Panasonic Avionics Seeks ESAA License Modification for New Terminals

Panasonic Avionics wants FCC approval to operate up to 1,000 single-panel antenna (SPA) broadband terminals on aircraft operating in U.S. airspace. In an International Bureau application Friday seeking to modify its existing earth stations aboard aircraft (ESAA) blanket license, Panasonic said the SPA terminal is a variation of the company's dual-panel Panasonic Phased Array (PPA) terminal that's part of its Ku-band eXConnect System and transmits in the same operational envelope, with the SPA terminals aimed at smaller aircraft than PPA terminals. The company also asked for a modification of its license to add the Telstar 12 Vantage as a point of communication for its SPA and PPA terminals. And it asked for removal of a condition on its license requiring Panasonic cease operations if a future non-geostationary fixed satellite service network starts operations until the company coordinates with that network operator or demonstrates Panasonic operations won't interfere. Panasonic said it sought the change since the FCC elevated ESAA networks to co-primary status in the 14-14.5 GHz band and because of previous commission precedent in removing a similar condition from an ESAA blanket license under similar circumstances.