In-Flight Connectivity Retrofits

by Matthew Beres, Airborne Retrofit & Modernization Analyst, Forecast International.

Gogo recently announced that its AVANCE L5 has been selected for installation on Falcon and Embraer airframes. The AVANCE L5 offers live streaming video and audio, on-demand movies, and use of personal smartphones. Dassault will offer the technology on new-production Falcon 2000S, 2000LXS, 900LX, 5X, 7X, and 8X airframes.  AVANCE L5 will also be available for installation at Dassault-owned service centers.

The first Falcon Jet equipped with the system will be delivered later this year. AVANCE L5 will be available on Legacy 450 and 500 business jets starting in the first quarter of 2018.

Reliable, high-speed, inexpensive Wi-Fi has become a necessity for many airline passengers. As line-fit installation of Wi-Fi increases in the coming years, charter operators and airlines without high-speed, reliable Wi-Fi will be forced to make retrofits in order to meet customer demand and match competitors.

Wi-Fi retrofits will therefore see strong demand for the foreseeable future, as many world airlines are not yet connected. More than 80 percent of European aircraft and more than 90 percent of Asia-Pacific and Chinese aircraft are not yet connected.

It is probable that by the time latecomers begin to install Wi-Fi, the market for such systems will have evolved with the introduction of faster, more convenient, or cheaper technology. Such a shift will undoubtedly be followed by a new set of airborne connectivity upgrades. The types of retrofits that could ­­be introduced span the range from connectivity speed & quality and reliable data management upgrades to creative user interfaces and security enhancements. What can be guaranteed is that the Wi-Fi retrofit market will remain one of the strongest forces in the overall retrofit industry over the next decade.


Forecast International’s Airborne Retrofit & Modernization Forecast provides operators in the military and commercial aviation sectors with the information they need to maximize their current investments rather than expand their fleets, a trend that is opening up multiple opportunities for the expansion of retrofit and modernization programs. It offers a one-stop service for tracking the status of commercial and military R&M programs in progress worldwide, and pinpoints key developments in the aviation industry that will impact the market in the future.

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For 50 years, Forecast International intelligence reports have been the aerospace and defense industry standard for accurate research, analysis, and projections. Our experienced analysts compile, evaluate, and present accurate data for decision makers. FI's market research reports offer concise analysis of individual programs and identify market opportunities. Each report includes a program overview, detailed statistics, recent developments and a competitive analysis, culminating in production forecasts spanning 10 or 15 years. Let our market intelligence reports be a key part of reducing uncertainties and mastering your specific market and its growth potential. Find out more at www.forecastinternational.com

About Forecast International

For 50 years, Forecast International intelligence reports have been the aerospace and defense industry standard for accurate research, analysis, and projections. Our experienced analysts compile, evaluate, and present accurate data for decision makers. FI's market research reports offer concise analysis of individual programs and identify market opportunities. Each report includes a program overview, detailed statistics, recent developments and a competitive analysis, culminating in production forecasts spanning 10 or 15 years. Let our market intelligence reports be a key part of reducing uncertainties and mastering your specific market and its growth potential. Find out more at www.forecastinternational.com

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