SmartSky’s next-generation Air-to-Ground (ATG) in-flight connectivity network is designed to deliver premium performance for every seat on the aircraft. Solutions are available for all sizes of business aircraft with supplemental type certificates (STCs) available and in progress for more than 16,000 in-service models.

Volato aims to exceed customer expectations on every flight, according to Matt Liotta, CEO of Volato. “The addition of SmartSky’s next-generation inflight connectivity is a direct response to customer feedback and underscores our commitment to delivering a superior in-flight experience,” he said. “Early feedback indicates our passengers will be thrilled with the seamless connection and blazing-fast speeds.”

Paul Sameit, vice president of Fleet and Reseller Accounts for SmartSky added: “We couldn’t be happier for Volato and their customers who are now enjoying the benefits of SmartSky when they fly.”

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“We are proud to provide more services than any other aircraft support facility in Florida and are committed to offering our customers the latest and greatest enhancements to their aircraft. As a sales and installation partner for SmartSky, we have experienced the system for ourselves. We are pleased to say it delivers an impressive connectivity experience, as advertised, and we are excited to bring this game-changing product to our customers, especially streaming-level performance for smaller corporate jets,” said Banyan Air Service.

Banyan is authorised to install both the SmartSky Flagship system for mid to large cabin jets as well as SmartSky LITE, the first-ever streaming-level connectivity solution for smaller business aircraft.

Based at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Banyan is an FAA and EASA-approved repair station and has earned repair station designations and approvals for over 10 countries. The MRO provider offers 24-hour, full-service operations for aircraft owners, charter operators, corporate flight departments, flight schools, and government agencies.  Its award-winning service includes numerous individual FAA awards resulting in the Banyan Maintenance Division being recognised as an FAA Diamond Award winner.

“Banyan is one of the most highly regarded aircraft service facilities in the country and is known for offering their customers world-class service as evidenced by their industry accolades year after year. This expertise makes Banyan the perfect fit to meet the growing demand for SmartSky’s industry-leading inflight connectivity performance,” said Aria Bahawdory, director,  MRO Account Management, SmartSky. “Customers in the business aviation marketplace are demanding best-in-class service, and SmartSky delivers.”

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Davinci Jets was the first management company to offer SmartSky to its customers. Since then, it has opened its MRO division Davinci Jet Services, which will now equip aircraft with SmartSky systems.

Models of Gulfstream, Bombardier, Exbraer, Textron and Pilatus jets are among those that Davinci Jets Services is now authorised to work on.

“Inflight connectivity is the most requested upgrade and now we can offer the most advanced system, SmartSky,” said Joe Chaundy, director, Davinci Jets Services. “As an MRO, we want a fast and easy installation that minimises the downtime for the aircraft. SmartSky delivers the speed our customers need in both connectivity performance and installation.”

Aria Bahawdory, director of MRO Account Management, SmartSky said: “We are proud to partner with Davinci in a bigger way. Because they are a leading provider of customised management, charter and MRO services, they are committed to offering the best available solutions for their customers.”

Bahawdory added: “SmartSky enables Davinci customers to get immediate access to the latest technology that will connect the cabin, cockpit and operations, all in a single installation, and benefit from future SmartSky technology advancements delivered via software updates.”

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Demonstrated at NBAA-BACE 2022, SmartSky said the system (pictured) will allow highly accurate real-time data to be fed to operators, airports and FBOs up to 24-hours ahead of time and eliminate the need for multiple screens and apps on service desks. As a result, time and money could be saved and safety could be enhanced, according to SmartSky.

The 1200.aero WX app gives advance warning on severe airborne weather and ground conditions on a live map, helping to avoid delays and turbulence. Incidents can also be debriefed by combining flight tracks, audio and weather information. Operational analytics and notifications are integrated, and issues like noise complaints can be researched by street address through data on low-flying activity on a given date.

Flash AI will offer “unprecedented accuracy in lightning prediction up to two hours in advance of the first strike,” according to SmartSky, while AvMet’s Weather Impact Outlook system predicts the impact on key arrival and departure corridors up to 24-hours ahead of time. Meandair’s WXNowCasting service allows planning for the safest routes around thunderstorms, rain and turbulence on the flight path.

“By connecting the algorithmic nowcasting and AI capabilities of predictive weather providers with a capability for monitoring and measuring aviation operations, we are increasing situational awareness and efficiency for FBOs and operators,” said Brit Wanick, vice president of Marketing and Partnerships, SmartSky. “Together with our partners, we are enabling the development of innovative applications, like 1200.aero WX+, that deliver better outcomes for the entire connected business aviation industry.”

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The latest display follows an initial installation of SmartSky hardware on the Cessna Citation X. The displays highlight ATG capabilities. 

“At flyExclusive, we pride ourselves on delivering a premium experience every time out of the gate. SmartSky delivers dependable and secure connectivity that not only enhances the passenger experience, offering the ability to live stream and conduct high quality video calling, but also provides real-time data transfer to and from the aircraft,” said Jim Segrave, founder and CEO at flyExclusive.

“Our Cessna Citation X has successfully used the SmartSky system, and we’ve experienced the connectivity firsthand – it’s a fantastic product,” added Segrave.

Dave Helfgott, CEO of SmartSky, said: “SmartSky and flyExclusive are companies that value innovation and delivering the very best for our customers. Our alignment in providing a consistent, uninterrupted service to customers speaks for itself. We look forward to showcasing our nationwide coverage, reliable connectivity, and easy-to-install technology alongside flyExclusive at NBAA 2022.”

flyExclusive and Smartsky are at NBAA at booth #3077 and static display (AD_405 and AD_305).

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Yesterday, the US District Court for the District of Delaware’s ruling denied Smartsky’s request, which aimed to ban the marketing of the product while litigation is pending and before the two companies go to trial. Smartsky filed the motion as it claimed Gogo’s ATG service infringe Smartsky’s patents.

The two connectivity firms have been in dispute for the past two years over the patent on the ATG offerings (see timeline below). The two rivals have opposing views of what this latest ruling means.

“This ruling supports our frequently stated position that Gogo is not infringing any valid Smartsky patent,” said Oakleigh Thorne, chairman and CEO, Gogo. “We look forward to successfully launching Gogo 5G and remain unwavering in our focus on executing our strategy to deliver improved broadband performance for business aviation customers.”

Meanwhile, Smartsky doesn’t see the most recent ruling as a defeat. The company said: “The legal bar is high for a preliminary injunction and such procedural rulings are rarely granted. But it is a preliminary injunction, which by definition happens before the case is fully considered by the court on a complete record.”

 Last month, Gogo reported that it spent $5m in legal expenses over its patent dispute with Smartsky in its accounts for the second quarter ending June 30th 2022.

Timeline of dispute

• April 2020: Gogo submits petition to US Patent Office claiming Smartsky’s patent for its ATG offering was not valid
• September 2020: Smartsky successfully defends its patent, Gogo does not appeal decision
• February 2022: Smartsky files patent infringement lawsuit against Gogo, also files a motion for a preliminary injunction to have the court order Gogo to stop marketing ATG services
• September 2021: Smartsky denied preliminary injunction ruling.

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In April 2020, Gogo submitted a petition to the US Patent and Trademark Office, claiming that SmartSky’s patent for its connectivity service was not valid. SmartSky said its connectivity is unique and more secure than other providers’ service due to each aircraft being assigned a unique connection to the network, rather than sharing the same connection with multiple aircraft across a broad area. SmartSky successfully defended its patent in court in September 2020, and in February it filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Gogo.

Gogo reported that there was an “aggregate $5m of additional interest expense and legal expenses tied to the SmartSky litigation” in its most recent accounts for the quarter ending June 30th 2022.

The connectivity provider had previously planned to have free cash flow of $125m by the second quarter (Q2) of this year. But litigation expenses, alongside $10m of operating expenses tied to its Global Broadband initiative, were not included in the target. Gogo said it is still aiming to reach free cash flow of more than $200m by 2025.

Aside from the legal expenses, Gogo recorded a record revenue of $97.8m, up 19% compared with the second quarter of 2021, due to strong growth in both service and equipment revenue. Its net income increased to $22m compared with a net loss of $66.4m in Q2 last year, and its cash and cash equivalents totaled $164m versus $152.8m last quarter.

“The strength of the business aviation market combined with solid execution drove record performance in the quarter, positioning us well for continuing revenue and free cash flow growth,” said Barry Rowan, executive vie president and chief financial officer, Gogo.  The company is raising its end-of-year financial goals “in spite of $9m in strategic investments and litigation expenses”, he said.

In September 2020, when Gogo lost its litigation case, Sergio Aguirre, president, Gogo said: “Gogo reiterates our strong belief that we are not infringing any valid patent held by SmartSky.” He added that the decision does not impair Gogo’s “ability to successfully expand, to launch Gogo 5G or to enhance Gogo’s position in the business aviation market”. The new patent case launched by SmartSky against Gogo is ongoing, with Gogo currently attempting to dismiss the case. In April, SmartSky petitioned for extra time to respond to Gogo’s request for dismissal.

Britton Wanick, vice president, Marketing & Partnerships at SmartSky Networks told CJI: “In 2020, Gogo filed an IPR against one of SmartSky’s granted patents. The US Patent Office summarily denied Gogo’s challenge on both procedural and substantive grounds and Gogo failed to appeal its loss. Separately, in 2022, SmartSky filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Gogo in the US Federal Court in Delaware. SmartSky alleges that Gogo is infringing four of Smartsky’s patents. SmartSky also filed a motion for a Preliminary Injunction to have the court order Gogo to immediately stop marketing ATG services which infringe SmartSky’s patents while the litigation is pending and before it goes to trial.

“Discovery relating to the Preliminary Injunction motion has been completed and SmartSky is awaiting a hearing on the PI motion. We anticipate that the hearing will take place in the coming month or so. Gogo is seeking to have SmartSky’s lawsuit dismissed and SmartSky filed in opposition.”

Earlier this week, SmartSky received a supplemental type certificate for its hardware on the Cessna Citation X-series business aircraft.

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The Citation X series, with more than 300 aircraft in operation, joins a growing list of aircraft types that have already been granted STCs for SmartSky’s patented Air-To-Ground (ATG) connectivity. The already-awarded STCs include aircraft from major OEMs such as Textron Aviation, Gulfstream Aerospace, Bombardier and Embraer, with additional STCs in progress.

The company claims that its connectivity is more secure than other providers’ service due to each aircraft being assigned a unique connection to the network, rather than sharing the same connection with multiple aircraft across a broad area.

Operator FlyExclusive installed the hardware to the Citation X aircraft at its Kinston, North Carolina facility in June for its inaugural flight with the technology, ahead of the FAA STC being issued this month. In July, SmartSky announced that its ATG connectivity was available nationwide across the US.

“We aim to make high-performance, reliable inflight connectivity available for everyone in business aviation,” said Dave Helfgott, CEO, SmartSky Networks. “This successful certification with a key customer is an important step towards achieving that goal.”

SmartSky and Gogo Business Aviation have been involved in disputes over patents in the last two years. In April 2020, connectivity rival Gogo Business Aviation submitted a petition to the US Patent and Trademark Office, believing that SmartSky’s patent was not valid. SmartSky successfully defended its inflight connectivity patents in court that September, and has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Gogo in February this year.

Britton Wanick, vice president, Marketing & Partnerships at SmartSky Networks told CJI: “In 2020, Gogo filed an IPR against one of SmartSky’s granted patents. The US Patent Office summarily denied Gogo’s challenge on both procedural and substantive grounds and Gogo failed to appeal its loss. Separately, in 2022, SmartSky filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Gogo in the US Federal Court in Delaware. SmartSky alleges that Gogo is infringing four of Smartsky’s patents. SmartSky also filed a motion for a Preliminary Injunction to have the court order Gogo to immediately stop marketing ATG services which infringe SmartSky’s patents while the litigation is pending and before it goes to trial.

“Discovery relating to the Preliminary Injunction motion has been completed and SmartSky is awaiting a hearing on the PI motion. We anticipate that the hearing will take place in the coming month or so. Gogo is seeking to have SmartSky’s lawsuit dismissed and SmartSky filed in opposition.”

This week, Corporate Jet Investor (CJI) spoke to SmartSky’s president Ryan Stone about the company’s turbulence service SmoothSky.

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Question (Q): Given most business jets are smaller than airliners, does turbulence have a greater impact on executive aircraft? 

Answer (A): Whether you are flying on a Citation M2 or a Boeing 747, there’s no doubt that turbulence is a well-known disturbance to any passenger, crew member or pilot. While all aircraft are specially designed to deal with its effects, the size of an aircraft does impact the extent to which turbulence is felt.

Similar to ocean waves, a two-foot wave has a lot more impact on a rowboat than it does to an aircraft carrier and the same can be said for the effect of turbulence on small and large aircraft. Fortunately, business jets typically have more options for avoiding turbulence and adjusting to it in flight. These options don’t always extend as easily to turboprops or smaller general aviation aircraft with non-pressurised cabins, but often the same avoidance tactics are available.

Modern business jets have great flexibility, with the capability to climb relatively quickly and fly at altitudes higher than commercial airliners. So, business jet pilots and dispatchers can make use of advanced notice of turbulence, helping them to plan flight routes and altitudes to avoid it. For example, business jets can change their route inflight if they are made aware of turbulence on their intended path.

These tactics are useful but require knowledge about where turbulence is both before and during a flight. A recent report published by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) demonstrated that turbulence is the most common factor in airline accidents – with 37.6% of accidents attributed to the event. Although business aviation may be able to avoid turbulence more easily than commercial airlines, it’s entirely dependent on the information pilots and dispatchers have at hand.

Q: Before SmartSky developed technology to mitigate the effects, how did aircraft deal with turbulence – simply ride it out?

A: The severity of turbulence depends on several different factors that affect how pilots approach an event. If turbulence occurs unexpectedly along a route, pilots can choose to ride it out, change heading or climb to a higher altitude. Changing course or altitude requires coordination with air traffic control, may delay the flight, or cause higher fuel burn. So, the earlier a pilot is made aware of turbulence along their path, the more time they have to pick the optimal way to deal with it.

Traditionally, pilots have relied on subjective pilot reports (PIREPS) to try to avoid turbulence and recently better turbulence prediction technologies are coming to market to help the flight planning process. But now, by making use of crowdsourced, real-time automated reports of actual turbulence encountered by others while inflight, pilots can validate the predictions and adjust their flight paths in real time when needed.

Q: How long did the tech take to develop and how is it retrofitted into an aircraft’s operational systems?

A: SmartSky’s turbulence services are a result of long-standing partnership with International Air Transport Association’s (IATA’s) Turbulence Aware Program. Working with IATA, we provide business aviation operators real-time reports of turbulence generated by the thousands of commercial airliners that fly every day. Equally important, the service also reports where aircraft have flown without turbulence. There’s even a small web application that pilots can use to visualise the turbulence data along their route, and if they have connectivity, the app stays up to date throughout the flight. All the pilot needs is an app-enabled mobile phone or tablet. The next steps we are working on with flight management system providers will make the turbulence data viewable in the cockpit through existing displays and messaging systems.

Q: What difference does it make? If I were flying in an aircraft without it and then jumped in one that did, how different would that feel?

A: Though we’ve achieved great things, it’s important to note that SmartSky’s turbulence service for business aviation doesn’t magically, nor literally, smooth the skies. Rather, we enable pilots, dispatchers, and service providers to access and display real-time turbulence data. Coupled with their existing weather and flight planning tools, operators can better predict and avoid turbulence, manage expectations and provide a smoother passenger experience.

As an advisory service, SmoothSky helps protect the safety of those onboard, increase the efficiency of business aviation flights and makes flying better. Whether it’s simply providing a smoother ride for a fearful flyer or ensuring the passenger can type that work report while inflight without a choppy ride causing a spilled drink on their keyboard, real-time turbulence data is essential for informing business pilots and operators about the location, altitude and frequency of turbulence.

Other important advantages include lower cost of aircraft maintenance due to reduced aircraft damage, fuel cost savings with improved routing and the potential for reduced aircraft insurance premiums.

Q:  Tell me more about SmoothSky, how popular has the app been since its launch?

A: Powered by IATA’s Turbulence Aware and supported by Skytelligence, SmoothSky is SmartSky Network’s real-time turbulence avoidance data service. Reports from the IATA Turbulence Aware program are accurate, objective and aircraft generated, so pilots can interpret the data consistently for their type of aircraft and passenger expectations.

The data, known as an Energy/eddy-dissipation rate (EDR), is a consistently calculated estimate of the atmosphere’s turbulent state and not of an individual aircraft’s response to turbulence. EDR is the official International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) metric for measuring turbulence intensity and applicable to both business and commercial aircraft. The detailed reports provide the time, altitude, position, mean and peak EDR values as well as wind and temperature data, at regular intervals. Since the data is crowdsourced from commercial aviation, it is anonymised to protect the originating airlines’ identity and privacy.

We’ve seen interest from pilots, flight departments and most recently FBOs, all seeking to improve the efficiency and experience of private flying. It is very reassuring to know what a flight is likely to be like rather than to guess and also helpful to know that if things change while in flight, decisions can be made based on real data rather than more guessing. The days of pilots making announcements to passengers like “We’re going to try 35,000’ and see if that gives us a smoother ride…” are behind us with SmoothSky.

Q: What do you see as the future for turbulence minimisation technology?

A: Moving data on, and with equal importance, off an aircraft has become a key enabler for advancing air travel and we are definitely seeing its benefit through turbulence avoidance. High performance, symmetrical connectivity is allowing us to measure and communicate the state of the atmosphere at an unprecedented level of detail. This knowledge will allow us to do more with the airspace, empowering new industries like Advanced Air Mobility and new technologies like autonomous flight. 

Turbulence is a naturally occurring event, and with these new tools we are tracking more of it today than ever before. In the future, technology will allow us to have a better understanding of where it is happening and provide us better capabilities for avoiding it on our flights. 

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Busila and Tagmi have been working at ACS for nearly a decade, with Busila starting his career in Paris before moving to Geneva to grow ACS’s Swiss market. With prior experience in the French air charter market, he is now returning to Paris to drive the local business forward and expand ACS’s presence in the country.

Justin Bowman, group CEO of ACS, said: “Appointing Alexandre with Loubna alongside him to lead our operation going forwards was an easy decision. They have the knowledge, attitude and experience to drive our business forward as we look to further expand into the French market.”

ACS’s French office has grown its team 30% in anticipation of what it hopes will be a strong recovery in the market post-pandemic. The company is looking to expand the French management team even further with the recruitment of a manager for its Private Jets team.

Busila said: “One of the main reasons our customers choose ACS is that they understand our solid financial base, especially in a time when, regrettably, some parts of our industry are struggling. One of my goals is to ensure that we continue to be a strong business by increasing our presence in new markets.”

Elsewhere, SmartSky Networks has recently appointed David Claassen as its new chief technology officer (CTO). Claassen will direct SmartSky’s technology strategy and execution, including development and delivery of innovative technical solutions from its portfolio of patents.

He holds multiple patents in mobile communications technology areas including modem development and satellite and air-to-ground communications (ATG). Prior to joining SmartSky, Claassen served in a variety of senior roles in the cellular and satellite communication industries, including Telepad, WFI and Nextel Communications.

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