Page 9 - Volume 12, Number 7

save a little on the fuel burn but we haven’t noticed a significant difference.”
Otis Eastern also updated the cabin interior, changing out the dark leather and carpeting for a lighter color scheme while improving seat padding and sound proofing.
Texting and flying
The upgrade that’s made the most difference, Joyce said, is adding texting capability with Airtext.
“The number of hours we spent in the air without any communications was problematic,” he said. “We felt that Wi-Fi as it is priced today was more than what we wanted to spend. John and Scott looked into it and came up with the Airtext option.”
Here’s how it works: a small paperback book-sized, FAA-approved Airtext box weighing about 1 pound is installed on the airplane and connects to an existing iridium phone antenna. Up to 16 passengers on an aircraft can connect to the Airtext using Bluetooth Low Energy on their mobile phones. Passengers download the free Airtext mobile app and it allows them to send and receive text messages while on board.
“An internet add-on can be $150,000 and it has technical problems,” Terrasi said. “If someone on board is downloading a movie, nobody else can use the internet.
The 2002 King Air 200 already had wing lockers installed. The firm often uses the lockers to haul small tools and equipment needed at pipeline building sites.
Others might say, technology changes so much so let’s wait another year. In the meantime, we’ve been over here making communications for the past three years that are keeping us in business.”
JULY 2018
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 7