Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace Team To Bring Passengers The Fastest, Most Reliable Global In-Flight Connectivity Experience Possible

HAMBURG, Germany, April 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and Boeing have signed a technical services agreement to research and develop technologies for the next generation of high-speed, in-flight wireless connectivity on Boeing platforms including the 787, 777, 737NG and 747-8. With this agreement, Honeywell and Boeing are addressing passengers’ increasing demands for faster, more reliable in-flight connectivity on iPads, smartphones, tablet devices and laptops while over land and crossing oceans.

The agreement will allow Boeing and Honeywell to jointly research, test and develop the hardware, software and potential services that will utilize GX Ka-band satellites, powered by Inmarsat’s Global Xpress constellation, and begin the necessary activities to support GX Ka-band equipment installation aboard new aircraft in 2015.

Global Xpress will offer unprecedented data rates and bandwidth, backed by Inmarsat’s quality standards, performance and global reach. It will provide the same experience as terrestrial broadband and is the only Ka-band network designed to provide consistent global coverage. Travelers will be able to do everything from real-time social media updates to videoconferencing and multimedia presentation development while in flight, virtually anywhere in the world, with an experience similar to being at home or in the office.

Beyond passenger comfort, the Honeywell-developed hardware and system for GX Aviation will also introduce new services to aircraft operators, airlines and air traffic control such as predictive maintenance and better aircraft communications that will take advantage of a fast, reliable and global connectivity service, essentially creating a truly “connected aircraft.”