Gogo installing satellite and ATG service for American Airlines

In-flight wireless broadband company Gogo will install two in-flight connectivity solutions on American Airlines' new Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 deliveries: Ku-band satellite and Gogo's next-generation air-to-ground technology, ATG-4. Installations will occur as the new aircraft are delivered to American beginning in 2013.

"Installing the two systems helps ensure these aircraft will stay connected wherever they fly, whether they're flying domestically or headed to an international destination," said Michael Small, Gogo's president and CEO.

Gogo was previously selected to outfit existing MD-80 and Boeing 737, 757 and 767 aircraft in American's domestic fleet. Gogo service is currently available on more than 400 American aircrafts.

In other news, Aviation Week reported last week that US Airways will equip its entire Airbus fleet with Gogo ATG-4 wireless service by May. Equipment installation is underway on 246 US Airways' Airbus A319s, A320s, and A321s. As of December US Airways had retrofitted 203 of the aircraft.

US Airways is also adding Gogo Vision, which streams movies and television programs, in the Airbus planes but is not turning on the service until testing is completed. US Airways expects to offer Gogo Vision by the end of the first quarter, said Aviation Week.

Gogo is also expected to finish installing the first-generation Gogo Wi-Fi system on US Airways' 17 mainline E-190s by March. Three new E-190s slated for delivery early this year will also be equipped with the system. Last month, Gogo completed installation of the Wi-Fi service aboard the 20 Embraer E-170s and 38 E-175s operated by Republic Airlines under the US Airways Express brand.

Gogo first announced in November that it was deploying ATG-4 on three airlines: Delta Air Lines, US Airways and Virgin America. ATG-4 service, based on CDMA EV-DO Rev. B technology, is an enhancement of Gogo's first-generation air-to-ground service and is designed to improve aircraft capacity by approximately 4x.

In May 2012 Gogo announced its partnership with satellite equipment provider, AeroSat, to bring a Ku-satellite solution to commercial airlines that need connectivity services extending beyond the United States, including transoceanic routes. The service was touted as a near-term solution that would be used until Inmarsat's Global Xpress Ka-satellite service becomes available.

For more:
- see this Gogo release
- see this Aviation Week article

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