American Airlines Begins Installing Aircell's Broadband Connectivity for Passengers

American Airlines has completed the first aircraft installation of an Aircell passenger communications system at its Kansas City maintenance base. The airline plans to install and test AirCell's internet broadband technology on all 15 of its B-767-200s, which primarily fly transcontinental routes.

American will be the first U.S. airline to offer customers Aircell's system.  But prior to customer use, the first aircraft with the equipment installed will fly beta tests before FAA certification.

Aircell's system will provide American's customers data-only connections to the Internet and VPNs (virtual private network, through all Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, PDAs (personal digital assistants) and portable gaming devices, over the continent U.S. at altitudes above 10.000 feet.  Cell phone and VoIP (Voice over Internet protocol) services won't be available, however.

Aircell's air-to-ground inflight Internet system for commercial aircraft uses three exterior-mounted antennae. One of these, the PCS (personal communications service)/GPS antenna, is mounted on the top of the aircraft's fuselage, and the two others are mounted on the bottom. The system's 3 MHz signals will be transmitted via 92 cellular towers located throughout the continental U.S.  01-29-2008.

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