LOUISVILLE, CO – November 16, 2006 – Frances H. Phillips has joined Aircell as Senior Vice President, Airline Solutions. A deeply experienced aviation and inflight entertainment executive, she will be responsible for all airline sales and program management activities related to Aircell’s new broadband service, and based at Aircell’s new Chicago facility.
Jack W. Blumenstein, Aircell President & CEO, said, “Fran’s extensive track record in commercial aviation communications and inflight entertainment will be a tremendous asset to Aircell, its airline customers, and their passengers.”
Fran’s distinguished aviation career began at American Airlines, where she held positions of increasing responsibility in sales programs, revenue management, and inflight products & entertainment. At Sony, she developed a successful new business unit for the supply of entertainment content, managing relationships with content providers and working with technical teams to develop new applications for consumers. As an independent consultant, she provided strategic planning services to leading inflight entertainment companies that included Rockwell Collins, Sony, and Thales. Most recently at Connexion by Boeing, she managed customer relationships, product development, passenger services, and a series of other key initiatives.
Aircell® is the leader in global airborne telecommunications for the Business Aviation market. Its products are offered by virtually every fixed- and rotor-wing airframe manufacturer in business aviation, and are installed aboard the world’s four largest fractional ownership fleets. A single-source, turnkey provider of equipment, service, and technical support, Aircell simplifies airborne communications and keeps you In Touch, In Flight®.
The 2006 winner of the FCC’s exclusive broadband frequency license, Aircell is also pioneering a revolutionary new wireless broadband system for North America. Available only from Aircell, it will include robust Wi-Fi hotspots that enable airline passengers to surf the Internet, use e-mail, and log on to their corporate VPN’s using their personal 802.11a/b/g-equipped Wi-Fi data devices. The system will also offer airline operational communications capabilities and provide a path to a wealth of future cabin services.
Set for introduction in 2008, the new broadband service will also be available to business aircraft operators, offering a similar set of features.
Aircell (www.aircell.com) has facilities in Louisville, Colorado, and Itasca, Illinois, USA.
Aircell designs, manufactures, markets and supports a full product line of airborne telecommunication systems for the Business Aviation, General Aviation, Government and Air Transport markets. More than 1,500 aircraft are equipped with Aircell products, which provide voice, fax, e-mail, data, and Internet connectivity services, including NEXRAD weather radar imagery to the cockpit. The company’s products operate on the global Iridium Satellite System, as well as on Aircell’s exclusive nationwide cellular network – the only airborne cellular network ever authorized by the FCC.
Aircell is currently leveraging its existing proprietary technology to develop a number of next-generation products, including a system that will allow passengers to seamlessly operate their personal cellular telephones and other wireless devices aboard commercial airline flights. The privately-held company is headquartered in Louisville, Colorado, USA.
Tom Myers
Aircell, Inc.
+1.303.379.0237
tmyers@aircell.com