In its latest imaginative marketing initiative, Danish Inmarsat manufacturer Thrane & Thrane (booth 2883) has extended its equipment trade-in program to embrace systems from other manufacturers.
Last month T&T introduced Flex, a package designed to allow corporate aircraft operators to pick and choose the exact level of connectivity they need and upgrade it as their requirements grow. Based on T&T’s Aero-HSD+ satellite avionics, Flex allows operators to install a full-capability system while using and paying for only those elements of the system that they need.
Demand
“The trade-in program was originally designed for users of Thrane & Thrane equipment looking to upgrade to our latest technology,” says T&T aeronautical sales manager Casper Kjøller. “But customer demand has prompted us to apply it to anyone who wants to upgrade his existing cabin communications, regardless of brand.”
Each purchaser of T&T’s standard four-channel Aero-HSD+ system will receive a high-speed unit (HSU) free of charge worth $57,000 in exchange for the aircraft’s existing cabin communications system. HSU adds another 64Kbit/s Swift64 channel to the basic Aero-HSD+ system, which supports two channels of Inmarsat Aero-H voice, one channel for flight-deck data, and a single Swift64 channel.
Aero-HSD+ comprises four line replacement units weighing 28lb (13kg). It is a standard option on a number of Dassault and Gulfstream corporate jets and has been installed on more than 50 aircraft. It has also been retrofitted to other business types and to military and government aircraft. Future Aero-HSD+ upgrades include provision for the 432Kbit/s SwiftBroadband service that is due to be introduced towards the end of next year.
Source: Flight Daily News
