Jet Aviation's maintenance and refurbishment teams in Basel recently delivered three extensive refurbishments on a Boeing 747 and two Gulfstream GIVs, all of which included Ka Band installations. In addition, the company successfully implemented and delivered its first Ka Band installations on Gulfstream G550 and G650 aircraft.

To maximise downtime during heavy maintenance on the wide-body BBJ, Jet Aviation upgraded the entire cabin interior, including development of STCs for ADS-B Out installation and WLAN activation. A wireless AVOD system was also installed on the Boeing 747 to enable content streaming to handheld devices.

Senior director programme management large aircraft Estelle Thorin described the Boeing project as very challenging and rewarding: “Coordinating four engine changes with a full cabin refurbishment while developing an STC for approval is incredibly demanding. It was a real milestone project for the team, and I could not be prouder of them. Feedback from the customer has been very positive.”

Refurbishment of the two Gulfstream GIVs involved restoration of the woodwork, stripping and recovering all soft materials, and re-finishing the cabin sidewalls and headliners with luxurious custom material. In parallel, both aircraft were enhanced with the latest DU-885 LCDs, FANS 1A, an SBB upgrade, and ADS-B Out systems.

The company's Gulfstream maintenance team is also celebrating two firsts. The team recently redelivered its first Ka Band installations on a G550 as well as on a G650. The installations were done in accordance with a Gulfstream STC and will provide one of the highest data speeds available in the industry to help support expected data expansion in the coming decades.

“With the 2020 mandate quickly approaching, we've seen a lot of demand for Ka Band installations,” says Gulfstream senior director programme management Erik Vandegrift. “We are delighted to bring new technologies and choice to our customers and strive to exceed their expectations.”

“Customers appreciate our experience, expertise and flexibility and regularly take the opportunity to combine scheduled maintenance with refurbishments and other upgrades,” adds general manager Basel Dirk Sapatka. “These recent projects demonstrate our steadfast commitment to delivering the highest benefit to our customers.”

Jet Aviation Basel employs more than 1,400 professionals. The facility has in-house design and engineering departments along with on-site cabinetry, upholstery, sheet metal, composite and paint shops. The organisation is capable of outfitting jets as large as an Airbus A380 or the Boeing 747-8 series and has already completed numerous Airbus ACJ319, ACJ320, ACJ330, ACJ340 and Boeing B737, B757, B767 and B747 aircraft. Jet Aviation Basel also provides aircraft maintenance and repair services for a wide variety of business jets. It is a factory approved service centre for Airbus, Boeing, Dassault, Embraer and Gulfstream, with approval and capabilities for maintenance, RMU and repairs on Bombardier. The location also holds a jet aircraft repair station rating by the FAA, and EASA in addition to approval certificates of 28 other national aviation authorities.