Key considerations when choosing an inflight connectivity provider

With new LEO networks in place, business aviation aircraft owners and passengers no longer have to worry about the availability, performance, cost or geographic coverage of the network. And LEO enables new antenna technology that is smaller, lighter, and more affordable to operate than ever before.

When a passenger is flying with a LEO system onboard, they’ll enjoy an inflight internet experience that will make them forget they’re flying at 40,000 feet, and at a fraction of the installation and service cost of traditional GEO (geosynchronous) global satellite services.

When considering an inflight connectivity solution and provider, Sergio Aguirre, Gogo Business Aviation’s president and COO, gives his perspective on what actually is important versus what sounds important. Fast peak speeds are impressive, but when you need predictability and consistency in your flight operations and an excellent in passenger experience, there’s more to consider.

“When you’re making the kind of investment to add inflight connectivity to your aircraft, you can’t afford to make the wrong choice. You need to ask: Is the company committed to business aviation for the long term? Is there a foundation of trust and reliability? And what kind of customer support will you get?” said Gogo Business Aviation President and COO, Sergio Aguirre. “Gogo does one thing – inflight connectivity for business aviation, and we do it well. Your inflight connectivity is our only concern.”

Throughout its history, Gogo has continually evolved as new networks, antennas, and hardware and software technologies got faster and more efficient. Simply put, innovation is in Gogo’s DNA.

The LEO Satellite Revolution

When considering which LEO service provider is best positioned for business aviation, there are several aspects to think through because you’re making long-term commitment.

“Gogo Galileo and LEO satellite connectivity is revolutionizing business aviation inflight connectivity like never before by delivering a solution for aircraft of all sizes, especially small aircraft which currently have no broadband options if they operate outside of North America,” said Aguirre. “Our HDX antenna is small enough to fit on any size business aircraft from turboprops on up which is something no one else is offering.

“We completed installation of the HDX antenna on a Challenger 300, and we’re flight testing the system,” he added. “I’m pleased to say the system is performing well and everything is progressing as we expected.” 

Uniquely Gogo

A few aspects of Gogo’s business help it stand out from the rest of the LEO crowd.

• A singular commitment to business aviation: Gogo only serves business aviation, it’s the company’s sole focus which means Gogo understands the unique needs business aviation operators have and the expectations of the industry’s discerning customer base.

• World-class customer support: Gogo provides dedicated customer support from a team of experts in business aviation connectivity, and they are available 24/7/365. This helps ensure a smooth and hassle-free inflight connectivity experience and the assurance of a quick resolution if an issue does arise.

• AVANCE: If you already have a Gogo AVANCE system (SCS, L3 or L5) installed in your aircraft, the cost and downtime to upgrade to Gogo Galileo is significantly less compared with adding a non-Gogo system and starting from scratch. AVANCE helps future-proof your investment because AVANCE was designed so you can easily add satellite with air to ground for redundancy and increased bandwidth, as well as any future networks and technological advancements.

• Cybersecurity: Gogo prioritizes the security of its inflight connectivity services, implementing robust measures to safeguard data transmitted over its network. This commitment to security is crucial for business users who need to exchange sensitive information during their flights. With Gogo, security is built into every system.

Bringing it all together

LEO satellite networks represent a paradigm shift in the way we connect and communicate. The advantages LEO satellite networks provide to business aviation operators are significant: superfast broadband Wi-Fi, low latency, smaller on-board hardware and antennas, affordability, true global coverage even over polar routes, and the ability to scale with new technologies as they emerge, to name just a few.

Gogo Galileo will leverage the power of LEO technology to bring broadband inflight connectivity to the entire breadth of business aviation. It’s the first time business aircraft worldwide, regardless of the size or mission of the aircraft, can get true broadband service on their aircraft. When coupled with AVANCE, Gogo Galileo enables customizable solutions that are proven, reliable, and secure, with an award-winning team of dedicated customer support professionals. That’s why Gogo has been, and remains, the preferred choice for thousands of business aircraft operators including all the largest business aviation fleet operators, corporate flight departments, OEMs and individuals.