Dassault Falcon picks Aircell

BROOMFIELD — Dassault Falcon has hired Broomfield-based Aircell to provide its entire fleet of business jets with high-speed wireless internet.

The Aircell High Speed Internet system will allow Falcon passengers and crews to use their own Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as laptops, tablet PCs, smartphones and PDAs, to surf the Web, send and receive e-mail with attachments, access their corporate Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and much more – all at full mobile broadband speeds in flight.

The Aircell High Speed Internet system is powered by the Aircell Network, which utilizes the latest 3G mobile wireless technology, operating in the continental U.S. over an advanced network of ground stations and Aircell’s exclusive broadband air-to-ground spectrum.

“In this day and age, it’s seldom we talk to customers without discussing what in-flight connectivity options are available,” Dassault Falcon Vice President, Programs Eric Monsel said in a press release.  “People want to be as fully connected aboard their aircraft as they are in their office.”

Design work has already begun to incorporate the system into the production line at Dassault Falcon and the first equipped aircraft is scheduled for customer delivery in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Aircell’s High Speed Internet unit for business aviation — the ATG 4000 — weighs just 11 pounds and its two belly-mounted antennae weigh just 1.25 pounds each.

The commercial airline version of the service — Gogo Inflight Internet — has been selected by airlines representing more than half of the North American mainline market. The system is flying today with American Airlines, Virgin America, Delta Air Lines and AirTran Airways. It is coming soon to Northwest Airlines, Air Canada, United Airlines and US Airways.

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