Air-to-ground connectivity provider SmartSky Networks received its first commercially available FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) for its Lite system, which is designed for small aircraft. STC approval followed the installation of the connectivity system aboard a Bombardier Learjet 60. SmartSky installation and sales partner Reliable Jet Maintenance of Boca Raton, Florida, completed the installation, while Liberty Partners of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, provided engineering services.

SmartSky is offering connectivity services through its Lite system for $99 per hour with unlimited data and no device limits. The company said that on the first two flights aboard the Learjet 60, the customer averaged more than 1 GB per hour and reached speeds of more than 10 Mbps with 80 percent of data downloaded on the aircraft and 20 percent uploaded off.

“We are happy to be part of the first customer installation of SmartSky’s groundbreaking Lite system, which brings streaming services to light jets and turboprops,” said James Stormont, president of Reliable Jet Maintenance. “We can finally make high-performance connectivity a reality for our Learjet 60 customers and all owner-operators of similar size aircraft”

The STC joins numerous other completed and in-progress installation projects, SmartSky said, noting it is expecting several more Lite approvals in the upcoming months. It also recently was granted an STC for installation of its Flagship system—for midsize and large-cabin jets—on the Dassault Falcon 2000.