Banyan Air Service’s avionics department based at FXE in Fort Lauderdale, Fla, recently completed a major avionics modification on a V.V.I.P. Private B747SP. The work was performed in Europe over an eight-week span. The installation consisted of the Rockwell/Collins Tailwind 550 Airborne TV system, an upgrade to the existing Rockwell/Collins SAT906 SATCOM system for dual channel Swift 64 High Speed Data and the new Airshow 4000.
The Tailwind 550 TV system was divided into four zones so the passengers could watch their own selected channel. New flat screen LCD monitors up to 32” were installed and were controlled by Pronto remote controls. Six TV Decoders consisting of dual receivers were used to allow the passengers to view TV in the USA, Europe and Middle East regions.
The existing SATCOM system was modified to work with the new Rockwell/Collins HST 2120 Transceiver that allows the passengers to surf the Internet and check on emails via the new EMS CNX 200 Cabin Router. The router was augmented with a VT Miltope multi-function access point which then provided WI-FI access throughout the aircraft.
The existing AS 400 was upgraded to the new AS 4000 which provides flight information and briefings to passengers. The software allowed an actual replica of the aircraft to be used complete with color schemes.
Banyan provided all the equipment, engineering orders, wiring diagrams, harnesses and even the equipment racks. Banyan’s avionics staff, headed up by Brian Wilson, Banyan’s director of avionics, and Nick Swanepoel, project lead installer, provided on-site support for the completion center that performed the actual installation. Banyan then assisted with final testing, compliance and inspection.