FAA Certified, And Ready For Sale
At the 2006 AEA
Conference in Palm Springs Thursday, AirCell announced its
revoluntionary Axxess satcom system, launched at NBAA 2005, has
received FAA certification... and from what the company says,
that's not a moment too soon for their customers.
"We’re delighted to have reached this point and excited to
begin filling customer orders in the next few days," said Jack W.
Blumenstein, AirCell Chairman & CEO. "AirCell is known as one
of the few avionics manufacturers that routinely fills even large
incoming orders in just a day or two. In what is a rarity for us,
we’re in a backlog situation with Axxess orders and it will
take us a couple months to catch up."
AirCell Axxess is a multi-channel, wireless and broadband-ready
satcom system designed for medium-to-large business aircraft. The
standard Axxess system includes two Iridium satellite
communications channels for quality voice and narrowband data
services. Through its integrated expansion ports, up to two
additional Iridium channels can be added to suit the
operator’s needs. In addition, through the system’s
Ethernet port, operators can add an Inmarsat broadband connection
on a plug-and-play basis.
Axxess’ standard, FAA-certified handsets include large,
color displays -- an industry first -- as well as advanced noise
cancelling technology and standard ear bud/headset jacks for clear,
quiet calling. Axxess’ wireless capabilities include a full
802.11b/g Wi-Fi "hotspot" which, when paired with a broadband
connection, can be used to operate personal laptops, PDA’s
and other Wi-Fi devices in the cabin. Axxess’ wireless
features will become available pending FAA certification in Q3
2006.
Representing the
company's largest system order to date, Axxess was selected by Cessna Aircraft
Company in December as a factory option on Citation X,
Sovereign and XLS business jets.
... And There's More To Come
AirCell tells ANN the Axxess system was designed with an open
system architecture, giving operators the ability to easily add
features as technology changes and their needs grow. Beyond the
standard Axxess system that has received FAA certification,
additional system capabilities are already being developed.
- AirCell, Inc. and EMS SATCOM, a division of EMS Technologies,
Inc, announced today that the two companies are collaborating to
formally validate and integrate EMS SATCOM’s eNfusion™
HSD high-speed data terminals with the AirCell Axxess™ Satcom
system. The alliance gives Axxess customers high-speed data
capabilities and ensures the combined systems can be easily and
seamlessly installed and operated. Testing is expected to be
complete in May 2006 with the first "bundled" version of the
systems to be available immediately thereafter.
- The Axxess Two-channel Expansion Transceiver will be available
late this summer to operators wishing to turn AirCell Axxess into a
four channel system. The Expansion Transceiver seamlessly adds two
additional channels of Iridium for high-quality voice and low-speed
data services.
- Axxess’ 802.11b/g wireless capabilities will be certified
and available in Q3 2006. Additional Axxess capabilities will be
announced in the coming months.
AirCell products are offered as standard or optional equipment
by virtually every fixed- and rotor-wing airframe manufacturer in
business aviation, and are installed aboard the world’s three
largest fractional ownership fleets – NetJets, Flight
Options, and CitationShares. The company is headquartered in
Louisville, CO.