Wired: Gulfstream Gets Broadband STC On G550 / G500

Gulfstream Aerospace this month announced it had received a third FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), enabling the installation of its new Broad Band Multi-Link (BBML) data system in its large-cabin G550 and G500 bizjets. The company’s BBML system uses ARINC’s SKYLink broadband satellite service, enabling in-flight Internet surfing, sending and receiving e-mail or any other Web-based task. Last October, Gulfstream received its first BBML-related STC for a GiIV; a month later, it received an STC for the GV and, later this year, Gulfstream expects to receive another STC for the G350/G450 models. The G550/500 paperwork allows Gulfstream to begin unlimited installation of BBML systems on customer aircraft. “The Gulfstream Broad Band Multi-Link (BBML) system is the fastest in-flight data system available today,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president of programs, engineering and test, Gulfstream. Gulfstream’s BBML is a dedicated satellite-based system offering data speeds of up to 3.5 megabits per second.