Aircell Announces SwiftBroadband Certification Aboard Falcons in Europe

GENEVA, May 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- [EBACE 2012] -- Aircell, a leading provider of in-flight connectivity for business aviation, announces that Jet Aviation AG Basel, a member of the company's global dealer network, has received a new Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the AVIATOR 200 system aboard the Falcon 2000LX.

The AVIATOR 200 enables near-global email, light Internet and voice capabilities via Inmarsat's satellite-based SwiftBroadband service. Passengers and crew can send and receive e-mail with attachments, surf the web, access a corporate VPN and more, using their own Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, tablets, electronic flight bags, and smartphones. They can also place and receive voice calls using integrated cabin handsets. Customers can use the system's voice and data functions simultaneously. Aircell's SwiftBroadband solutions are powered by Thrane & Thrane.

A complete AVIATOR 200 equipment package costs approximately $60,000, plus installation. Of particular note, the system uses a small, low-gain antenna, which serves to ease overall certification requirements and reduces installation complexity.

Jet Aviation is making the new STC available to other service facilities for a nominal fee, enabling more affordable follow-on installations for other Falcon 2000 operators seeking connectivity services for their aircraft. The STC was specifically designed for maximum applicability to other Falcon 2000 models and the most common avionics configurations in the field.

Tobias Franke, Jet Aviation's Director of Sales and Revenue Management, said, "We had noted strong customer demand for affordable communications and connectivity services, particularly for e-mail, and recognized the cost-saving benefits to our customers in not having to wait for EASA certification. With our new STC, passengers and crews are able to use their own Wi-Fi devices to stay productive as they travel," he concluded.

"With light Internet, e-mail and voice capabilities in a single, affordable equipment package, we believe the AVIATOR 200 is an extraordinary value," said John Wade, Aircell's executive vice president and general manager. "We believe the system's simplified installation requirements further increase market appeal and make it an economical connectivity solution for operation in multiple world regions."

For more information about Aircell connectivity solutions in the European market, including the new AVIATOR 200 certification for Falcons, operators are invited to contact Jean-Luc Rosenfeld, Aircell European Sales Manager, at [email protected] or +41.32.841.2838.

About Jet Aviation

Jet Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), was founded in Switzerland in 1967 and is one of the leading business aviation services companies in the world. Close to 5,000 employees cater to client needs from 25 airport facilities throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North and South America. The company provides maintenance, completions and refurbishment, engineering, fixed base operations, along with aircraft management, charter services, aircraft sales and personnel services. Jet Aviation's European and U.S. aircraft management and charter divisions jointly operate a fleet of more than 200 aircraft. Please visit www.jetaviation.com and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jetaviation

About Aircell

Aircell, a Gogo company, is a leading provider of in-flight connectivity for business aviation. Through a full range of services including voice, high-speed Internet, cockpit data and more, Aircell increases the productivity, safety, and enjoyment of the business aviation travel experience. Headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, USA, Aircell is an AS9100-certified company serving a global customer base with an authorized dealer/distributor network that spans 6 continents. A trusted brand in airborne communications, Aircell is a factory option at every major business aircraft manufacturer and installed on the world's largest fractional ownership fleets. The only company to offer all three of the industry's most popular network technologies – Iridium Satellite, Inmarsat SwiftBroadband and Gogo Biz™, Aircell provides advice and solutions addressing any customer need, aircraft type, or geography.

A Collier Trophy nominee and the recipient of several dozen awards for innovation, Aircell is widely credited with many of the industry's most influential historical achievements, beginning with the groundbreaking airborne cellular concept that launched the company in 1991. Connect with us www.aircell.com and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aircellbizav.

© 2012 Aircell. All rights reserved. Aircell, Gogo and Gogo Biz, and In Touch, In Flight are trademarks of Aircell Business Aviation Services LLC or its affiliates. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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