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| Clay Lacy Aviation hangar. Photo: Clay Lacy Aviation |
[Avionics Today 04-01-2016] Aircraft management and jet charter service Clay Lacy Aviation is the latest to partner with new In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) provider SmartSky Networks. When SmartSky’s Air-To-Ground (ATG) network goes live later this year, Clay Lacy will provide hardware sales and installations, as well as Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) development on four Gulfstream models: the G200, G-IV, G-IVSP and G-V. Clay Lacy is also an FAA Part 145 Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, serving as an authorized dealer, installation and repair facility for avionics and cabin entertainment products.
“SmartSky Networks high-speed Wi-Fi promises typical speeds over 10-times faster than what is available today,” says Jim Lauer, Clay Lacy Aviation’s director of avionics.
SmartSky’s patented 4G-beamforming technology claims to deliver a secure signal that locks onto each aircraft in the network. Its broadband connectivity system will initially provide ATG service over the continental United States with nearly 20,000 beams. SmartSky’s scalable ATG platform, using 60 MHz of spectrum, promises to open unrestricted access to the Web.