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.

FMI: www.truenorthavionics.com