Gogo Business Aviation
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Template:Future Aircell is a private company started in 1991 developing broadband for both private and commercial aviation. Aircell is the only company in the United States authorized by the FCC and FAA to use cellular frequencies for inflight communications. Aircell successfully bid $31.7 million for a 3MHz air-to-ground spectrum in a FCC auction in June 2006.[1]
Aircell holds over 20 patents relating to technology for airborne telecommunications. Formation, based in Moorestown, NJ, developed two critical hardware components of Aircell's Gogo Inflight Internet system: its Central Processor Unit (ACPU) and the custom built Cabin Wireless Access Point (CWAP).[2]
History
The company states that the idea for Aircell began in a barbecue restaurant in Denison, Texas, where company founder Jimmy Ray first made sketches on a paper napkin for an affordable telephone system for airplanes. Jimmy Ray subsequently formed Aircell.
On August 1, 2007, American Airlines partnered with Aircell to offer broadband on American's flights.[3] On September 13, 2007, Virgin America partnered with Aircell to add broadband capabilities to their flights.[4]
On January 22, 2008, American Airlines completed the first aircraft installation of the Aircell Internet broadband connection at American's Kansas City maintenance base. The airline plans to install and test the broadband technology in 2008 on all 15 of its Boeing 767-200 aircraft.[5] The technology will provide customers an Internet connection, virtual private network (VPN) access and email capabilities.
On February 29, 2008, Aircell unveiled the product name as Gogo Inflight Internet.
On August 5th, 2008, Delta Airlines announced it was installing Aircell's Gogo Inflight system on all of its airplanes over the subsequent year.[6] Delta later decided to filter pornographic content on its flights after customer and employee responses. [7]
On August 20th, 2008, Aircell’s Gogo going went live on American Airlines. Aircell’s Gogo will be available to customers as a fee-based service in all cabins. Aircell will charge $12.95 on flights more than three hours, which include American’s Boeing 767-200 flights. Each paid Gogo session includes full Internet access.
See also
Technical Considerations
Most laptops, and cellular phones are only tested to 5V/m of Radio frequency energy. Aircraft Electronics standards require testing at levels up to 400V/m.(DO-160) HIRF can be a source of malfunction of portable electronic devices. Additionally, cosmic radiation can upset memory cells in Laptop DRAM due to lack of ECC circuitry. This radiation is significantly stronger at 30,000 ft than on the ground. The comparatively short durations of the flights helps to mitigate these risks, as does the prohibition of use below 10,000 ft(ground radar at the airfield). A laptop built to Avionics Standards used as an Aircraft Computer costs on the order of $30,000 US (2008)