Page 33 - AAA MARCH - APRIL 2015 Online Magazine

NEWS

Honeywell’s GX Aviation
Hardware
Inmarsat, the leading provider of
global mobile satellite communications
services, and honeywell have Bell Helicopter in Tokyo
successfully tested over-the-air Bell helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, President and CEO, John Garrison said.
performance for honeywell’s JetWave has opened its new Bell helicopter “We are proud of our history here in
MCS 8200 onboard aircraft hardware on Co., Ltd. office in Tokyo. Located in Japan, and we look forward to serving
Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) satellite Ebisu Garden Place Tower, the new the Japanese rotorcraft market for
network. The successful test signifies office is within walking distance of the many years to come.”
that the next generation of truly global headquarters of long-standing business “For the last 55 years, our licensed
high-speed in-flight connectivity for partner, Fuji heavy Industries. work has been with our valued business
passengers, airlines and operators is “Since the establishment of Bell partner – Fuji heavy Industries. We
becoming a reality. helicopter Co., Ltd., in January 2014, we are proud to build upon this historical
During the testing, the team was have been honoured that six commercial relationship as we pursue new
able to demonstrate how Inmarsat’s customers have placed their trust in opportunities with Fuji and the 1,000
high-speed; GX Aviation network can Bell helicopter by purchasing 16 of our Japanese companies that make up their
support multiple file transfers and video helicopters, and that Japan’s Ministry of Uh-1J supply chain, to shape the future
streaming– confirming that passengers Defence has announced its decision to of rotorcraft in Japan, together,” he
will have the same Wi-Fi experience procure the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey,” continued.
while travelling at 40,000 feet as
they would on the ground. Success
in this round of testing, conducted Strong Growth in Passenger Traffic in Asia Pacific Region
from honeywell’s Tewkesbury, United Preliminary traffic figures for the month in regional travel markets. Traffic
Kingdom facility means Inmarsat can of February released by the Association growth exceeded the 8.0% expansion in
now start the higher data rate testing. of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) shows available seat capacity, resulting in a 1.3
“This is not only a milestone for the strong growth in both international air percentage point increase in the average
whole GX Aviation programme, but it’s passenger and air cargo markets. international passenger load factor to
also a great demonstration of what GX An aggregate total of 21.8 million 78.1% for the month, in contrast to the
Aviation brings to the table,” said Leo international passengers flew on general trend of slightly weaker load
Mondale, President, Inmarsat Aviation. the region’s carriers in February, a factors seen over the past year.
“We are delighted with the performance firm 11.9% increase compared to the International air cargo demand, as
shown by this round of testing. Both same month last year, boosted by measured in freight tonne kilometres
the GX network and honeywell’s strong leisure travel demand during (FTK) registered a hefty 20.5% jump in
terminal have met and exceeded our the Chinese New Year festive period. February, outpacing a 12.6% increase in
high expectations. We’re another step Measured in revenue passenger offered freight capacity, which resulted
closer to bringing a true broadband kilometres (RPK), international in a 4.2 percentage points increase in the
experience to both commercial airlines passenger demand increased by 9.9%, average international freight load factor,
and business aviation.” underscoring particularly robust growth to 65.2%.

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