Airshow has conducted the first airborne trial of its in-flight e-mail service developed specifically for business aircraft.
The service, Airshowm@il, was tested on a 40min flight, when e-mails were transmitted and received, including file attachments. The test involved a wireless connection between the aircraft's cabin file server and a laptop computer.
Airshow says all the transmissions were complete and clear and no interference was encountered between the e-mail transmissions and the aircraft's navigation or communication systems.
The system will be available for installation on business aircraft later this year, with e-mails displayed on a passenger's laptop computer or an Airshow cabin management system. The service, which compresses e-mails for faster transmission via Inmarsat satellites, can be upgraded as data speeds increase, says Airshow. The e-mails are also transmitted encrypted.
Airshow produces cabin information and entertainment systems and is developing in-flight e-mail and internet services.
Source: Flight International
