Photo: Gilat Satellite Networks 

Gilat Satellite Networks revealed Tuesday that its In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) is the first-ever to operate during flight on a commercial aircraft. The operation occurred onboard Honeywell‘s Boeing 757 test aircraft with Gilat’s ESA terminal operating over Ka-band capacity on Telesat‘s Telstar 19 Vantage High Throughput Satellite (HTS).

Gilat’s ESA has no moving parts, full electronic beam steering, and a flat panel with a low profile. The company says the ESA terminal can serve both Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) constellations that operate in Ka-band and it features Gilat’s aero modem.

“Telesat is pleased to join forces with [Gilat] in achieving an additional remarkable milestone,” Michel Forest, Telesat director of systems engineering for the LEO Program said. “Gilat’s ESA innovations demonstrate the ability to access and unleash the throughput and performance of Ka-band HTS beams with a low-profile antenna as desired by airlines.”