Air-to-ground (ATG) inflight connectivity provider SmartSky Networks recently completed a two-day SmartSky Experience Tour event with sales and installation partner Thornton Aviation.
The SmartSky Experience Tour, announced in late 2022, is designed to showcase partner facilities and give owners and operators interested in upgrading their connectivity the chance to experience SmartSky first-hand.
The Thornton-hosted Experience Day, held at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) in California on 5-6 April, included a customer appreciation luncheon as well as multiple demonstration flights to provide opportunities for select Thornton customers to try out SmartSky’s ATG technology in the busy California airspace.
“As a premier MRO services provider, we are committed to giving our customers the best available technologies and support at a fair and competitive price,” said Vince Russo, avionics manager at Thornton Aviation. “Customers expect to have a reliable, sustained connectivity experience and SmartSky’s air-to-ground 5G technology delivers in spades. Our track record of dependable services for business aircraft, combined with SmartSky’s leading inflight connectivity technology, is a game-changer for elevating customer experiences nationwide.”
Thornton, a California-based aircraft maintenance provider, became a seller and installer of SmartSky’s connectivity equipment in April 2022. The agreement expanded SmartSky’s technology to new markets at Thornton Aviation’s FAA-certified facilities. The company is qualified to install SmartSky Flagship and Lite products on nearly every available STC model including Bombardier Challenger 601, 604, 605 and 650; Dassault Falcon 900; Embraer 135, 140 and 145; Gulfstream G350, G450, G550, GIV and GV-SP types, among others. Customers can also apply to have their STC added to the roster of models available.
Thornton’s Experience Day included an open house with briefings and demonstration flights for aircraft operators considering installing SmartSky technology. Prospective customers flew routes from VNY with multiple passengers and crew actively utilising the network on multiple personal devices with sustained connections during the flight.
“The Experience Day was extraordinarily successful with our fantastic partner Thornton Aviation rolling out the red carpet to their customers and several were able to fly with us for first-hand experience with SmartSky’s game-changing connectivity,” said David Carter, SmartSky manager of MRO account management. “The power of this alliance was on full display at Van Nuys airport today and we are grateful for a spectacular event. Because of the efforts of Thornton Aviation, SmartSky will offer more business aviation customers from coast to coast an unmatched experience with unmatched connectivity.”
SmartSky has scheduled Experience Tour stops across the country throughout 2023, including another stop in southern California at John Wayne Airport. The company will continue providing experience flights to business aircraft operators to showcase its nationwide network.
