FAA Grants ViaSat Approval for Its Gen 2 IFC System

Boeing 737 just after liftoff. Photo: Flickr.

ViaSat has received Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its second generation (Gen-2) In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) system. The certification allows ViaSat to offer internet service on Boeing 737 aircraft.

Achieving STC approval demonstrates the flight worthiness of ViaSat’s Gen-2 Ka-band radome, antenna, entertainment software and in-cabin Wi-Fi distribution system. According to ViaSat, the system enables faster Wi-Fi speeds; throughput levels of up to 1 Gigabit per second; forward and backward compatibility with the ViaSat 2 and ViaSat 3 class satellites; and 30 terabytes of solid-state storage.

The first installation of the Gen-2 equipment was certified on a Qantas 737-800 aircraft in June 2017. ViaSat expects to offer more than 3.5 terabits per second of total global capacity in the next few years.