The art of installation
Installing a new connectivity solution or upgrading an existing one can be complicated. From choosing the satellite and service providers to practical considerations like how long the jet will be grounded, there are many variables to take on board. Christoph Fondalinski, vice president, Completions, Jet Aviation talks us through it.
The art of installation
Installing a new connectivity solution or upgrading an existing one can be complicated. From choosing the satellite and service providers to practical considerations like how long the jet will be grounded, there are many variables to take on board. Christoph Fondalinski, vice president, Completions, Jet Aviation talks us through it.
OGAC: What advice would you give to an owner who is looking to upgrade their connectivity, or who is buying an airplane for the first time?
Fondalinski: From our perspective, our customers expect to have the same technology and comfort in their aircraft that they experience at home or on their yacht. They often come with their own ideas about what kind of speed they want and how they prefer to operate the system while travelling.
Some customers want to work while flying and need high-speed, full bandwidth connectivity. They don’t just use the internet on their phone, they also want to have streaming capabilities through different devices. Then there are others who only want the minimum coverage.
The first thing we do is we listen to the customer’s needs and then we design a system to match their requirements.
Our first recommendation is to install the system that has the full coverage for where you will be operating. We always offer a system that has the latest technology but that can be upgraded at a later stage.
That is why we created our own innovation steering committee in Basel, a team that is always at the forefront, anticipating new systems and offering solutions that will satisfy the customer.
OGAC: What are the biggest issues you find that customers have with their connectivity?
Fondalinski: The biggest issue in operations is that sometimes you lose the network. This might be because you are changing regions and changing satellites as you travel.
That’s why it’s important to work out what is the main useage of this system. That way you can install redundant systems, you can install a back-up if needed to be sure that the coverage is given.
We always do a full system test as part of the installation, especially in the context of a certification of a new system. We don’t only check whether it is operational, we check the connectivity and the bandwidth so you have a kind of profile of coverage.
One of the challenges is on completion projects of brand-new aircraft, which take two to three years, depending on the complexity of the interior. A customer might select a connectivity system now, but in three years, it could be outdated. It is a dynamic environment with new technical solutions arising. We’ve had Ku-band, Ka-band solutions, now the LEO satellites, you probably also have the Starlink option. The customer needs to consider how long it’s going to take to change it, the entry into service of the aircraft, and then there’s a commercial discussion and a decision to make.
OGAC: If I came in with my aircraft that was five years old and I wanted to upgrade my system, how long would it take?
Fondalinski: That’s a good question because it depends on the specific system. The driver usually is the lead time of the materials.
Based on previous projects, it could be six to 12 months of lead time to get the physical parts. Normally, once the customer decides to install a system, the first thing you do is order the critical long-lead items because you will use the time that the materials are being produced or prepared to do the engineering in-house.
We do all the engineering up front to minimise the ground time of the aircraft.
The ground time depends on the specific system being installed. Are we installing an already certified system, where we do the access, installation and the testing, or is it part of a solution where the customer asks us to develop the certification package because it is the first installation of this type of aircraft. Then you have additional time for the certification test flight and then all the paperwork to be approved by the authority.
I’ve seen six weeks to three months depending on the complexity of the installation.
OGAC: Are all systems the same to install?
Fondalinski: On the airframe you have various locations where you install the antenna - the fuselage and the tail, depending on the system.
If you select an antenna in a location that’s already been certified for that specific type of aircraft, the effort is really to create the access to the fuselage to be able to do the structural installation. Then there’s the question of how many wireless access points do you distribute throughout the cabin.
For the antenna installation, it’s quite similar. Then it’s about integrating the specific interior and the fact that you can use it throughout the cabin, which makes the difference.
OGAC: When is the best time to install a new connectivity system?
Fondalinski: It’s really based on the needs of the customer. The most efficient way is always when you get your new airplane, your new interior, so you have the latest and greatest technology.
There are certain set-ups where the aircraft is provisioned from the OEM. We often develop our own system. For example, in one region, a system may be certified and approved by the authorities, but in the next two or three years, another system has to be certified for use. We can then put in provisions so that at some point, when that system is certified in the country, you can have an upgrade that is easier than if you have started from scratch.
If it is a brand-new aircraft that comes to Jet Aviation for outfitting that will be covered within the interior work process.
If we do a refurbishment or an upgrade of an in-service aircraft, we usually combine the installation of a new satcom system as part of some maintenance activities or other upgrades of the interior to reduce time on the ground.
OGAC: How do connectivity systems affect re-sale values?
Fondalinski: The re-sale value of an aircraft is linked to a number of factors, with connectivity being one of them. Like with many types of assets, modern technology has a positive impact on the re-sale value.
