GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES
Teledyne Controls has forged a strategic alliance of suppliers to develop a fully networked global voice and high-speed data communications suite for corporate aircraft, dubbed the SmartCabin Office.
The company plans to install the system on a Gulfstream IV to complete supplemental type certification for the modification by year-end, and aims to take the aircraft on a demonstration tour next year. Although SmartCabin is priced at around $250,000, Teledyne business aviation sales director Mark Shoemaker says most sales will come from partial systems: "It's a cheese pizza. You can add whatever you like - although with the whole system you've got the 'Supreme'."
The system core is the Raytheon-developed MagnaStar airborne telephone system, already installed on over 3,000 aircraft. It provides voice and data connection in North America via the network provided by SmartCabin partner Verizon.
As well as a providing a standalone capability, the system is integrated with high-speed data (HSD) satellite communications (satcom). The HSD-128, developed by EMS Technologies, is a two-channel satcom system using the Inmarsat Swift64 service. Both systems are integrated via a Raytheon/Teledyne-developed MagnaStar ISDN Terminal Adapter, allowing HSD voice services to be accessed via the MagnaStar handsets.
SmartCabin also integrates an optional third communications system, GroundLink. Like the HSD, it interfaces with the cabin local area network, but can only be used on the ground. It is expected to be used mainly by customers who use the aircraft as an occasional remote office, and for those who need to transfer large, low-priority e-mails generated during the flight, or for refreshing on-board server data.
Another partner, Miltope, provides a communications file server, CommServer, which can network all on-board passenger PCs. The server also manages the communications links by working out the cheapest routeings over the HSD-128, MagnaStar or GroundLink. Miltope also supplies a wireless Ethernet network connection, wireless access service point, to connect PCs and eliminate the cost of wiring.
Source: Flight International
