summary
- American Airlines has retrofitted its first aircraft with Intelsat multi-orbit internet, improving connection speeds and passenger capacity.
- The system uses both GEO and LEO satellites for strong coverage, and will dynamically switch between the two in the future.
- Intelsat has contracts with major airlines for similar upgrades, with American Airlines leading the way in adopting the new technology.
first 
American Airlines A plane equipped with multi-orbit internet service has officially returned to service: a Bombardier CRJ-700 operated by SkyWest Airlines for American Eagle.
Intelsat WiFi
According to Seth Miller of PaxEx.Aero, the CRJ-700 (registration N611SK) arrived for service at Consortium Aerospace in Gainesville, Florida. Just over 50 days later, the aircraft is back in service. Yesterday, the aircraft made its first flight since entering service, flying from Chicago, Illinois, to Aspen, Colorado.
The flight departed the gate at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on time, but had to taxi back to the gate, which resulted in an additional 3 hours before takeoff, and we arrived at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE) 2 hours and 42 minutes later.
According to ch-aviation, the aircraft was manufactured 23.39 years ago and delivered to SkyWest in March 2001. It has 56 seats, including 16 economy plus seats and 40 economy seats.
Photo: SkyWest Airlines
The aircraft is now equipped with an Intelsat multi-orbit solution with Gilat/Stellar Blu Sidewinder terminals. The system will enable passengers to enjoy wireless Internet on domestic and international flights and is expected to significantly improve connection speeds and bandwidth capacity on the regional airline’s aircraft.
The move is part of a deal American Airlines signed with Intelsat in December to equip its regional aircraft with the solution. The hardware will be installed on the airline’s two-cabin regional aircraft, which includes about 250 Embraer E170 jets and 220 CRJ-700 and -900 jets.
system
Intelsat’s multi-orbit solution communicates with both GEO (geostationary orbit) and LEO (low earth orbit) satellites, the former of which includes many of Intelsat’s own satellites, and the latter with Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation.
Unlike GEO satellites, which must always orbit at a high altitude along the equator, LEO satellites orbit at a relatively low altitude (160-2,000 km) above Earth. Because these satellites do not have to follow a specific path around the Earth, constellations of LEO satellites can cover a larger area.
The system will be able to connect to both types of satellites, ensuring a strong, usable connection at all times. It’s unclear if this feature is currently available, but the companies have previously said that the implementation will start with just GEO satellites and then move to the LEO constellation, with the ability to dynamically switch between the two depending on the situation.
Photo: SkyWest Airlines
Simple Flying reached out to American Airlines to find out how the system works.
The introduction of high-speed WiFi on board regional flights will be a game changer for the many passengers who board SkyWest and American Eagle flights. Internet connectivity is akin to a basic human need in today’s world. Satellite connectivity can be leveraged for streaming and other bandwidth-intensive applications that passengers crave while flying. These solutions will ensure that they stay connected and improve their flight experience.
Intelsat
Intelsat supports commercial, business and even government aviation. For commercial use, the company highlights the following:
“Commercial airlines must balance the importance of passenger experience, which depends on comfort and convenience, the need for resources to enable crews to perform their duties easily and efficiently, and security and safety protocols. Intelsat’s in-flight connectivity services enable commercial aviation to deliver dynamic experiences to passengers and provide the most modern in-flight systems for crews, increasing efficiency.”
Intelsat has contracts with three of the top five airlines upgrading their regional jets. Alaska Airlines signed a contract early last year and would have been the first to receive the upgrade, but American Airlines preempted it. Air Canada also signed a contract last fall. In July, Intelsat signed a contract with Aerolíneas Argentinas to provide ESA, signaling that the system is also an option for international airlines.
Delta Air Lines went a different route, signing a deal last month with competitor Hughes to provide passengers with high-speed Wi-Fi. United Airlines has not yet chosen a provider for its satellite communications upgrade but is expected to join the list soon.
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