Honeywell
JETWAVE (IN SERVICE)
Coverage: Global | Satellites/Hardware Types: Viasat Global Xpress Network, including future next-generation GX7/8/9 satellites | Orbit/Operating Frequency Range for all Types: GEO/HEO Ka-band | Aircraft: Available on Dassault F7X | F8X | F900 | F2000; Bombardier CL600 | CL604 | CL605 | CL650 | BD700 | GLOBAL 5000 | GLOBAL 5500 | GLOBAL 6000 | GLOBAL 6500 | GLOBAL 7000 | GLOBAL 7500 | GLOBAL 8000 | GLOBAL EXPRESS; Gulfstream G III | G IV | G V | G300 | G350 | G400 | G450 | G500 | G550 | G600 | G650; Airbus (ACJ) A318 | A319 | A320 | A321 | A330 | A340 | A350; Boeing (BBJ) B737 | B747 | B757 | B767 | B777 | B787
JETWAVE X (2025)
Coverage: Global | Satellites/Hardware Types: Combined ViaSat-3 and Viasat Global Xpress networks, including next-generation satellites with dynamically steerable capacity for very fast and consistent experience. | Orbit/Operating Frequency Range for all Types: GEO/HEO/MEO Ka-band | Aircraft: From super-mid-size and larger. Can replace existing JetWave tail mounted installations with minimal effort and downtime. Lower-profile antenna accommodates smaller aircraft such as Bombardier Challenger 350/3500 and Embraer Praetor
HONEYWELL AEROSPACE is a leading provider of innovative solutions for the aviation industry, with products and services found on virtually every business aircraft. Its offerings include aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems and mechanical components, all designed to enhance efficiency, flight safety and overall passenger experience.
In the realm of in-flight connectivity, Honeywell Aerospace claims to stand out as both a hardware and service provider. Its JetWave hardware enables high-speed, reliable internet access for passengers and crew, ensuring seamless connectivity. This advanced system supports various satellite networks, providing tailored connectivity solutions for different types of business aircraft.
Additionally, through Honeywell Forge, the company offers comprehensive in-flight connectivity services designed to enhance operational efficiency and passenger satisfaction. Honeywell Forge provides real-time data analytics and a customised experience to help business aviation operators optimise operations and reduce costs.
As a leader in the in-flight connectivity market, Honeywell Aerospace claims to deliver unparalleled value with cutting-edge hardware and robust service offerings. Honeywell Forge is a clients’ single platform for cockpit datalink, in-flight connectivity, aircraft tracking, and monitoring, integrated with multiple third-party services, it says. Taking care of its customers is the company’s top priority.
Value Added Services (Honeywell Forge): Honeywell Forge offers value-added airtime services that elevate the experience for business jet passengers, making it personalized and best-in-class. With Honeywell Forge, passengers can enjoy a true home-like experience in the air, thanks to global Wi-Fi solutions that provide fewer drops and home-like speeds, even over oceans. The platform integrates hardware, flight services, and airtime services into a single solution, ensuring seamless connectivity and data management.
Moreover, Honeywell Forge's end-to-end connectivity solution caters to the needs of everyone in the business aviation value chain, including passengers, flight department general managers, flight operations directors, directors of maintenance, flight crews, and dispatchers and schedulers. The platform's comprehensive approach ensures that all aspects of the flight experience are optimized, from flight planning and optimization to in-flight connectivity services and flight database services. This holistic approach not only enhances passenger satisfaction but also maximizes the performance and profitability of the operation, making Honeywell Forge an indispensable tool for business aviation.
JETWAVE (IN SERVICE)
Equipment price:
Varies by installer and aircraft type. Sold as a turnkey solution through OEM and partner network
Installation cost:
Varies by installer and aircraft type. Sold as a turnkey solution through OEM and partner network
Download:
40Mbps
Upload:
8Mbps
Latency:
600ms
Monthly cost:
From $7k-$25k
20GB limit:
Plans start from
42GB
Uncapped:
$25k
JETWAVE X (2025)
Equipment price:
Varies by installer and aircraft type. Sold as a turnkey solution through OEM and partner network
Installation cost:
Varies by aircraft type and current system provisions. Existing JetWave installations can be upgraded cost effectively to JetWave X
Download:
Uncapped:
>200Mbps peak
Upload:
Up to 10Mbps
Latency:
~700ms
Monthly cost:
from $3-15k
20GB limit:
Depends on plan
Uncapped:
$15K
Words by Scott D. McCreary and Joel A. Bulleigh, McAfee & Taft
Welcome to the ‘next revolution of in-flight connectivity’
New satellite capacity and technical upgrades are driving commercial opportunities for Honeywell. Mike Stones reports
HONEYWELL IS looking forward to the new cycle of connectivity equipment upgrades for business aircraft, which it sees unfolding now.
“We are at the front end of the next big cycle of equipment upgrades and new capabilities for operators,” says Jason Wissink, president of Services & Connectivity, Honeywell. “It’s mainly being driven by new capacity currently being put into service.”
For evidence of new capacity, Wissink cites the low Earth orbit (LEO) systems like Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, Viasat’s ViaSat-3 and other Ku networks.
“All that new capacity brings a new replacement cycle for equipment that can access this additional capacity,” says Wissink. “Operators end up with service plans that are much more capable and typically more economical, so it opens up the next revolution in in-flight connectivity.”
Upgrades
Honeywell believes the industry is a year or so into what is probably a three-to-five-year cycle of equipment upgrades. The company’s optimism is based partly what happened in 2016/2017 when Inmarsat GX was released along with Honeywell’s JetWave system. “There was a pretty intense round of upgrades for a couple of years, and I suspect we will see that again,” he says. “We anticipate it will be robust for the next couple of years as more new capacity goes up and more new systems come to the market.”
That’s good news for the connectivity specialist – which also supplies L-band and VHF Datalink services for the flight deck – together with in-flight connectivity services for passengers. Honeywell focuses on both supplying the equipment itself and service once the equipment is installed and activated.
What distinguishes Honeywell’s service in a highly competitive market is its long legacy of operation both in business aviation and in connectivity, claims Wissink. Also, close industry partnerships and discussions with all the satellite networks and operators about their current and future requirements enables the company to meet genuine client needs. “We don’t want to create something that has been created three or four times before. We are determined to bring unique value to our customers. Strong communications with satellite networks help us make good decisions about where to invest,” says Wissink.
Jason Wissink, president of Services & Connectivity, Honeywell.
The upswing in the connectivity cycle promises commercial opportunity for Honeywell. “It will certainly bring opportunity for equipment sales in the aftermarket – especially when operators upgrade to a new system or new aircraft,” he says. “And it provides an opportunity to talk to operators about their connectivity needs.”
Typically, Honeywell works with the equipment installers – whether OEMs or maintenance and repair organisations (MROs) – which are installing connectivity solutions and directly with clients. “Once the equipment is installed on the airplane, we deal directly with the operators when they decide they want to activate the service,” says Wissink.
“Over the past 10 years, in-flight connectivity has made vast progress," he tells us. In 2014, it was rare for passengers to use connectivity for business purposes. But now, for most clients, connectivity is a “100% must-have critical system”. A decade ago, operators had a choice of perhaps two systems, says Wissink. “In the next three to five years, buyers will be looking at half a dozen or more different systems,” he adds.
With modern capabilities, it’s not uncommon for business leaders to work during the flight while also streaming a big sporting event or listening to music. “Today, on-board connectivity is being used for everything, all at once,” he says. “The level of capacity has increased to the point where you can use these systems much like you would use connectivity in the home or office and fully expect to do multiple things at the same time.”
Up front, pilots will also be using in-flight connectivity for updated weather information and exchanging messages with FBOs.
Honeywell supplies “essentially any segment,” you can think of in business aviation, with many clients in Part 91 corporate flight departments, large fractional firms, management companies and private individuals.
“In the next three to five years, buyers will be looking at half a dozen different systems.”
With so much choice available when selecting a connectivity solution, Honeywell invites clients to consider key questions before making their equipment selection. The questions include: what type of mission their aircraft will be undertaking, how many passengers will be travelling, typical routes and what on-board connectivity applications will be needed.
Conversations with operators include not solely what equipment is available today but what is likely to become available in the next couple of years. Also, while modern connectivity systems are highly reliable, support is still needed. So, Honeywell encourages operators to consider likely support for the system, once it has been installed and activated, if a problem arrives.
North America and Europe remain the biggest markets for in-flight connectivity, Honeywell also highlights the potential of Middle East, which is showing significant growth.
Advancing technology is making the benefits of in-flight connectivity available to a wider range of aircraft, according to the connectivity specialist. For medium-sized aircraft and below, previously there were not too many connectivity options. You could use air-to-ground in the US and the L-band system. “But with antennae sizes now becoming quite small, high speed, global satellite connectivity capability is no longer reserved for the large aircraft,” he says.
Large aircraft are starting to see the installation of multiple systems. This is delivering benefits beyond simply having a back-up system on-board. “The sophistication they offer doesn’t come from simply having two systems but how they work together,” explains Wissink. “Multiple high-speed global systems, used at the same time can unlock a whole new level of capability, if you have a system on the airplane that is coordinating how to use multiple systems at once.”
While multiple high-speed installations are still the exception, the reducing price of new systems means Honeywell is seeing more interest from installing multiple systems for enhanced capability. The company expects this to be more common in future – particularly for longer-range aircraft.
Another feature is the interoperability with multiple networks. In the past Honeywell would typically develop specific equipment for a specific network in a closed-end system. “Today, antennae that cover full frequency ranges and have the capability to integrate with multiple modems – as well as the logic of knowing when to connect to what network – there’s a whole new level of choice and flexibility available to operators,” he says.
JetWave X
One example Wissink cites of Honeywell’s power of partnerships is the JetWave high-speed in-flight wi-fi system that it launched 10 years ago and now has 2,500 installations worldwide. The JetWave Ka-band satellite communications system and Inmarsat’s JetConneX service deliver speeds of up to 40Mbps .
The company is preparing for the launch of JetWave X next year. This multi-network, high-speed satellite communications system will work with the new ViaSat-3 network. JetWave X will deliver higher connectivity speeds, more functionality and global coverage, according to the company. Along with Viasat-3 compatibility, JetWaveX will continue to use the Global Xpress network, which plans to add new satellites to the GX constellation between 2025 and 2027.
New system upgrades often tempt the dedicated few connectivity enthusiasts to ground their aircraft for immediate installation. “They are willing to put their aircraft down because they highly value the new capabilities that the latest equipment provides,” says Wissink. But most typically, clients wait for major scheduled maintenance events when they know their aircraft will be grounded.
Surveying the likely connectivity landscape of 2030, Wissink thinks the current trend towards providing connectivity solutions for smaller and smaller aircraft will intensify. Driving this will be the two trends identified earlier – the reducing size of the antennae and falling costs. “So smaller aircraft are going to have more and more options from the connectivity point of view.” Even turboprop aircraft, such as the Pilatus PC-12 and the Beechcraft King Air, are likely to benefit from relatively sophisticated satellite systems.
But ever-expanding connectivity choice will not be confined to the smaller aircraft. “For large cabin airplanes, you are going to see connectivity installations grow more sophisticated with multiple systems being installed and having some kind of logic on the airplane that is directing traffic based on what it is.” Video may be delivered by one link while business applications may be managed via another link, foresees Wissink.
Customer values
Overall, Honeywell believes the growth in demand for connectivity systems will outpace total aircraft in the global fleet. “More and more aircraft that don’t have connectivity today will install it as the systems [such as antennae] grow smaller and more economical,” he says. “So, we are going to see very nice growth that probably outpaces the growth of the industry in general.”
Meanwhile, there’s no doubting the quickening pace of change in business jet connectivity. Honeywell believes this change will bring significant opportunity. “As markets change, they typically come up with opportunities for those who are aligned with customer values,” says Wissink. “So, we are quite optimistic for the future of in-flight connectivity.”
