ANAHEIM, CA -- At the Airline Passenger Experience Association Expo, Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) and Boeing Network and Space Systems (N&SS) announced that, subject to terms, N&SS and Panasonic will develop a ground breaking broadband electronically steered phased array antenna for commercial airliners.
The N&SS and Panasonic-designed lightweight antenna, which will deliver Panasonic's eXConnect broadband in-flight Wi-Fi service, reduces fuel burn and emissions through a 65 percent reduction in operational weight and drag without compromising connection speed.
The new antenna will be available to the commercial aircraft market in 2016. In addition, Panasonic plans to offer the electronically steered antenna for a much broader range of narrow- and wide-body aircraft.
"For decades, Panasonic and Boeing have collaborated on cutting-edge innovations, and today we have introduced a solution that sets a new standard in antenna operating performance metrics. Airlines now have the best of both worlds -- a high-performance, broadband service for their passengers, and Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft that operate efficiently, saving airlines tens of thousands of dollars per year, per aircraft, in fuel," said Paul Margis, President and Chief Executive Officer for Panasonic Avionics. "Together with our single- and dual-panel antennas we now have a portfolio of solutions for all types of airline use cases."
Paul Geery, Vice President of C3 Solutions for Boeing Network & Space Systems, added that "Boeing has been designing and qualifying aeronautical phased array antennas for more than 30 years. We are delighted to provide Panasonic with this innovative solution, a low-profile phased array antenna that will have the lowest total drag and weight impact in the industry."
For additional information, visit http://www.panasonic.aero