2018-04-16

Bombardier Singapore Service Centre Completes its First Ka-band Installation on Global 6000 Aircraft

  • Bombardier was the first OEM to offer the revolutionary Ka-band system on its business aircraft, a breakthrough moment in business aviation
  • Ka-band technology delivers the industry’s fastest in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity, consistent performance and seamless coverage worldwide*
  • Bombardier’s award-winning Singapore facility provides superior customer service and high-quality retrofit work  
  • Bombardier demonstrates leadership in supporting its fleet with advanced technologies and high-quality OEM-expertise at its service centre network

Bombardier and Honeywell announced today the latest delivery milestone in the installation of the revolutionary Ka-band satellite broadband technology aboard Bombardier Global and Challenger business jets. Bombardier’s award-winning Singapore service centre installed its first Ka-band system on an in-service Global 6000 aircraft. In 2016, the Singapore service centre installed the first-ever Ka-band system on an in-service Global 5000 aircraft.

“Our customers need to stay connected no matter where they are in the world, and Bombardier continues to lead the industry in offering the most advanced in-flight media experience available today on both its new and in-service aircraft,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Vice President and General Manager, Customer Experience, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “With Ka-band, passengers can remain connected across oceans, at 41,000 feet, and virtually everywhere they fly. Moreover, our OEM-owned service centres have become masters of the installation to ensure aircraft are returned to service within a minimum downtime.”

Ka-band technology features the industry’s fastest in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing passengers to browse the internet, stream live TV and movies or stage a video conference virtually anywhere in the skies and as quickly and as effortlessly as they would in their home or office. The system leverages Honeywell Aerospace’s JetWave™ hardware to deliver ultra-high-speed access, consistent performance and seamless coverage worldwide*. Bombardier’s Global aircraft offer the luxurious Premier cabin and a cutting-edge cabin management system (CMS). In addition to impressive performance characteristics and advanced wing design, they provide a smooth ride and can operate in and out of certain challenging airports, all while keeping passengers connected.

“In Asia Pacific, business jet owners and operators are demanding better, faster, and more consistent in-flight Wi-Fi that is identical as what they have on the ground. With Honeywell’s JetWave hardware and GoDirect™ Cabin services, business jet owners and operators now have the ability to manage usage and bandwidth to be cost effective,” said Andy Gill, Senior Director, Business and General Aviation, Asia Pacific, Honeywell Aerospace. “This new generation of technology is a complete step change from previous generations of airborne hardware allowing a much smoother installation process. We have been working very closely with the Bombardier team to minimize the down time for Jetwave installations, so operators can adopt this technology with a minimum amount of disruption to their flight operations, which has been key to the rapid adoption of our JetWave system by leading business jet manufacturers like Bombardier.”

In 2015, Bombardier became the first OEM to announce plans to offer Ka-band technology as an option on its new and in-service business aircraft, and the first to begin deliveries in 2016, a breakthrough moment in business aviation. The first retrofit installation on a Global 5000 aircraft was completed at the Singapore service centre in July 2016. Bombardier received certification to offer the system on its new and in-service Challenger aircraft in May 2017. 

OEM-owned service centres enable operators to benefit from faster access to Bombardier’s worldwide parts and support expertise while pairing a Ka-band installation with a scheduled maintenance event.

Located at Seletar Airport, Bombardier’s award-winning Singapore service centre is one of nine service centres, six line maintenance stations and 23 Mobile Response Team vehicles that comprise Bombardier’s worldwide maintenance network. In February 2018, it celebrated four years of impressive growth and superior customer service and is recognized today as a centre of excellence for complex retrofit work. An acknowledged centre of excellence, the Singapore service centre provides high-quality OEM expertise to Bombardier operators in the broader Asia region, including scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and full interior refurbishment and modifications, avionics installations and aircraft on ground (AOG) support. The Singapore service centre has more than quadrupled the number of engineers and technicians on staff since opening its doors in February 2014. In November 2016, the facility received the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) Icons of Aviation award for Best Maintenance Repair Organization in Asia.

Honeywell
Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft, and its turbochargers are used by nearly every automaker and truck manufacturer around the world. The Aerospace business unit develops innovative solutions for more fuel-efficient automobiles and airplanes, more direct and on-time flights, safer flying and runway traffic, along with aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity services, logistics, and more. The business delivers safer, faster, and more efficient and comfortable transportation-related experiences worldwide. For more information, visit www.honeywell.com or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero and @Honeywell_Turbo.

Honeywell ( www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 software-industrial company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace and automotive products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, cars, homes and 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 Bombardier

Bombardier (BBD-B.TO) and its subsidiaries (Bombardier Group), is a global leader in aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing, and servicing the world's most exceptional business jets. Bombardier’s Challenger and Global aircraft families are renowned for their cutting-edge innovation, cabin design, performance, and reliability. Bombardier has a worldwide fleet of more than 5,000 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments, and private individuals. Bombardier aircraft are also trusted around the world in government and military special-mission roles leveraging Bombardier Defense’s proven expertise.

Bombardier is headquartered in Greater Montréal, Québec, and through the Bombardier Group, operates aerostructure, assembly and completion facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Bombardier Group’s robust customer support network services the Learjet, Challenger and Global families of aircraft, and includes facilities in strategic locations in the United States and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, the UAE, Singapore, China and Australia. For corporate news and information, including Bombardier’s Environmental, Social and Governance report, as well as the company’s plans to cover all its flight operations with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) utilizing the Book and Claim system visit bombardier.com. Learn more about Bombardier’s industry-leading products and customer service network at businessaircraft.bombardier.com. Follow us on X @Bombardier.

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* Coverage excludes North and South Poles.

Bombardier, Global, Global 5000, Global 6000 and Challenger are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.