Honeywell Aerospace’s JetWave X inflight connectivity platform for business aviation has entered service and is available to order directly and through authorised channel partners.

JetWave X connects to Viasat’s Ka-band network, including the Viasat-3 and Global Xpress satellites. The system’s open architecture is also designed to take advantage of the network’s continued growth as future satellites enter service.

“As the need for high-speed data increases, JetWave X enables aircraft operators to deliver an internet experience that more closely resembles what users expect at home or in the office,” says Adam Sheppard, general manager, services and connectivity at Honeywell Aerospace.

JetWave X is the first terminal able to use Viasat’s full network, combining the in-service Viasat-3 constellation, which has tripled the bandwidth available across the network, with the global coverage of the GX satellites.

“For customers, that means even more capacity, uncapped speeds and increased network prioritisation for an enhanced connectivity experience wherever they fly,” says Claudio D’Amico, vice president of OEMs, partners and fleets, business aviation at Viasat.

The platform includes Advanced Data Control (ADC), a connectivity management system that combines multiple satellite and air-to-ground links across geostationary orbit (GEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), highly elliptical orbit (HEO) and future low earth orbit (LEO) into one optimised onboard network. ADC automatically prioritises traffic by application type, maintains service through intelligent network switching and tailors bandwidth for different user groups such as VIPs, crew and guests. It reacts in real time to outages or coverage gaps, delivering the best available connection for streaming, video calls or mission-critical tasks.

In most cases, upgrading aircraft to JetWave X uses existing Ka-band radomes and wiring. Current JetWave customers also have a simple upgrade path through a trade-in programme.

Owners and operators can work directly with Honeywell Aerospace and authorised channel partners to determine availability for their specific aircraft model and installation timeline. As the service rollout progresses, operators can also check the supplemental type certificate (STC) status for their aircraft to understand certification availability and installation readiness.