By: Stephen Pope

July 1, 2009
Avionics

Given that Cessna offers the Aircell Axxess satcom system as an option for its Citation XLS+, Sovereign and X, it seemed only a matter of time before the Wichita business jet maker expanded the partnership to offer Aircell’s high-speed data service as well. Last month Cessna said it will do just that, making the Aircell air-to-ground service available to buyers of the midsize Citation models.

Passengers can use laptops, BlackBerrys and iPhones for high-speed-data access (up to 56 times the speed of a dial-up modem) anywhere over the continental U.S. The Aircell service uses a network of 3G cell sites across the country to send and receive data. The ATG 4000 data unit that links to the Wi-Fi-enabled Axxess box weighs 11 pounds.

The installation also requires two small belly-mounted antennas that weigh about a pound each. Installations at the Cessna factory will start in next year’s second quarter.

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