powers booth

Aero satellite communications supplier EMS Satcom (booth 5211) has just won the first Inmarsat type approval for a terminal designed to work with the satellite operator's new SwiftBroadband 432kbit/sec service.

Highlighting the power of the Ottawa-based company's technology here is movie super-spy Austin Powers, who's being convincingly impersonated at the EMS booth every day. Visitors are invited to come along and pick up some industrial intelligence about the SwiftBroadband-capable HSD-400 satellite terminal. The first 40 people to attend a 10min primer on the system will win a groovy prize - a martini set fit for an international man of mystery.

Due for commercial launch at the end of next month, SwiftBroadband is designed to support IP data communications and high-quality digital phone calling. The EMS HSD-400 supports both background and streaming-class services.

"Always-on" background-class is ideal for internet access and email, with the user paying by the megabit. Streaming-class service is suited to videoconferencing and other real-time applications and provides guaranteed 32-224kbit/sec data rates in return for a per-minute charge. A single channel of SwiftBroadband can support simultaneous email, internet access, voice and videoconferencing.

"HSD-400 already has more than 400h of flight testing on two Boeing Business Jets under its belt," says EMS Satcom general manager Gary Hebb. The terminal's ability to support SwiftBroadband has been tested this year during take-off and landing and through 40° bank turns, and performance assessed at satellite elevation angles below 10°. Typical data throughput averaged 300kbit/sec per channel, with peaks of up to 475kbit/sec.

Applications successfully tried out included VPN access, email (internet and Microsoft Office Outlook), FTP, streaming video, Instant Messenger, and upload of weather information to an electronic flight bag. California-based Jet Source aviation center (Booth No. 6041), celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, is looking to the future by increasing its use of solar power.
The company announced yesterday that it will be installing a solar-powered system, similar to the one that powers its Carlsbad, Calif. FBO, at its second facility in Henderson, Nev. The state-of-the-art Nevada facility is set to open in 2009 and will consist of two 35,000-sq-ft hangars and an executive terminal with a VIP room and concierge-style services for customers. One hangar will be dedicated to aircraft management and charter operations, and the second will support Jet Source's avionics and maintenance operation.

According to Jet Source, the California facility is the only FBO in the country to be powered by solar energy. The system was introduced in 2005 and includes a lighting and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system designed to reduce overall energy use by 50 percent. According to the company, the system has saved Jet Source more than 90 percent on energy bills. The FBO has also been able to contribute additional electricity to the grid at peak hours of the day, when energy is in high demand, to reduce what the company calls "rolling brownouts" for the surrounding community.

"As a leader in this industry, it's incredibly important to recognize our responsibility to support a clean environment," said Jet Source president and COO Frank Milian. "We understand that investing in renewable energy solutions is a critical component for the future of aviation, and we're proud of our ability to find new ways of doing that to increase efficiency and reduce costs."

In addition, Jet Source also announced that it will be adding four new aircraft�two Hawker 800s, a Hawker 400-731 and a Westwind II to its fleet of 111. Jet Source will also be entering the VLJ market in the future, which the company said, "provides an efficient, environmentally friendly alternative to private jet travel. Jet Source will offer a shared ownership program with three unique offerings tailored to suit the interests of businesses, individuals and licensed pilots."

Jet Source is headquartered at Palomar-McClellan Airport and has been in operation since 1997. The FBO has more than 120,000 sq ft of hangar space and provides maintenance, avionics, ramp and fuel services, charter, management services and aircraft sales/acquisition.