An antenna for success
One of Israel's many high-tech start-ups hopes to revolutionise in-flight communication for airline passengers
Away from the aerospace and defence powerhouses, Israel abounds with high-tech start-ups, often run by masters graduates or PhDs who have had their skills honed in the Israeli military, developing and operating complex surveillance and communications technology. Starling Advanced Communications is a company with just 35 employees and, as yet, no customers - but big-name backers and prospects.
Set up by chief executive Micha Lawrence five years ago, Starling has developed what it says is the world's fastest Ku-band, top-mounted antenna for providing broadband in-flight communications including email, television and mobile phone on airliners and business jets. Listed on the Tel Aviv stock exchange, Starling's shareholders include Rafael Development Corporation and Elbit Systems. Its chairman is the retired chief of staff of the Israeli defence forces Dan Haloutz.
The 50kg (110lb), 150mm (6in)-high by 760mm diameter antenna - which has been put through a trial on an Israel Aerospace Industries Boeing 737 test aircraft - takes between 2-5h to install on a narrowbody aircraft and is an "aggregation of many tricks and patents", says Lawrence. No airtime provider has yet signed up for the product - called Mijet - but Lawrence claims the lag is because the industry has yet to move from narrowband to broadband. "In the very near future, one of the big airlines will decide to go broadband and others will follow," he says. "Our first revenue - we believe it's not far away."
Next on the cards is a smaller, 110mm-high, 460mm-diameter version for business jets - called MiniMijet - and eventually, Lawrence hopes, a more compact and affordable one for cars. Starling is gearing up to make the transition from an R&D house to a production company and is looking to set up a manufacturing line in the USA. "We believe we have a potential to make up to 30 kits a month," he says.
Source: Flight International