EAD Aerospace adds A330 to SUMS family of Satcom STCs

Having received one of the first EASA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for a Honeywell JetWave™ installation last year for an A320 (applicable to A320, A321) aircraft, EAD Aerospace (EASA DOA PART21 FRA21 J&G), an Eclipse company, has now received an EASA STC for an A330 aircraft.

This STC adds to the family of Satcom Universal Mounting System (SUMS) STCs, which EAD Aerospace has been developing since 2014 for various aircraft types.

EAD Aerospace is supporting the installation of the JetWave fuselage-mounted antenna variant (MCS-8200) to support Ka-Band satellite communications (Satcom) on the A330 VIP aircraft with a leading European MRO for an undisclosed final customer in the Middle East. Ka-Band connectivity enables the highest data rates available in airborne satcom and further growth in data is expected to occur in the coming decades.

The enhanced connectivity provided by the JetWave system will interface with the existing local area network (LAN) on the aircraft. Flights tests took place at the end of December 2016, where the final administrative certification issues were finalized and the STC issued by EASA. SUMS STCs will soon also be received for A340 and B777 series aircraft.