CJI RESEARCH • CONNECTIVITY
‘In-f light connectivity no longer a luxury but a necessity’
Quality in-flight connectivity aboard business jets is now an absolute necessity, judging by CJI’s latest exclusive research conducted in partnership with Gogo Business Aviation. Words: Fayaz Hussain and Mike Stones
Gogo’s service uses OneWeb’s satellites.
CJI RESEARCH • CONNECTIVITY
‘In-f light connectivity no longer a luxury but a necessity’
Quality in-flight connectivity aboard business jets is now an absolute necessity, judging by CJI’s latest exclusive research conducted in partnership with Gogo Business Aviation. Words: Fayaz Hussain and Mike Stones
Gogo’s service uses OneWeb’s satellites.
TOP STANDARDS of in-flight connectivity, that match the quality of service available in the office or at home, are now an absolute necessity, according to more than 200 industry professionals canvassed in CJI’s latest research conducted in partnership with Gogo Business Aviation.
A striking 73% of all respondents agreed that a high quality of in-flight connectivity is now fully expected on aircraft, with 21% strongly agreeing with that suggestion.
The result is no surprise for Dave Mellin, senior director of Public Relations and Communications at Gogo. “Fast in-flight connectivity is expected on business aircraft today – it’s no longer a luxury but a necessity. This research confirms what we’ve known for quite some time,” he tells CJI. “The good news is that operators of business aircraft, regardless of size or where they fly, can now get a true broadband internet system that is fast with low latency, affordable and available globally.”
The research also revealed a clear preference for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems over Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) systems. Among those considering new satellite internet solutions, 30% preferred LEO, while only 9% favoured GEO. This preference was even stronger among certain groups, with 31% of North American respondents preferring LEO.
The research also revealed a strong link between connectivity solutions and aircraft value. Well over half (59%) of all respondents agreed that installing in-flight connectivity solutions increases the resale value of aircraft. Mellin notes: “Adding the latest technology that delivers a fast, reliable internet experience – from a provider that is proven to serve the needs of business aviation today and well into the future – can positively impact the resale value of the aircraft.”
Gogo reports that the type of wi-fi installed on business aircraft combined with the company providing the service are the two key factors that have the greatest impact on the plane’s resale value. But the company believes some respondents could be helped to a better understanding of how a top in-flight connectivity system can influence resale value.
CJI’s latest research on in-flight connectivity, conducted in partnership with Gogo Business Aviation in September, canvassed the views of aviation professionals spanning a wide range of roles from manufacturing and sales to operations and support.
Continue reading to learn more about the results and Gogo’s interpretation of their implications for business aviation. We also asked Gogo for a sneak preview of the likely outlook for in-flight connectivity aboard business aircraft by 2030.
CJI: What do the results tell us about in-flight connectivity?
Dave Mellin (DM): The first thing that stands out is that in-flight connectivity today is an expectation on business aircraft. Less than 10 years ago, it was considered a luxury or premium to have onboard, but today operators and passengers consider it a necessity. The need for fast broadband internet on the ground has transferred to the skies and the technology is finally at a point where we can accommodate that hunger and need.
Regarding the differences between LEO and GEO connectivity, it appears there is more education we can do to give operators a better understanding of the differences between the LEO and GEO constellations and the systems and antennas that power them. LEO provides a step-change in satellite connectivity, delivering much faster data speeds with smaller and lighter onboard hardware and antennas that is more affordable to purchase, install and operate. For the thousands of operators of midsize and smaller aircraft outside North America, that’s important because it means for the first time ever, they can install a true broadband connectivity system on their aircraft. LEO systems will deliver a more consistent user experience globally, with service even over the polar regions.
Respondents’ Profile
Respondents’ Profile
CJI: What are the key trends to emerge from this research?
DM: There’s a need to educate the industry about the value of in-flight wi-fi, not only the impacts it has for the onboard user experience but also for resale value. The differences between the latest technologies that are providing a much better user experience than ever before need to continue to be highlighted. It’s clear that in-flight wi-fi has become an expected service on business aircraft, so the next step is ongoing education about what’s now available and what it will mean for a fleet, a corporate flight department, broker or financier.
CJI: What, if any, research results were unexpected?
DM: There is more to be done to inform the industry about what’s new technologically and how it can positively impact the inflight connectivity experience. Understanding the latest LEO services and how LEO differs from previous technology is something we need to continue to explain and clarify.
“Business aircraft… can now get a true broadband internet system on board…”
LEO is changing everything in aviation connectivity and it’s now available for virtually any size business aircraft from super-light jets and turboprops all the way up to the largest ultra-long-range large-cabin jets and even VVIP aircraft.
The good news is that operators of business aircraft, of any size or where they fly, can now get a true broadband internet system onboard that is fast with low latency, affordable and available globally.
CJI: What messages does the research have for Gogo?
DM: As we near the launch of Gogo Galileo HDX, Gogo’s global LEO system with a more compact and lightweight antenna late this year, we need to continue to educate the market about the advantages it offers. In the past, when operators have considered adding in-flight connectivity, they’ve had to make some kind of compromise: fast wi-fi has been offered by Gogo for several years now with AVANCE L5, but it was confined to North America (the continental U.S., Canada and Alaska). If you wanted a good connectivity experience outside North America, you had to add GEO satellite to your aircraft, but that was only available to large-cabin aircraft because of the size and weight of the onboard hardware. So if you had a midsize aircraft or smaller, you couldn’t add one of those system to your aircraft.
Gogo Galileo HDX LEO service breaks those previous limitations for operators of business aircraft of any size because it’s fast with low latency, the equipment is more compact which means it’s easier to install, reducing cost and downtime, and it’s global and affordable to operate on a month-to-month basis. Now with Gogo Galileo HDX, fast, low-latency global broadband internet can be installed on a turboprop like a Pilatus PC-12 or a light jet like a Cessna Citation CJ1, as examples. This marks a turning point for the industry that changes everything. It’s in-flight wi-fi reimagined.
CJI: How connectivity savvy do you think respondents are?
DM: This is a savvy group. Respondents are especially savvy as it relates to the importance of in-flight internet on a business aircraft. I think we can do more to help their understanding of the differences between LEO and GEO as well as the impact of adding different types of connectivity can have relative to redundancy of service and the value of the aircraft.
“The need and hunger for more data and faster speeds is only going to increase.”
CJI: What separates Gogo’s service from its competitors?
DM: At Gogo we’re focused on business aviation, offering several unique benefits including a fast, low-latency global LEO system small enough to fit any size business aircraft with equipment that is designed, built and supported by business aviation professionals for business aviation professionals. AVANCE is designed with multi-bearer capability for easy upgrade to satellite as a stand-alone or can be added to air-to-ground service, and AVANCE offers several benefits such as Gogo Vision, Gogo DASH and over-the-air software updates to keep systems updated and with the latest technology. And our systems are aviation grade, built to withstand the rigours of aviation operation, with security built-in and customisable, tailored to meet the specific needs of business aviation operators and passengers.
CJI: How will the connectivity landscape look by 2030?
DM: The need and hunger for more data and faster speeds is only going to increase, as will the technology, hardware, software and networks that will enable it in the air. Most of the aircraft outside North America don’t have broadband connectivity and we expect that is going to change significantly over the next several years with thousands more aircraft adding it by 2030.
As technology evolves, systems and networks will no doubt continue to perform better with faster speeds for an improved customer experience. The systems will also become more compact, lighter in weight and more affordable.
CJI research results
What is your role in the aircraft industry?
What is your level of agreement with the following statements? – Installing in-flight connectivity solutions increases the resale value of aircraft. (Scale 1-10 with one being the lowest and 10 highest).
What is your level of agreement with the following statements? – Installing in-flight connectivity solutons increases the resale value of aircraft. (Scale 1-10 with one being lowest and 10 highest).
What is your level of agreement with the following statements? – Having a redundancy or alternative connectivity system is important for peace of mind or additional capacity (Scale 1-10 with one being lowest and 10 highest).
If you were selecting a new satellite internet solution, would you prefer a LEO (Lower Earth Orbit) or GEO (Geostationary Earth Orbit) offering?
