases, versus up to five
performance, low weight, low-power Ka frequency bands. days for existing antennas.
consumption, very high reliability and JetTalk itself will be less than an inch thick,
environmental as well as regulatory and with radome and cooling device should
compliance “at a very attractive price”. from potential competitors, and that be 8-14 cm thick. Klein stresses that digital
“We do not believe that low-cost, very-low- performance claims do not seem to be beamforming has already been proved in a
performance ESAs are of any use in substantiated by hard data. commercial aircraft. True-time delay enables
aeronautical applications, given space multiple beams, higher bandwidths and
limitations on aircraft and stringent MULTI-BEAM JETTALK IN TRIALS flexible array sizes, and JetTalk needs no
environmental and regulatory requirements,” Israel’s SatixFy has been working on an in-cabin components.
Stobinski stresses. “The antenna performance aircraft version of its Electronically Steerable Another much-discussed ESA maker,
of QEST’s Q-EPA has been verified by Multi-beam Antenna Array (ESMA) JetTalk Phasor, has gone through a financial
extensive measurements on functional ESA in a joint venture with Singapore reorganisation and has been purchased by
demonstrators.” He says he has not yet seen Technologies Engineering for several years, Korea’s Hanwha Systems, which declined to
comparable performance measurements explains Aero Product Manager Gidi Klein. comment on the technology’s future status.
www.inflight-online.com / 13ANTENNAS
thickness and with an aerodynamic weight
several hundred pounds less than competing
Airlines are reluctant to change antennas gimballed mechanical antennas.
due to cost and downtime. Intelsat’s goal What do connectivity providers say?
The big recent connectivity win was Delta
is developing technology that stays on Air Lines’ January 2021 decision to go with
aircraft for 10 years. ‘Change for the sake Viasat for its Airbus A321ceos, Boeing 737-
900ERs and select 757-200 aircraft.
of change will not happen. Don Buchman, Viasat VP for Commercial
Aviation, says the main reason was Delta’s
Dave Bijur, SVP of Commercial Aviation, Intelsat plans to eventually offer free Wi-Fi, for which
Viasat’s extreme-throughput GEO satellites
provided the only practical capacity.
Viasat has been offering a conventional
How realistic are all these ESA hopes and VICTS has instantaneous bandwidth ranging mechanically steered antenna, but Buchman
prospects? “There is a common misperception from 500 MHz to 2 GHz, much broader than says his company will consider ESAs as LEO
that ESAs are superior technology and just comparable ESAs. And the ThinKom CTO says and MEO constellations go up. “For LEOs,
around the corner,” argues Bill Milroy, Chief VICTS can switch from satellite to satellite in phased arrays have very good properties, but
Technology Officer at ThinKom. He says under 800 milliseconds and has proven its there are also lots of hard problems. You have
aeronautical ESAs still face many challenges, ability to operate with every LEO and MEO to make it small, easy to install, with a light
especially when compared with his company’s network available. profile, economic and using limited power. If
VICTS (Variable Inclination Continuous And VICTS is a veteran, not a prospect. they can solve these, then that’s great.”
Transverse Stub) antennas. Ku3030 VICTS antennas have been installed Buchman estimates the solutions to all
Challenges include documented reliability, on more than 1,550 commercial aircraft problems are still “a couple of years away”.
with VICTS antennas achieving 100,000 hours flown by 16 major airlines, with more than
of mean time between failures, double ESA 98% end-to-end connection availability. ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENTS
claims. VICTS also provides up to 400 Mbps ThinKom is now ramping up production of Dave Bijur is SVP of Commercial Aviation for
down and 100 Mbps up, double or much more Ka-band versions for hundreds of systems in Intelsat, which acquired Gogo’s airline
than double an ESA of comparable size, 2021. Its Ka2517 Thinair antenna has been business. He says Intelsat will stick with
according to Milroy. Further, ESAs are selected for Inmarsat’s GX and GX+ service, ThinKom’s 2Ku VICTS antennas for larger and
typically power-hungry, requiring thermal been certified for Boeing 737-700s and overwater aircraft. “It offers high reliability, as
management, versus VICTS’s cool operation. expects certification on the Airbus A320 a result of fewer moving parts, exceptional
Flat ESAs can perform poorly with GEOs at family, more 737 types and 787s and 777s. throughput, and attractive aeronautical
high latitudes, while VICTS supports VICTS antennas are not ESAs but are still properties – its low profile reduces drag and
connectivity above 70N. Milroy also says slim and light, generally 2-4 inches in total fuel consumption.” Intelsat has been operating
VICTS antennas since 2016.
And Intelsat continues to be the leader in
On the crest of the Wave: Inmarsat has been using Honeywell’s JetWave antennas for its GX Aviation
and Jet ConneX Ka-band services. JetWave is 9 inches high on the fuselage and weighs 83 lbs. air-to-ground technology, powering 1,200
regional aircraft across the US and Canada.
The company expects to upgrade many of
these aircraft to a new 5G system that relies on
a new beamforming antenna in coming years.
Bijur acknowledges that ESAs hold great
promise. “We are seeing very encouraging
developments, but they need to be
commercially viable and offer compelling
differentiation from 2Ku.” Meantime, he is
confident that VICTS is compatible with LEOs.
And he notes that airlines are reluctant to
change antennas due to cost and downtime.
Intelsat’s goal is developing technology that
stays on aircraft for 10 years. “Change for the
sake of change will not happen.”
Inmarsat has been using Honeywell’s
JetWave antennas for its GX Aviation and JetANTENNAS
Match me if you can: ThinKom is ramping up production of its proven Ka-band Thinair antenna – the Ka2517.
ConneX Ka-band services. JetWave is 9 inches acknowledges ESA weakness with GEOs at
high on the fuselage and weighs 83 lbs.
SVP Inflight Business Niels Steenstrup
There is a higher latitudes but notes that Inmarsat’s
new Arctic satellites, GX10A and 10B,
says “we have also recently been working common scheduled to launch in 2022, should
with ThinKom and GDC Technics to develop
a next-generation terminal that is
misperception eliminate that drawback.
Gogo’s current focus is on business
lightweight, low drag, and boasts one of the that ESAs are aviation, which has weathered the pandemic
highest reliability rates on the market.
Following a range of technology assessments
superior better than airlines. According to spokesman
Dave Melin, it uses ThinKom 2Ku antennas
and test flights last year, the powerful new technology and for VVIP aircraft and two different antennas,
antenna has demonstrated its ability to
consistently deliver the highest levels of
just around the 3G and 4G devices, for air-to-ground
connectivity on lesser jets. He says Gogo will
connectivity onboard aircraft, even over the corner. evaluate ESAs as they become available for
world’s busiest airspaces.” These are the VVIP jets. Gogo’s ATG antennas are much
Bill Milroy, Chief Technology
new Ka2517s. Officer, ThinKom smaller and lighter than satellite antennas,
When available, ESAs should complement cost less, mount on the aircraft’s belly, and fit
halfGX
the page advertperfectly.
network 182x125.qxp_Layout
Steenstrup 1 11/02/2021 08:26 Page 1 a much broader range of aircraft.
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www.inflight-online.com / 15SES PROFILE (BUSINESS AVIATION)
Satellite
storytellers
Founded as Europe’s first Rhode Island and easily driven across in a Boeing (CBB) in the early 2000s and has
private satellite operator in matter of hours, it’s from this small country launched satellites specifically designed to
that SES achieves “the extraordinary in space support the unique nature of aero IFC traffic.
March 1985, SES has grown to deliver amazing experiences everywhere We started gaining real traction in the aero
to help redefine the delivery on Earth”. market about eight years ago when the trend
of high-quality connectivity towards ubiquitous mobile broadband
across multiple sectors. Inflight: SES has recently celebrated its unleashed new and massive demand for
35th birthday. The company began as a satellite-based in-flight connectivity
Alexander Preston speaks provider of broadcaster services – when solutions. Today, aero is an important growth
with Elias Zaccack, EVP, was the move into aviation and in-flight driver, consistently delivering double-digit
Global Sales, SES Networks, connectivity made and why? growth for SES Networks.
to find out more.
Elias Zaccack: SES was indeed initially a Inflight: In September 2019, SES Networks
leader in the European broadcast video teamed up with Collins Aerospace to
With a population of just market but began expanding into new launch LuxStream. Why develop this for
over 600,000, Luxembourg is a relatively geographies and new markets, including business aviation? What sets it apart from
unknown country in the heart of Europe. aerospace, starting in 1999. You may recall other business aviation-specific
Despite being smaller than the US state of that SES was a partner with Connexion by connectivity services?
16 / Inflight March/April 2021CONNECTIVITY: SES PROFILE
optimised for mobility segments, ensuring
seamless connectivity for fast-moving
aircraft. Passengers are guaranteed a
consistent, disruption-free experience,
regardless of the flight route.
The partnership between SES and Collins
is also a key differentiator. Our wholesale
business relationship enables a tremendous
amount of flexibility around pricing and
packaging – Collins can create customised
retail packages and offer a la carte pricing
– which means we can respond quickly
and proactively to customers, ensuring
they have the connectivity they need
when it’s needed.
Inflight: LuxStream was launched
with Vista Global as its first customer.
How has the network performed
since its introduction? What feedback
have you had from Vista Global and
passengers in general?
Elias Zaccack: The highest praise Vista
Global has given us is its commitment to
expand the relationship – it currently has
eight aircraft fitted and flying with
LuxStream and plans to install another 45
aircraft this year. It has recently conducted
a demo flight where 10 devices, including
laptops, phones and tablets, were all
connected and either streaming video or
doing video calls without disruption, which is
Manufactured by Thales Alenia Space, SES-17
is SES’s first Ka-band high throughput satellite. a solid validation of LuxStream’s
Image: Thales Aerospace performance and the experience it delivers to
both passengers and crew. Our next-generation
Elias Zaccack: Global reach and capacity are Inflight: SES’s LuxStream service currently
high-throughput
obvious key criteria that private aviation offers the fastest internet speeds in the satellites provide
firms look for in a connectivity solution, and
LuxStream offers both, ensuring that Collins’
business aviation segment. How do you do
it? What added features/functionality can
the discerning
customers have the bandwidth they need we expect in the future from LuxStream? business aviation
wherever they fly. However, speed and
resilience are also critically important, and Elias Zaccack: The design of the LuxStream
passenger with a
those characteristics are what sets LuxStream network was based on demand in the superior in-air
apart. Our next-generation high-throughput
satellites provide the discerning business
business aviation market – 70% of business
aviation flight time is within North America.
experience similar
aviation passenger with a superior in-air We are able to meet that demand with our to what they receive
experience similar to what they receive at
home or in the office. SES delivers this
new and powerful SES-15 satellite, which
delivers coverage over that entire market,
at home or in the
exceptional service via a dedicated business from the east coast to Hawaii. Globally, we office.
aviation network that allows travellers to rely on a mix of our HTS fleet and wide-beam Elias Zaccack, EVP, Global Sales,
access their cloud-based applications and satellites to provide a consistent and user- SES Networks,
stream ultra HD videos in the air. These friendly experience. Our business aviation
satellites are powered by a ground system network is flexible enough to adapt to market
www.inflight-online.com / 17CONNECTIVITY: SES PROFILE
Above: O3b-mPOWER: Bandwidth can be allocated dynamically among aircraft, allowing more
efficient use of capacity by only delivering what is needed.
Left: The launch of the SES-15 satellite: SES’s first hybrid satellite delivers a mix of wide-beam
coverage and high throughput (HTS) capacity across North America.
personal lives, we use social media and aircraft. As more passengers consume more
video chatting apps to stay in touch with bandwidth on private jets, the flexibility and
our loved ones and depend on video scalability of LuxStream will become even
streaming and online gaming to keep us more critical to delivering an exceptional
entertained. The pandemic means we are business aviation experience.
collaborating more closely than ever with
our customers and partners to ensure that Inflight: What can the industry and SES
end users can stay connected, even at Networks customers look forward to from
35,0000 feet in the air. Interestingly, the company in the coming months and
COVID-19 has driven those people that can years?
afford it to shift their flying patterns from
commercial to private aircraft. This has Elias Zaccack: SES is taking a leadership role
driven up demand for business aviation in the aviation market – both commercial and
connectivity. private – to meet the industry’s rapidly
growing connectivity requirements. We are
Inflight: What’s the future for business actively participating in the Seamless Air
aviation connectivity – is there still a Alliance, a non-profit association developing
demand for business travel at this time? standards-based technologies for end-to-end
demands and traffic requirements. Going Will the pandemic change the connectivity airline passenger connectivity. We are paving
forward, we plan to continue investing in business model, i.e. cost structure, the way for “smart planes” by delivering
new assets, new capabilities and new services offered, future satellite roadmap? cloud-optimised connectivity to our
services. With the now proven coverage and customers via partnerships with the major
resilience, we expect to expand our service Elias Zaccack: While the entire aviation cloud operators. We are launching ground-
offerings from the cabin to the cockpit. market was hit hard last spring, we’ve seen breaking new satellites later this year,
the business aviation segment start to bounce including our next-generation Medium Earth
Inflight: What impact has the current back as more and more passengers who can Orbit (MEO) constellation, O3b mPOWER,
pandemic had on operations? How have afford to do so opt to fly private for health and our high-throughput SES-17 satellite –
you managed to maintain relationships reasons. We anticipate that a significant assets that will deliver extraordinary
with customers and suppliers? number of them will continue to do so even throughput and flexibility to passengers on
post-pandemic because they’ve become the move. And we are very much looking
Elias Zaccack: If anything, COVID-19 has accustomed to the convenience and the forward to continuing to work with our
underscored the importance of amenities of private aviation. This will partner Collins to ensure that its customers
connectivity. In our business lives, we rely translate into continued growth for can capitalise on all these initiatives and have
on communication tools – such as Zoom – LuxStream, particularly given trends that we their requirements met, even as their
in place of face-to-face meetings. In our have seen towards higher average usage per bandwidth demands inevitably ramp up.
18 / Inflight March/April 2021READ MORE
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www.vantagesolo.thompsonaero.com/jetblueMIME PROFILE
A good place to be: MIME is headquartered in
one of Scotland’s life sciences hubs at Inverness
Campus. Photo: Gillian Frampton /HIE
Vital signs
When they occur, in-flight medical emergencies are stressful Its attractiveness to investors was
and often complex situations for cabin crew to manage. rewarded with a Top 10 ranking in the
Scotland Tech 50 for 2020, (a combined
Alexander Preston speaks to Anne Roberts, CEO of MIME
public and expert judging panel vote) in
Technologies, to discuss a new innovation to help the industry October, while the year began with Scottish
with onboard medical handling. Business Insider identifying MIME as one of
10 Scottish digital and science start-ups to
watch in the year ahead.
Thoughts of the Scottish This apparent ‘overnight’ success masks
Highlands may conjure up images of hard work and dedication.
picturesque countryside and whisky MIME was originally a research project at
production, but away from the lochs, castles the Centre for Rural Health (CRH),
and distilleries, the region is establishing University of Aberdeen, as part of its
itself firmly in the life sciences and Dot.Rural programme, which looked at new
technology sectors. ways to enhance rural life and services
Inverness, the ‘capital’ of the Highlands, through technology.
has become a driving force in the region’s Led by Dr Alasdair Mort, (MIME founder
wider life sciences cluster. One local and COO), the original study’s scope was to
company, in particular, is blazing a trail in investigate ways to underpin reconfigured
in-flight medical emergency response. remote emergency response services, by
Headquartered at the purpose-built life examining how technology could support the
sciences building, Solasta House, on responders. During this time, the first
Inverness Campus, Managing Information in prototype for responders was developed
Medical Emergencies (MIME Technologies) and refined.
has been far from silent, attracting both With the technology validated, MIME
funding and plaudits for its technology. Technologies successfully spun out of the
During the course of 2020, MIME secured University of Aberdeen. Anne Roberts, also a
support from Highlands & Islands Enterprise, co-founder, was appointed as CEO in October
in addition to £248,000 in funding from the 2019. Roberts says, “Our aim has always
Early Stage Growth Challenge Fund, been to help people that are away from
delivered by Scottish Enterprise on behalf of professional medical care, away from a
the Scottish Government, and before that the hospital or those who may be in an extreme
company raised its first investment from environment. We quickly identified aviation
Aviation focus: Anne Roberts of MIME Technologies. Scottish angel syndicate Equity Gap. as our first repeatable and scalable market.”
20 / Inflight March/April 2021MIME PROFILE
reporting, sharing data as soon as
connectivity becomes available.
Roberts regards the low-bandwidth chat
Our aim has always been to help people function as a key feature of Aiber. The crew
that are away from professional medical don’t need to leave the passenger’s side to get
help. But Aiber is also enhancing what
care, away from a hospital or those who already can be found on the market. For
example, Aiber’s chat functionality is not
may be in an extreme environment. impacted by noise and the vibration of the
aircraft, which may distort the quality and
clarity of existing voice communication
technology. A valuable feature is the in-flight
first aid guidance. During any medical event,
The MIME team is diverse, bringing Aiber includes an iPad, with pre-loaded Aiber can guide the crew with first aid steps,
together computer scientists, clinicians and Aiber software, designed explicitly for non- aligned with their training. “Although all
med-tech expertise. “We’ve got a high- medical professionals such as cabin crew. An crew do receive annual training, it may be
energy, resilient, and very passionate team,” in-built chat function allows the cabin crew some time since they undertook CPR, for
says Roberts, with varied specialist to communicate directly with their ground- example, and in the heat of the moment, they
backgrounds including technology, based medical support providers of choice, may not remember how many chest
physiology, medicine and business. and the clinicians can equally review and compressions to perform. Aiber will help
Roberts herself has a background in remote recommend. “So, it’s an end-to-end them: it will prompt them and remind them,
health, specialising in the application of new product,” states Roberts. on the scene, of how to do things step-by-
technologies for pre-hospital care settings. Dr The Aiber clinician dashboard allows step, the right way,” Roberts explains.
Mort, also a co-inventor, has a medical device aviation ground-based doctors to log in and
PhD and was previously an Enterprise Fellow view the incident in real time, as Aiber ONE-TOUCH SIMPLICITY
at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He’s also collects vital signs from the unwell As 2020 came to a close, MIME CE marked
worked in aircrew protection for QinetiQ, passenger via equipment including an the Aiber software, paving the way for launch
formerly the UK MOD’s Defence Evaluation accurate and durable pulse Oximeter, into international markets. The CE mark
Research Agency, where he conducted altitude 12-lead Bluetooth ECG recorder (designed confirms that Aiber conforms to European
protection research. Dr Tim Stevenson is for non-professional use), with disposable Communities Council Medical Device
MIME’s Aviation Medicine Adviser and was patch technology. This data is shared over Regulation 2017/745 and is now registered
previously Head of Health Services for Virgin secure cloud technology with clinicians, with the UK Competent Authority. This is a
Atlantic and medical advisor to easyJet. “We allowing not only better informed in-flight significant advancement for MIME
have a real mix of skill that’s relevant to the decisions, but, when necessary good Technologies as it allows the company to
technology that we produce, including diversion decisions. enter UK and European markets.
aviation medicine,” adds Roberts. As Aiber is a product developed for remote With more passengers and crew set to
environments where sometimes there is no benefit from the solution, how easy is it to
INTRODUCING AIBER connectivity, it can still guide crew and use? “Super easy,” says Roberts. “Aiber has a
After in-depth product development and record all vital data for accurate incident unique element to it – one-touch technology,
end-user testing, MIME’s dedicated team
Aiber enables real-time data sharing of both
launched its new solution, Aiber, in March
minor incidents and major medical events
2020, specifically designed to support in-flight through internet
cabin crew. connectivity.
“We spent many months working with the
industry to fine-tune the product for
aviation,” says Roberts, adding that
although MIME initially looked at all
aspects of multimodal healthcare,
commercial and business aviation has
been the company’s focus.
Aiber is lightweight (1.5 kg) and just
larger than A4 in size and enables real-
time data sharing of both minor incidents
and major medical events in-flight through
Bluetooth connectivity.
www.inflight-online.com / 21MIME PROFILE
solution for the airline industry,” asserts
Roberts. “When we started out, the Aiber
Aiber’s in-built chat function allows the product could only support the end-user, the
cabin crew. We just had a front-end solution,
cabin crew to communicate directly but nowhere for that data to go, no end-to-end
solution. As we’ve developed, we’ve made and
with their ground-based medical brought new value because we don’t just
support providers. support the crew, we support the airline, those
that are making in-flight diversion decisions.
So really, we’ve enhanced those features over
time and will continue to do so. For example,
in the year ahead, we will focus on
which simply means the crew just needs to programme intended to support innovation sustainability, ensuring that it is at the heart of
touch singular buttons. There’s little typing and the growth of young companies in the our product and our organisation. Sustainable
or scrolling. UK’s aerospace ecosystem. The accelerator solutions are key to the aviation market. We
“One of the key pieces of intellectual was created in partnership with the will also focus on communicable disease.
property of Aiber is that we automate incident Aerospace Technology Institute and Boeing. Although the world is watching the COVID-19
reports for the airline. We take the numbers GKN Aerospace is the programme’s corporate pandemic right now, let’s not forget that
and the data from the incident to create a sponsor, and Rolls-Royce recently joined as a various infectious diseases remain active
readable English language report that can be programme partner. According to MIME, the across the globe. Communicable disease
used for handover reports for paramedics or alliance with the accelerator, coupled with functionality helps to ensure that we’re
for an airline audit (and insurance reporting) the commercial and business support it continually relevant in the aviation market.”
or for post-incident training. This all comes brings, will deepen its networks and continue Roberts concludes: “It has never been more
from a simple one-touch front-end user app to raise its profile in the aviation industry. important for the aviation industry to provide
that the crew have to use.” “The professional input of the strategists clear guidance and reassurance that every
and technical experts of these industry- effort is being made to prioritise the health of
PROTECTING PRIVACY leading companies will enhance our position passengers and employees. As the industry
Such simplicity hasn’t compromised data in the aviation market,” says Roberts. begins to recover following COVID-19,
privacy. All the data shared is purely incident- “We have to constantly consider that we’re commercial airlines and private jets can use
specific, as Roberts is at pains to reassure. “We ensuring that we have the most up-to-date our technology to do just that.”
take confidentiality very seriously. We work
within GDPR guidelines. The clinician
dashboard is hosted on a secure
Microsoft Azure platform.
Crucially, we only record data
Aiber’s simple ‘one-touch’ technology
that is required for the incident, helps cabin crew to manage a medical
we don’t necessarily have to emergency.
record passenger identifiable
information; we just need to
know the health status of that
particular casualty. We are strict
with data quality and privacy.”
If 2020 ended on a high for
MIME, the new year has begun in
a similar fashion. The company
joined the ATI
Boeing
Accelerator
Programme as
part of its second
cohort of intakes.
The ATI Boeing
Accelerator is a
three-month-long
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