Honeywell And SmartSky Bring High-Speed Connectivity To North American Business Aviation Operators

Expanded agreement with SmartSky provides Honeywell customers with the best and most extensive in-flight connectivity services

PHOENIX, June 22, 2021 - Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) has been selected as an authorized value-added reseller for SmartSky Networks’ air-to-ground services for North American business aviation operators. This agreement expands Honeywell’s work with SmartSky, which began in 2019 when Honeywell was named a value-added reseller by SmartSky for the commercial aviation market.

The new air-to-ground connectivity from SmartSky provides Honeywell customers with another option for high-speed internet connectivity that delivers a user experience like that found at home. Honeywell is also a provider of Inmarsat’s GX Aviation via satellite, which is powered by Honeywell’s JetWave™ hardware. In addition, Honeywell offers safety solutions that provide direct data link communications between pilots and air traffic controllers via L-band satellite networks.

“Honeywell Aerospace has been a trusted commercial aviation partner to SmartSky,” said SmartSky CEO David Helfgott. “Expanding our relationship to include business aviation marks yet another important milestone and expands our ability to address this underserved market. Honeywell’s proven track record in providing innovative connectivity and flight services aligns well with SmartSky’s vision to enable and empower the emerging connected aircraft ecosystem.”

SmartSky’s air-to-ground network leverages 5G technologies to provide a reliable, more secure and affordable in-flight connectivity (IFC) solution for airlines and business aviation operators that want full-functioning IFC.

“This agreement with SmartSky expands the suite of connectivity services we offer business aviation customers operating routes throughout North America, and will work seamlessly with the Honeywell Forge software and services platform,” said John Peterson, vice president and general manager, Software and Services, Honeywell Aerospace. “SmartSky’s Skytelligence® platform, digital services and shipset products represent the latest in connectivity advancement, providing our customers best-in-class value for their networked aircraft needs.” 

The SmartSky network delivers a more secure, low-latency signal to every aircraft in the network, ensuring high performance regardless of network loading. Each beam communicates with just one aircraft at a time, compared with similar offerings that share beams among several aircraft. In the cabin, passengers will experience IFC like that of their ground-based office solutions. This level of service allows passengers to make their time in the air as productive as possible. That could include running cloud-based applications, connecting via virtual private networks, conducting significant data transfers, surfing the web or streaming videos.

The Honeywell GoDirect Router will be authorized for use on the SmartSky Network for those business aviation customers choosing to partake of the full complement of Honeywell services and support.

About Honeywell

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

About SmartSky

SmartSky Networks was founded to transform aviation through disruptive communications services, technologies, and related tools. SmartSky is rolling out its innovative air-to-ground network in 2021. The network takes advantage of patented spectrum reuse, advanced beamforming technologies and 60 MHz of spectrum for significantly enhanced connectivity. SmartSky’s network uniquely enables an “office in the sky” experience with unmatched capacity for data transmissions both to and from the aircraft. This real-time, low latency, bidirectional data link makes SmartSky the best in-flight user experience, and a key enabler for new and enhanced applications and services.