Cobham’s HGA-7001 SATCOM high gain antenna subsystem has been selected by Virgin Atlantic for the airline’s Boeing 747 cabin upgrade program to commence in 2012, the companies said this week.
Virgin Atlantic will retrofit seven of its Boeing 747 aircraft with the Cobham antenna, which will enable Inmarsat SwiftBroadband (SBB) satcom connectivity into the cockpit and cabin. Cobham’s antenna sub-system will be retrofitted to the fleet of seven Boeing 747-400 aircraft through an independent Supplemental Type Certificate (STC).
"Virgin Atlantic’s selection of the Cobham Antenna system is as a result of a rigorous and thorough selection process. The combination of technical excellence, coupled with a good commercial position, has secured the ongoing partnership between Virgin Atlantic and Cobham Antenna Systems and secured the best overall solution for our Boeing 747 cabin upgrade," says Sean Swain, general manager, supply chain for Virgin Atlantic.