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| Optelity Hot Spot. Photo: TrueNorth Avionics |
[Avionics Today 10-01-2015] TrueNorth Avionics today unveiled its aviation certified product to provide light-aircraft owners with communications capabilities previously reserved for long-range VIP jets. The company’s new Optelity Hot Spot product is an “N” wireless access point and integrated router powerful enough to host embedded applications.
Purpose-built for light-to-medium jet and turboprop aircraft, the TrueNorth Optelity Hot Spot will let pilots use Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) and passengers use phones, tablets and other Wi-Fi devices during flight. The device is small and weighs just more than half a pound. Unlike consumer-based carry-on gear, it is aviation certified for safe in-flight operation, and installed on the aircraft to eliminate power conversion issues. Optelity Hot Spot supports embedded apps, which allows the device to be tailored for specific needs, and is built to accommodate new mobile devices as they come on line.
“Getting up-and-running is streamlined, and the doubt associated with walk-on devices is eliminated,” said Mark van Berkel, TrueNorth CEO. “There are two variants available to address installation needs: one with an integrated antenna and one with an external antenna. In either case, you simply connect Optelity Hot Spot to the aircraft’s existing Satcom or air-to-ground broadband equipment. Additionally, pilots and passengers can use TrueNorth’s MyStylus app to make calls from their own iOS and Android smartphones.”