Gogo Conducts 5G Testing with Virtual Flight Simulator

Gogo Business Aviation is now conducting virtual flight simulation testing of its 5G software and expects to deliver Gogo 5G later this year.

Utilizing an advanced virtual flight simulator, constructed by Gogo's radio frequency (RF) engineering team, Gogo is emulating the radio channel in the airborne environment to verify the Gogo 5G software to a more than 90 percent confidence level. The technology enables end-to-end 5G system testing ahead of schedule and helps to mature the software at a faster pace before flight testing begins.

By leveraging proprietary information and flight data, Gogo can check performance of the radio frequency, taking into consideration factors like doppler, altitude, flight routes, angle of approach, beam-forming technology and other parameters, all critical factors to understand as Gogo optimizes the 5G service and onboard connectivity performance.

"The virtual flight simulator our team has constructed is an example of what we do best: innovate," said Sergio Aguirre, president and COO for Gogo. "Our teams have designed a phenomenal method for validating and maturing our 5G software and hardware to a critical degree before the final 5G chip is in our hands."

Once lab testing is completed, the 5G software will be flight tested using Gogo's Challenger 300 testbed and the already-deployed Gogo 5G network.

Gogo is the world's largest provider of broadband connectivity services for the business aviation market. Gogo offers a customizable suite of smart cabin systems for highly integrated connectivity, in-flight entertainment, and voice solutions.

Gogo's products and services are installed on thousands of business aircraft of all sizes and mission types from turboprops to the largest global jets, and are utilized by the largest fractional ownership operators, charter operators, corporate flight departments and individuals.

As of December 31, 2023, Gogo reported 7,205 business aircraft flying with its broadband ATG systems onboard, 3,976 of which are flying with a Gogo AVANCE L5 or L3 system; and 4,341 aircraft with narrowband satellite connectivity installed.