The first aircraft equipped with Dassault's new FalconConnect integrated onboard communications system, a Falcon 2000LXS, has been retrofitted by Dassault Aviation. FalconConnect is to be available by the end of the year as an aftermarket upgrade for all in-service Falcon aircraft with compatible routers. The service will also be available on new Falcon aircraft starting in the first quarter of 2019.

“As the pace of communications technology accelerates and its complexity increases, we are committed to making operation of these technologies as easy as possible,” says senior executive vice president civil aviation Olivier Villa. “In partnership with Honeywell and GoDirect, we conducted extensive development and testing to evaluate and select the most reliable, flexible, best-value connectivity offerings for cockpit, passenger cabin and ground services. The result is FalconConnect, a simple, seamless solution for onboard connectivity requirements.”

The package provides a selection of cockpit safety communications such as FANS (Future Air Navigation System) and ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System). It features high speed Ka-, Ku- and L-band satellite communication services for passenger cabin connectivity, including real-time video conferencing, voice over IP, internet

browsing and email, and offers 3G and 4G ground networks. Third-party compatibility for Electronic Flight Bag and Air To Ground is also available.

Thanks to FalconConnect, Falcon aircraft operators no longer need to find multiple service providers for satellite communications. The new service provides a single point of contact for hardware, network installation, troubleshooting and cost management, including ready access to data consumption through the FalconConnect portal. For operators with differing types of flight operations, the FalconConnect Access service enables invoicing per flight, per aircraft tail number, or per device, and payment via credit card or voucher.