Notes MagnaStar Service Will End In 2008
TrueNorth Avionics, Inc. told ANN
recently the company completed its first MagnaStar upgrade on a
Gulfstream aircraft, working with Duncan Aviation to install the
Simphone (pronounced 'symphony') airborne telecommunications system
in just four working days. The Simphone system was installed aboard
a GIV aircraft at Duncan's Battle Creek, MI, facility last
month.
The Simphone Duo system installed on the GIV included three
easy-to-use, menu-driven handsets, along with PBX functionality and
two all-digital channels of integrated Iridium service for
worldwide voice and data. The operator also specified TrueNorth's
new analog interface, to integrate the Simphone system with the
aircraft's existing Honeywell MCS-3000 legacy Satcom. Provisioning
was also added for TrueNorth's forthcoming Iridium fax module.
The compact, easy-to-install Simphone has been especially
popular in light of Verizon's recent announcement it will suspend
MagnaStar service by the end of 2008.
Offering a significant enhancement in communications management
for MagnaStar owners, the single-LRU Simphone system was designed
as a efficient replacement for that system, and serves as both an
airborne telephone and an open-architecture cabin network.
"Since we developed Simphone from a clean sheet of paper, we
were able to make it easy to install, easy to use and easy to
expand, because those are the benefits executive aircraft operators
expect from their phone system," said Mark van Berkel, TrueNorth's
CEO. "So when a corporate-class airplane like a Gulfstream IV needs
a MagnaStar replacement, it's no coincidence that Simphone is the
ideal choice," he added.
"We highly recommend the TrueNorth Simphone, in part because of
its advanced design, capabilities and features, but also because
we've been so pleased with its performance," said Bob Larson, the
aircraft's chief pilot. "We also were very pleased with the fast
turnaround Duncan gave us," he added. Noted Dennis DeCook of
Duncan, "Even our engineers and installers were impressed with how
well the Simphone installation went."
Corporate operators and installation centers have also been
impressed with Simphone's broad array of interfaces -- including
dual CEPT-E1 for Inmarsat Aero-H/H+/I, an Ethernet link for
broadband, and a new analog interface for legacy Satcoms -- which
enable it to connect to virtually any off-aircraft network and
system.