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      Eight Big Announcements from EBACE 2015

      May 20, 2015  | Written by APEX Admin
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      The all-new Gulfstream G500
      The all-new Gulfstream G500.

      Aircraft manufacturers, business aviation vendors, avionic firms and more from around the world gathered in Geneva, Switzerland this week for the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE 2015), the region’s largest event dedicated to showcasing the latest and greatest in biz aviation products and services. APEX member companies were in attendance with no shortage of news to release at the event. Check out some of the top news coming out of EBACE 2015:

      1. Gogo Vision Expands Globally

      Gogo announced at EBACE 2015 that their wireless in-flight entertainment product, Gogo Vision, is now available globally. Previously only available in the United States, the new enhanced version of the product is iPhone-, tablet- and laptop-friendly and is compatible with a greater range of cabin management systems. John Wade, Gogo’s executive vice-president and general manager says, “Thanks to newly-expanded distribution agreements with entertainment rights holders, we are now able to offer Gogo Vision globally, bringing an entirely new level of IFE choice and convenience to many new markets.”

      2. Honeywell Amps Up In-flight Wi-Fi Speed with Software Upgrade

      Honeywell Aerospace is releasing a software upgrade that will double in-flight Wi-Fi speed for clients on Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband. The high data rate (HDR) boost involves a tail-mount antenna system and provides a maximum broadband speed of 2.75 Mbps. Honeywell is also in the process of certifying its JetWave hardware that will be compatible with Inmarsat’s Global Xpress service for high-speed global connectivity. At AiX this year, Honeywell and Inmarsat unveiled a new antenna designed in collaboration with Kymeta.

      Honeywell launches software upgrade to double the speed of in-flight Wi-Fi.
      Honeywell launches software upgrade to double the speed of in-flight Wi-Fi. Image via Honeywell.

      3. Gulfstream Chooses ViaSat’s Yonder High-Speed Connectivity Service for Large Cabin Aircraft

      As passenger demand for bandwidth increases in both commercial and business aviation sectors, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation has selected ViaSat as the sole Ku-band supplier to provide connectivity for an extended line of their large cabin aircraft with ViaSat’s Yonder high-speed in-flight Internet service. Already certified for Bombardier Global Series and Challenger 604, the service is currently available on some 200 civil business jets and 200 government jets.

      ViaSat will also take their Exede In the Air Ka-band satellite service one step further this year by enabling certification on business aviation aircraft, with service entry scheduled for early 2016. The service will launch with several unnamed business jet operators based out of North America.

      4. Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion Flight Deck to Equip Textron Aviation’s King Air Fleet

      Rockwell Collin’s Pro Line Fusion Flight Deck, which includes a trio of 14-inch touchscreen displays, will be equipping the cockpits of Textron Aviation’s King Air 350, King Air 250 and C90GTX aircrafts. The flight deck supports future upgrades that will include head-up guidance, infrared vision and airport taxi utilities.

      Rockwell Collins' Pro Line Fusion Flight Deck will be in the cockpits of Textron's King Air jets.
      Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion flight deck features a trio of touchscreen displays. Image via Business Wire.

      5. Embraer Sells Legacy 500 to Middle East Airlines

      Embraer Executive Jets has sold its first midsize Legacy 500 jet to the national carrier of Lebanon, Middle East Airlines (MEA) to be delivered in late 2015. Also known as Airliban, the airline hopes to provide charter services from Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut.

      6. Airbus Sells Its First Corporate AC320neo to Acropolis Aviation

      Airbus announced the first order of its AJ320neo jet from the UK-based Acropolis Aviation. The $125-million aircraft is the business version of the Airbus A320neo, which has 3,800 orders, and is 15 percent longer. The custom interior will feature 19 seats, three seating sections, facilities for crew and a private suite. Delivery of the aircraft is scheduled for 2018.

      airbus-acropolis
      Airbus makes its first order of the A3J3neo to Acropolis Aviation. Image via Aviation Week.

      7. Qatar Airways Firms Up Order for 30 Gulfstream Business Jets

      Air charter service and Qatar Airways subsidiary Qatar Executive announced the addition of 10 additional Gulfstream aircraft to their original order of 20, announced in October 2014. The fleet expansion further cements the airline’s position in the global air market and, and follows Qatar’s announcement to expand into the Asian business jet market, China in particular. The order will include a combination of both of Gulfstream’s new clean-sheet, wide-cabin aircraft, the G500 and G600 and the flagship G650ER. The charter service airline will take delivery of its first G650ER in the fourth quarter of this year.

      8. Boeing Standardizes Split Scimitar Winglets for Business Jet Family

      Boeing’s Split Scimitar Winglets are now standard on all Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) aircraft. The aircraft manufacturer announced that the Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) certified design, which has been seen on commercial aircraft since 2013, is also available for retrofit on BBJs that are already in-service. It involves adding a scimitar tip and downward strake. The slight change of the aircraft’s tale allows the plane to be more fuel efficient by decreasing wingtip vortices, lessening draft, lifting wings and improving takeoff performance.