Airtext founder and CEO David Gray (left) had inventory ready to deliver, which set him apart from some exhibitors at the Aircraft Electronics Association Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans (March 28 through 31). Many manufacturers are coping with a supply chain crunch and resulting parts shortages. Gray said he acquired extra supply before the chain broke and was taking orders for prompt delivery of devices that provide satellite email, voice, and text connectivity via installed or portable devices that start just under $5,000, with services billed as they are used. Photo by Jim Moore.
The lineup of new product rollouts was a bit less populated this year, compared to past AEA conventions, with 29 companies taking part in the rapid-fire pitch session that opened the show March 28.Many of those were products that support the installation of avionics, rather than fancy new instrument panel additions, and several fit an aircraft connectivity theme that emerged led by Gogo Business Aviation’s announcement that the first business jet installation of its 5G in-flight Wi-Fi solution will happen in the coming summer as the company begins activating that satellite-based service.
Lined up third in the batting order, a much less expensive solution from Airtext, a Georgia-based company founded seven years ago by aviation entrepreneur and CEO David Gray. He started beefing up his parts inventory 14 months ago anticipating supply chain trouble, and he came to the annual avionics industry trade show ready to ship orders the same day on a range of devices that deliver satellite-based communication capabilities. Prices start at $4,950 for a portable unit that allows multiple users to send text messages wirelessly from a remote lakeside fishing camp or aboard any general aviation aircraft.
Gray said he “wasn’t smart enough to retire” after selling his last business and began working on products that enable pay-as-you transmit satellite messaging. “My customers asked for a low-cost way to have connectivity.”
Gray held a compact device in his hands as he detailed the capability of the portable LT version that connects to the Iridium satellite network (data plans start at $400 a year, with text messages billed at 5 cents each) from anywhere.
“This is a $5,000 box that allows everybody on board the airplane to be able to text and receive messages,” Gray said.
The device becomes a Bluetooth hotspot serving multiple users at once, and Gray said many users who reserve their texting for urgent messages pay little more than the $400 Iridium data plan, while the most frequent communicators wind up with a bill of around $2,500, still a fraction of competing options.
For prices ranging from $9,950 to $17,500, versions approved by the FAA for installation in aircraft starting with light piston twins up to large business jets can provide voice and email capability via the same Iridium network, with voice calls billed at $1.25 per minute.
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