Viasat to enhance connectivity on Hawaii routes
An impression of Viasat's ViaSat-3 GEO satellite.
Satellite connectivity provider Viasat has conducted successful test flights linking its Global Aero Terminal (GAT) 5510 to a ViaSat-3 satellite for the first time.
A five-hour flight from San Diego to Hawaii, using a Gulfstream G280 aircraft, “exceeded all performance targets for consistency, reliability and speed” of connectivity, according to the company.
A second flight in a Gulfstream G-III aircraft achieved similar results, courtesy of the new software upgrade for the GAT-5510 terminal which can be configured remotely on aircraft.
ViaSat-3 is the company’s next-generation constellation of high-capacity Ka-band GEO (geostationary Earth orbit) satellites. The first was launched in 2023 and has now entered service with two more expected to follow.
“Business aviation customers have been eager to utilise our ViaSat-3 capacity for some time, and we’re now on the cusp of delivering that breakthrough,” says Kai Tang, head of business aviation at Viasat. “Our recent test flight has marked an important milestone — it was the first connection between a business aviation terminal and the satellite, and we exceeded all key performance benchmarks to deliver an even greater connectivity experience.”
The GAT-5510 terminal has been activated on more than 250 private jets. It is available as a linefit option on Gulfstream G280s, Bombardier C3500s and Embraer Praetors. It can also be retrofitted through Viasat’s authorised dealers, with Supplemental Type Certificate (STCs) on several popular large cabin airframes.
