21 January 2015: Honeywell Aerospace has received U.S. Federal Aviation Administration approval for its JetWave™ wireless in-flight connectivity system to be used on Boeing 757s to connect to Inmarsat Global Xpress (GX) Aviation.

JetWave is the exclusive hardware for aircraft to connect to GX Aviation, to provide passengers with the same high-speed Wi-Fi experience they get at home or in the office while travelling at 35,000 feet.

The certification validates the reliability and capability of Honeywell’s hardware to connect to GX Aviation to enable fliers to have seamless access to onboard Wi-Fi to browse the internet, check emails, stay connected on social media, watch videos and more, even on transcontinental flights.

Turning point

“Airlines have previously struggled to meet the expectations of modern-day passengers for reliable, efficient, high-speed connectivity on board flights due to the lack of available technology,” said Leo Mondale, president of Inmarsat Aviation.

“However, the entry into service of GX Aviation this year will mark an important turning point, allowing passengers in the air to browse the Internet, download files and watch videos online, just as they would on the ground.

“The certification of Honeywell’s JetWave hardware is a key milestone in the programme and we congratulate our partner on this achievement.”

Rigorous tests

Honeywell’s JetWave hardware certification was achieved following more than 180 flight hours and multiple rigorous tests aboard Honeywell’s Boeing 757 test aircraft.

Tests showed that the system would stay connected to Inmarsat’s GX network at various altitudes, angles and speeds, through several different types of weather, and over land and water.

The certification now simplifies the path for U.S. government approval for the use of JetWave hardware on other aircraft.

Passenger expectation

“The ability to connect with others is not a luxury anymore; it’s an expectation of both passengers and pilots alike,” said Jack Jacobs, Vice President of Safety and Connectivity at Honeywell Aerospace.

“This first commercial certification for Honeywell’s JetWave hardware is a leap forward in making the system available commercially and accelerating access to reliable and fast connectivity for airlines and passengers travelling across the world.”

Global Xpress is the only Ka-band high-speed broadband satellite network from a single operator, to span the globe and provide fast, seamless and reliable connectivity over both land and water.