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- readytotaxi
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Just what is involved to kit out aircraft with WiFi?
Wondered how costly it was for an airline to fit an existing aircraft with Wifi? Can it be done quite quickly?
Re: Just what is involved to kit out aircraft with WiFi?
They have to take out the cabin roof to run a leaky feeder line and then mount the actual satellite pod on the outside, which involves cutting through the fuselage as well. I think it takes a few weeks for a narrowbody? And probably a few hundred thousand, knowing aerospace pricing...
Re: Just what is involved to kit out aircraft with WiFi?
77west wrote:They have to take out the cabin roof to run a leaky feeder line and then mount the actual satellite pod on the outside, which involves cutting through the fuselage as well. I think it takes a few weeks for a narrowbody? And probably a few hundred thousand, knowing aerospace pricing...
Try 3 or 4 days for the system you describe. Doubler on skin, wiring to front of plane, access involves ceilings and bins. That's for a narrow body satellite system.
A ground system - 24 hours if Boeing prewires aircraft.
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- frmrCapCadet
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Re: Just what is involved to kit out aircraft with WiFi?
Could a 787/350 have the antenna incorporated into the fuselage from the very beginning as part of the laminations?
Re: Just what is involved to kit out aircraft with WiFi?
Surprised someone hasn't figure out to put the SAT receiver out on the winglets instead a drag inducing dome on the top of the aircraft.
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- RetiredWeasel
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Re: Just what is involved to kit out aircraft with WiFi?
77west wrote:They have to take out the cabin roof to run a leaky feeder line and then mount the actual satellite pod on the outside, which involves cutting through the fuselage as well. I think it takes a few weeks for a narrowbody? And probably a few hundred thousand, knowing aerospace pricing...
Cutting through the fuselage is not done when installing Satcom antenna except for some small drill holes for the cables. That would cause a weak area in the pressure hull. The assembly is riveted to the skin. You can see what I'm talking about with this photo:
https://i.stack.imgur.com/vjZrB.jpg
And as one poster stated, it looks like doublers or reinforcement around the cable holes.
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- battlegroup62
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Re: Just what is involved to kit out aircraft with WiFi?
frmrCapCadet wrote:Could a 787/350 have the antenna incorporated into the fuselage from the very beginning as part of the laminations?
Not likely. The antenna is not like a Tv aerial antenna its a satellite dish, some of which are motorized to track the satellites in orbit. Not to mention sometimes the antenna itself can go bad and if permanently fused to the plane you have a problem.
william wrote:Surprised someone hasn't figure out to put the SAT receiver out on the winglets instead a drag inducing dome on the top of the aircraft.
It would look interesting since you'd end up with a big bubble on the top of the winglet and then have the plane in a permanent turn if there isn't one mounted on the other wing.
Re: Just what is involved to kit out aircraft with WiFi?
battlegroup62 wrote:frmrCapCadet wrote:Could a 787/350 have the antenna incorporated into the fuselage from the very beginning as part of the laminations?
Not likely. The antenna is not like a Tv aerial antenna its a satellite dish, some of which are motorized to track the satellites in orbit. Not to mention sometimes the antenna itself can go bad and if permanently fused to the plane you have a problem.william wrote:Surprised someone hasn't figure out to put the SAT receiver out on the winglets instead a drag inducing dome on the top of the aircraft.
It would look interesting since you'd end up with a big bubble on the top of the winglet and then have the plane in a permanent turn if there isn't one mounted on the other wing.
I meant a receiver that fits inside of the winglet. It would look the same on the outside.
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- Florianopolis
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Re: Just what is involved to kit out aircraft with WiFi?
Not to get too off topic, but some biz jets will put the antenna at the top of the vertical tail.
for example: http://www.aerosat.com/products/product ... ntenna.asp
for example: http://www.aerosat.com/products/product ... ntenna.asp
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- GalaxyFlyer
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Re: Just what is involved to kit out aircraft with WiFi?
Yes, it’s on the fin on most bizjets, problem being small antenna diameter being less efficient (nowhere near the bandwidth of large antenna but only 8-12 passengers) and installation.
GF
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