How Connectivity Will Help Define the Future Of Aviation

You’ve seen a lot of change and growth in the connected aircraft space during your time at Honeywell. Has anything surprised you?

The market uptake for in-flight connectivity has exceeded our expectations. These days, business jet passengers expect to get on the airplane and be productive, entertained and constantly connected with colleagues, family and friends anywhere they fly. Connectivity is now considered essential to a successful flight.

It’s amazing how far things have come since we introduced our JetWave broadband satellite communications system less than a decade ago. Before JetWave, passengers could send a text message or browse the web, but it wasn’t a very satisfying experience. JetWave boosted speeds 10-20 times and suddenly people could have the same online experience at 40,000 feet as they had in their office or living room.

Now, with the advent of multi-orbit satellite capabilities, we’re looking to create an even better, faster and more resilient customer experience with JetWave X, which Honeywell will introduce in 2025. 

Talk about Multi-Orbit capabilities

The near-term future of connectivity is really about the ability of aircraft to access multiple satellite networks in the expanding ecosystem that includes GEO (geostationary equatorial orbit), MEO (medium Earth orbit) and LEO (low Earth orbit) satellites.

Aircraft will be able to shift seamlessly between GEO, MEO and LEO satellites to access the best-available networks and airtime service plans. Multi-orbit solutions will provide pole-to-pole coverage, expanded capacity, reduced latency for video streaming and gaming, and redundancy to provide ultra-reliable connections. 

Will that require multiple Satcom Systems for each aircraft?

Our view is that the multi-orbit solution will initially consist of multiple onboard satellite communications systems working together on the aircraft. Operators currently install multiple systems so if one fails, they still have some level of connectivity. For the next generation of connectivity, we're looking at aircraft with multiple high-speed systems installed and, instead of a fallback system, the aircraft will use everything at the same time. But to the user it will feel like one system. In the near future a single satcom system will be able to simultaneously connect with multiple satellites.

How does JetWave X work?

JetWave X will use advanced data control routing software built into the unit to allow operators and OEMs to use multiple satcom systems on the airplane to access satellites in all three orbits. Service will shift seamlessly from one satellite to another so the handoff between satellites will be transparent to passengers.

JetWave X will deliver download speeds of up to 200 megabits per second in busy flight corridors. It also will weigh less, consume less power and feature fewer line replaceable units than previous generation satcom systems.

Viasat is our key partner coming out of the gate and JetWave X is the only product that will be able to access all their satellites – including those in the new Viasat 3 constellation of GEO satellites –from Day 1. Compatibility with the Inmarsat Global Xpress network and future Ka-band networks is built into the open architecture of JetWave X, so operators can futureproof their aircraft.

Does JetWave X replace Honeywell’s Current-Generation JetWave System?

Not at all. JetWave X is an extension of our JetWave family of products, which also includes the current generation of JetWave and the JetWave MCX multi-channel satcom system for military and government aircraft. JetWave is an incredible product that continues to push the boundaries and exceed the expectations of users throughout the world.

We will continue to evolve, manufacture, market and support the current-generation JetWave for many years – or maybe even decades – to come. JetWave is today’s best-performing satellite communications system for business aviation. More than 2,000 aircraft are already flying with JetWave onboard, and we are constantly working to enhance the product’s performance and deliver value to current and future JetWave customers.

How are operators using connectivity beyond the cabin?

We have not yet cracked the code on how to deliver on the enormous potential of the fully connected aircraft to improve operations and maintenance. There have been pockets of success here and there, but we have yet to see widespread adoption on the operational side of things. Like cabin connectivity, once operators and OEMs see the level of value that can be delivered, we’ll see the market adoption and acceptance increase significantly.

Honeywell is unique in this area. We are a provider of equipment, software and services in the flight connectivity space, but we also provide major aircraft subsystems like propulsion engines, auxiliary power units and avionics. So, we are well positioned to help customers unlock the value of the operational data those subsystems generate to help operators anticipate problems, avoid downtime and improve operations.