Honeywell and Inmarsat have finalised the critical design review (CDR) of the GX Aviation aircraft avionics for high-speed inflight connectivity on schedule. It is anticipated that product certifications will be achieved later this year, followed by product introduction which is expected during the first half of 2015.
The service is intended to provide data rates to the aircraft of up to 50Mbps, and completing the CDR marks the final development review for the GX Aviation aircraft avionics programme. Inmarsat and Honeywell engineers completed the evaluation on schedule and executed a comprehensive audit of the system design, engineering model hardware and programme.
Completion of this milestone follows the successful launch of Inmarsat-5 F1 – the first of three Ka-band satellites – from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Russia on 8 December 2013. The second and third satellites are scheduled to launch later this year, providing full global coverage by the end of 2014.
“A comprehensive team from both Inmarsat and Honeywell has completed its analysis of every aspect of Honeywell’s satcom system to ensure it meets all our design criteria. We are confident that the Honeywell avionics, like the rest of the GX Aviation programme, will be ready for service launch in 2015. GX Aviation will bring a new dawn in aircraft connectivity, providing high-speed broadband connectivity for all user requirements throughout the flight,” said Miranda Mills, president of Inmarsat Aviation.
During the process, Inmarsat’s team reviewed the final functional specifications of hardware designs, and the results of engineering units tests. These reviews will enable the continued progress of the GX Aviation programme through product certification in 2014, product launch and global entry into service for commercial, business aviation and government customers in the first half of 2015.
